Zanzibar Dolphin Spotting Snorkeling Safari Blue Day Tour

Zanzibar full-day trip on a Dhow: Sail, Snorkel, Swim, Sunbathe, Explore & Feast

1 Full-day dhow trip in Zanzibar, most famously known as the Safari Blue, is a premier, all-inclusive, 6- to 8-hour excursion centered on the Menai Bay Conservation Area, typically departing from Fumba Village.

This adventure combines traditional Swahili sailing with marine exploration, offering a mix of swimming, guided snorkeling, sunbathing on sandbanks, and a lavish seafood feast.

Departure Point: Our Zanzibar Dolphin Spotting Snorkeling Safari Blue Day Tour departs from Fumba village and includes a magical day exploring the Menai Bay Conservation Area and a host of aquatic activities in the Indian Ocean. 

Fumba Town is situated in the urban west part of Zanzibar Island, 15 km south of the Zanzibar International Airport and 20 minutes’ drive from the well-known World Heritage site – Stone Town.

Tour the area in a locally built traditional wooden dhow equipped with a high-efficiency engine, sunshades, a boarding ladder, and life jackets for 6 hours. 

Enjoy swimming and guided snorkeling with a quality kit in the beautiful, clear waters, dhow sailing, sandbank stop, swimming in a mangrove lagoon, and a high chance of spotting both Indo-Pacific humpback and bottlenose dolphins along the way! Feast on delicious Swahili seafood barbecue and indigenous tropical fruit tasting.

Enjoy a fun-filled day with drinks and snacks throughout. There will be experienced snorkeling instructors with us who can teach you about the coral reef and tropical marine life.

Safari Blue Sea Adventure Highlights

The tour typically follows a structured full-day schedule from approximately 0800  to 1700 Hours  
✓ Traditional Dhow Sailing: Travel on handcrafted wooden dhows, often using sails when the wind permits
✓ Dolphin Spotting: Menai Bay is home to bottlenose and humpback dolphins, which are spotted on about 90% of tours
✓ Snorkeling: Guided sessions at coral reefs to view tropical fish, sea stars, and occasionally turtles
✓ Sandbank Relaxation: Visits to pristine, disappearing sandbanks for sunbathing and swimming in shallow, crystal-clear water
✓ Mangrove Lagoon: A swim in a unique, calm tidal lagoon surrounded by mangrove forests
✓ Kwale Island Lunch: A seafood buffet served on the island, featuring grilled lobster, prawns, calamari, and tropical fruits
✓ Ancient Baobab Tree: A short trek on Kwale Island to see a massive, 500-year-old baobab tree that can be climbed for photos

Feast” and Drinks (Included)

Safari blue Zanzibar Itinerary (0830 Hours – 1730 Hours) 

0830 Hours – 0900 Hours: Pickup from hotels and transfer to Fumba Village
0930 Hours: Safety briefing and departure by dhow into Menai Bay
1000 Hours – 1200 Hours: Dolphin watching, snorkeling at Coral Reef, and visiting the sandbank for fruit/swimming
1230 Hours – 1430 Hours: Seafood barbecue lunch on Kwale Island, followed by a guided tour of the baobab tree and Lagoon swimming
1500 Hours – 1700 Hours: Relaxing sail back to Fumba, often with the engine off if the wind allows
1730 Hours: Arrival back at the hotel

What to Bring

✓ Swimming costume and towel
✓ High-factor sun cream and hat
✓ Waterproof camera/dry bag
✓Recommended Packing: Bring swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a towel, and water shoes (essential for protection against sea urchins and rocky shores)

Important Information

✓ Booking: It is highly recommended to book in advance, as these popular trips can sell out
✓ Inclusions: Tours typically include hotel transfers, snorkeling gear, life jackets, lunch, and non-alcoholic beverages
✓ Location: The main “Safari Blue” departs from Fumba Village (Southwest), though similar, high-end tours also operate from Kendwa/Nungwi to Mnemba Atoll.
✓ Crowds: Consider private tours if you want to avoid larger, more crowded boats (typically 16-20+ people on shared tours)

Safari Blue Day tour is one of the most popular day trips from Stone Town Zanzibar. This full-day tour is spent dolphin watching, snorkeling, dhow sailing, and tasting the best of Zanzibar’s fruits and seafood.

