Swim with wild dolphins and snorkel trip from Zanzibar
I can’t imagine there’s a prettier place to go snorkelling and swimming with dolphins than the tropical island of Zanzibar just off the coast of Tanzania. Spending five days on this beautiful island was the perfect amount of time for us to relax, unwind and soak up the island atmosphere. However, even we felt the need to tear ourselves away from our sunbeds to explore the ocean that beckoned to us so welcomingly from the shore.
With white sand beaches pretty much everywhere you go in Zanzibar, and gentle waves lapping against the shore where we were in Nungwi, we wanted to get out there and see what was underneath the surface of the serene ocean waters. Naturally, we looked for a snorkelling trip to do this. What we found was a great half-day trip to snorkel and also swim with wild dolphins–we were sold!
Departs from/returns to: Nungwi beach areas
Departure time: 8.30am (it was actually 9am by the time we departed)
Cost of trip: The cost was around £15pp which we thought was great value
How to book: You can book in advance on Get Your Guide or through your hotel in Zanzibar, or if you simply walk along the beach you’ll find several companies offering the same tour
Company booked through: We booked with a company we found on the beach front in Nungwi
Duration of trip: Around 3 hours
Number of people on trip: 10
TOP TIPS:
If you have a prescription snorkel/dive mask, take your own with you or inquire in advance with the tour operator to check that they have a suitable mask for you to use
If you get seasick, take medication before this trip as the waters can be choppy–three people on our boat got sick
Be ready to jump in the water unaided–there are steps for climbing back out, but the boat crew will encourage you to jump in quickly at the stops to swim with dolphins as they move fast
Enjoy every second and try not to be annoyed by delays to departure times–we were delayed by around 30 minutes waiting for the boat to fill up. Remember, you’re on Africa time!
On the way back, ask the boat to drop you off somewhere other than where you got picked up if you want to make a day of it. We got dropped off close to Bay Bar which is a beautiful place to have lunch and drinks! https://maps.app.goo.gl/hJfc8ogpWZXaV4STA
Drinks at the Bay Bar
Is it safe to swim with wild dolphins in Zanzibar?
Yes, it’s safe. Dolphins are not known to harm humans, in fact, they enjoy the interaction and often come to the surface to play around the boats.
Is it ethical to swim with wild dolphins in Zanzibar?
Yes–the boats and crew members do not feed the dolphins to encourage them to gather or interact with you. The dolphins are in this area frequently and are free to swim away whenever they want to, they’re wild!
Was there any food or drinks provided on this snorkel trip in Zanzibar?
Yes, there was a light snack of freshly chopped fruit (pineapple, papaya and banana) provided at the last stop near a sandbar and shallow, calm water to swim and enjoy photo opportunities.
How many stops did you make on this snorkel trip in Zanzibar?
The first stop was to swim with the dolphins, but we actually stopped 3-4 times to do this as they kept moving and so we followed them for a little while. This was the choppiest waters on the trip as it was further out to sea. After this we went to a reef area near Mnemba Island which was full of lots of coral (some showed a little bleaching) and many types of fish species. We saw jellyfish, swordfish, clownfish and many other tropical fish. After the snorkel stop we stopped at an area with clear waters and hundreds of starfish in various colours and sizes–some were huge and bright colours! After this we stopped once more at the sand bar area where we enjoyed calm, shallow waters and fresh fruit.
Would we recommend snorkelling and swimming with dolphins in Zanzibar?
Absolutely! We loved our trip, and we think you’ll enjoy it too. We’re very happy being out on the water and don’t suffer from travel sickness so we managed to make the most of every snorkel stop and opportunity to get in the water!
Table at the Bay Bar