Zanzibar local Style Game Fishing Tour

1-Day Zanzibar local-style Game Fishing Tour 4-Hour Itinerary (e.g., Kizimkazi/Nungwi) 

0600 Hours – 0630 Hours: Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the local boat, often a traditional wooden dhow or small fiber boat
0630 Hours – 0700 Hours: Briefing by the captain on handline or light-rod techniques, designed to hook kingfish, barracuda, tuna, and grouper
0700 Hours – 0930 Hours: Fishing in the deeper, turquoise waters near the reef or sandbanks
0930 Hours – 1000 Hours: Light refreshments (water, fresh fruits) on board while maneuvering
1000 Hours – 1030 Hours: Return to the shore

1-Day Zanzibar Local-Style Game Fishing Tour Features

✓ Target Species: You can expect to catch Barracuda, Kingfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Grouper, and Snapper
✓ Location: Primarily coastal, focusing on reef edges, with options for deeper water depending on sea conditions.
✓ Highlights: High chance of landing fish, scenic coastlines, and personal, hands-on interaction with local fishermen
✓ Catch & Cook: (Optional) You may opt to return to the beach or a sandbank to grill the fresh catch of the day over an open fire, often served with local Swahili sides
✓ Techniques: Traditional Methods: Instead of modern rods and reels, you will use simple nylon hand lines with weights and hooks baited with fresh calamari or small fish
✓ Vessels: Local Boats – Most authentic tours use a Ngalawa or a traditional Dhow. Some modern “local style” tours use small (7-meter) roofless fiber boats for better casting access
✓ Cultural Immersion: Tours often include a visit to a local fishing village or the Stone Town fish market to see daily auctions of the catch.  Beyond the catch, you learn about the local fishing heritage, including how the tides and wind are read to navigate the Indian Ocean

What to Expect

Duration: Most tours are half-day adventures lasting 4–5 hours
Inclusions: Typical packages include hotel transfers, local fishing gear, bottled water, and seasonal fruits
Beach Berbeque: Many operators offer an optional beach barbecue where you can grill your own fresh catch with Swahili spices
What to Bring: Bring sunscreen, a hat, swimwear, and a camera. Note that most traditional local boats do not have roofs to avoid obstructing lines

Best Fishing Grounds

Nungwi & Leven Bank: Renowned for big game species like Marlin and Tuna
Mnemba Atoll: A popular spot for reef fishing with vibrant marine biodiversity
Kizimkazi: Teeming with marine life, offering consistent catches of Tuna and Kingfish

Zanzibar Local Style Game Fishing Tour offers you the unique opportunity to learn the traditional fishing methods. Sail out to sea with a Zanzibar fisherman who will show you what ‘fishing for a living’ is really all about.

Forget fishing in a modern fishing vessel with the latest in reels and rods and a fighting chair as well!

Local fishing in Ngalawa (traditional boats or the typical boat used by local fishermen) takes you beyond the reef to deeper waters, where you will be surrounded by shoals of various fish species.

The fishing grounds we go to are just about one hour out. We will equip you with simple fishing gear – a roll of nylon fishing line, with the end of each line having a weight and two hooks. On the hooks are speared strips of fresh calamari.

Just lower the lines until you hit the bottom, then wait. Then you haul the line up at the side of the boat. This is what local fishermen or boatmen use to catch kingfish, yellowfin tuna, barracuda, and grouper. A real adventure!

To hook the kind of substantial fish for sale in Stone Town’s markets, you go out at night and fish by the light of a lamp. That is when bigger fish come out in numbers around the fishing grounds. You will go reef fishing for small fish using local fishing gear and try your luck.

Discover how most locals catch fish. If you like, you can also take your own fishing rods. The fishermen will take you back to the beach or sandbank and grill up the catch of the day!

This not only offers an authentic experience but also provides locals with an additional source of income. Upon returning to Zanzibar Island, we will take you to the colorful, bustling fish market, where the day’s fresh catches are auctioned.

Zanzibar Local Style Game Fishing Tour Rates Include:

✓Professional English-speaking guides
✓ Any applicable fees, service charges, and taxes
✓ Boat ride, fishing guide, local fishing gear, fruits, and soft drinks
✓ Pickup from your hotel in Stone Town and drop-off at your hotel
✓ Local fishing in Ngalawa (traditional boats or the typical boat used by local fishermen)

Notes

* Local game fishing in Zanzibar is a half-day tour that starts early in the morning, from 0600 Hours  or 0700 Hours
* We equip you with simple fishing gear, with which locals are even catching barracuda, kingfish, yellowfin tuna, and grouper
* Zanzibar local Style Game Fishing Tour Departs from Stone Town hotels, contact us for the prices from any Zanzibar beach hotel
* The tour begins by setting sail from one of the villages around the island. We normally choose the nearest village close to your hotel

Zanzibar Fishing Tour Rates Do Not Include:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Minimum of 1 person required
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com