This excursion includes snacks and drinks at a sandbank and a sumptuous seafood lunch with rock lobster and unlimited drinks on a desert island. A Safari Blue day is packed with adventure…Sail, snorkel, swim, sunbathe, explore, feast, observe, play, etc.

0830 Hours: The tour departs from your hotel with a transfer to Fumba Village for a full-day excursion on a traditional sailing dhow. Pick-up from any Stone Town hotel is at 0830 Hours, and from the beach hotel is at 0700 Hours.

0900 Hours: Safari Blue departs from Fumba Village, the perfect starting point for exploring Menai Bay, an official Conservation Area.

The area, home to beautiful uninhabited islands, is stunning and frequented by humpback and bottlenose dolphins. The fishing village of Fumba in Zanzibar is a 30-minute drive from Stone Town. On arrival at Fumba, you get a briefing on the Zanzibar Dolphin Spotting Snorkeling Safari Blue Day Tour, and then you board your dhow, and you’re off to explore the bay.

We are lucky enough to see dolphins on at least 85% of our Zanzibar Dolphin Spotting Snorkeling Safari Blue Day Tour. Later in the morning, we stop on the Kwale sandbank where we set up sunshades and fit the clients with snorkeling equipment.

We offer a wide range of sizes and high-quality equipment. Guides, who can safely lead the snorkeling session and show points of interest, accompany you. For beginners or those who are not confident swimmers, we have inflatable snorkelling vests and our guides can give tuition.

After snorkeling, we offer fresh green coconuts before we move to our desert island restaurant for lunch. In the morning, our catering boat has gone ahead to prepare a delicious barbecue lunch, which is served on teak picnic tables set beneath the shade of some tamarind trees.

1230 Hours: Lunch is a traditional Zanzibar buffet, featuring grilled fish, slipper lobster, squid, chicken, rice, tamarind, and coriander sauces, all served hot from the grill. A gastronomic fruit tasting follows, featuring a selection of 10 to 15 tropical fruits. Cold drinks are available throughout the day, including mineral water, sodas, and beer.

Coffee and Amarula liqueur are also served after lunch. Later, we also offer the chance to sail in a “ngalawa” with our experienced crew. When the tide allows, we visit a beautiful mangrove lagoon where it is possible to swim through the mangrove forest.

1730 Hours: We return to Fumba by sail and arrive back in time to see the colorful African sunset.

Zanzibar Dolphin Spotting Snorkeling Safari Blue Day Tour Rates Include:

✓ Ice cold sodas, mineral water, and beer
✓ Use of top quality Snorkeling gear (mask & flippers)
✓ Professional English-speaking guides and instructors
✓ All entry fees, service charges, and taxes to Menai Bay Conservation Fee
✓ Pickup from your hotel in Zanzibar Stone Town and drop-off at your hotel
✓ Enjoyed watching the sunrise sailing on a Dhow in Zanzibar Island in the Indian Ocean
✓A delicious Zanzibar seafood lunch with grilled fish and slipper lobster, gastronomic fruit tasting, coffee, and Amarula liqueur

Notes

* What to bring: lots of sun cream,  a swimming costume, and a hat
*  Pick up from any Stone Town hotel is at 0830 Hours, and from the beach hotel is at 0700 Hours
* Your Traditional sailing dhow is between 10 and 13 meters in length and accommodates about 16 guests
* Your Safari Blue day tour is a joining group tour. You will share the boat and activities with other guests, but will have private transport from your hotel to Fumba Village and back to Stone Town
* Your Safari Blue dhow is well-maintained, comfortable, and equipped with outboard engines, communication equipment, sunshades, boarding ladders, life jackets, waterproof bags, and drinks coolers

Zanzibar Dolphin Spotting Snorkeling Safari Blue Day Tour Rates Do Not Include:

* 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