Our 15 Best Tanzania Dolphin Watching Tours

1.Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,043 reviews · 4 hours · from $50Our pick

Set out from Mama Mia beach near Kendwa at 8:30 a.m. with an English-speaking guide and captain. Search for dolphins respectfully, snorkel Mnemba Atoll, and visit a sandbank at low tide. Guides such as Hassan, Ludo, Hamis, and Abra are praised for safety, calm dolphin encounters, and fresh tropical fruit.

“This tour was great. The team is so kind and helpful. They helped me get amazing videos of the dolphins and I saw the clearest waters ever, highly recommend this tour as a must when in Zanzibar.”

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2.Mnemba Island: Dolphin Swim & Snorkeling with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 591 reviews · 3.5 - 5 hours · from $21

Set out from Muyuni Beach with a local captain and guide for dolphin watching near Mnemba Island, reef snorkeling, fruit, and time by the sandbank. Guides such as Khamis, Ramadan, Ali, and Marco Polo have earned praise for helping nervous swimmers and filming underwater moments. Hotel pickup is available, and lunch can be added.

“We saw lots of dolphins above and below the water which was truly exciting to see. The warning of the feeling that you’re out hunting due to the nature of spotting dolphins and pods is true and I’m glad I knew before booking.”

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3.Mnemba Island snorkeling and Swimming with Dolphin

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 412 reviews · from $55

Set out from Mama Mia Restaurant Beach, Nungwi, or Kendwa at 8:30 AM with a small group of up to eight. Captain Barnaba’s crew takes you to dolphin waters, Mnemba’s coral reefs, and a sandbank when tides allow. Guides such as Hassan, Ludo, and Ochu provide help in the water, with snorkeling gear included.

“This was an incredible experience. We went snorkelling first and then went on the boat to the other side of Mnemba island. The crew drove us near to where the dolphins were jumping in and out of the water and we were able to take videos of them while underwater. We loved it!”

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4.Mnemba Island Dolphin and Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 352 reviews · 4.5 - 6 hours · from $40

Set out from Nungwi or Muyuni with guides such as Rasheed for dolphin watching, reef snorkeling, and a sandbank stop with fresh fruit. You may see bottlenose or humpback dolphins, colorful fish, starfish, and clear water. Hotel pickup, lunch, and private tours depend on the option you choose.

“Good half day out. Found dolphins, stopped at two different places to snorkel and stopped in shallow water for a swim and fresh fruit.”

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5.Matemwe: Mnemba Island Dolphin & Snorkeling Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 152 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $35

Join a shared morning boat trip from Matemwe to the waters around Mnemba Island for dolphin watching, snorkeling, swimming, fresh fruit, and clear turquoise water. Guides such as Lava Lava, Abdul, Lil Nasr, and Nasor have helped make the trip memorable. Expect a 20 to 45 minute wait before departure and a $10 island fee paid locally.

“we had a really nice trip, saw a lot of dolphins! friendly crew! highly recommend this trip to everyone”

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6.Private Dolphin Tour and Snorkeling at Mnemba Island reef

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 104 reviews · from $104

This three-hour private outing combines dolphin watching northeast of Zanzibar, snorkeling at Mnemba Island Reef, and a calm sandbank swim. Ahmed and Msomali are names linked with especially attentive service, though your crew may differ. Hotel pickup, a vehicle, boat transport, equipment, water, and fruit are included. Bring a towel and sunscreen.

“Great morning, got to see the dolphins and also sand bar and some Colorful fish. Pick up from our resort was great- AC van. We have 4 kids and loved it”

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7.Private/Sharing: Snorkeling with Dolphins Sandbank in Mnemba

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · from $120Top rated

Set out from Kendwa at 9:00 a.m. on a traditional dhow for dolphin spotting, guided snorkeling near Mnemba Island, a seafood and chicken barbecue, and a low-tide sandbank stop. Water, soft drinks, juice, and equipment are included. The private boat suits families and couples who want space, with crew such as Matthias, Mbwana, Yusef, and Musa helping on the water.

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8.FROM NUNGWI; MNEMBA SNORKELING AND DOLPHIN TOUR

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 49 reviews · 6 minutes - 6 hours · from $45

From Nungwi, take a dhow toward Mnemba for coral, fish, dolphin sightings, and a shallow-water sandbank. Snorkeling gear, a guide, life jacket, and fresh fruit are included. Hotel pickup may be available, and private groups can be arranged. Expect sea spray, wet bags, and changing dolphin activity.

“The boat driver did a great job tracking the dolphins and we got three jumps out of the boat to swim next to them”

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9.5-Hour Snorkeling, Swimming with Dolphins and Sea Turtles Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 48 reviews · from $60

Spend about five hours from Nungwi exploring Mnemba Atoll, snorkeling among reef fish, looking for dolphins, enjoying fruit and soft drinks on a sandbank, and swimming with sea turtles at Mnarani Aquarium. Suleiman and his crew may help arrange transport, but confirm pickup details before booking.

“Wonderful and memorable experience. Suleman and his crew were friendly, knowledgeable and we felt safe at all times.”

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10.Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 39 reviews · 4 hours · from $50

From Nungwi or Kendwa, you’ll spend four hours on the water looking for dolphins, snorkeling around Mnemba’s coral reefs, and stopping at a sandbank if the tide allows. The trip includes boat transport, gear, fruit, soft drinks, a guide, conservation fees, and hotel-area drop-off. Swimming with dolphins is not guaranteed.

“Buona escursione, buon itinerario, mare stupendo, guida ottima! Da migliorare l'organizzazione al punto pick-up dato che abbiamo aspettato 25 minuti prima che si presentasse qualcuno, oltre ad un ulteriore ritardo causato da altri ospiti. A parte questo l'escursione è andata bene!”

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11.Mnemba Island&Dolphin Swim With Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 39 reviews · 3.5 - 6 hours · from $18Best value

Boat from Nungwi or Muyuni to dolphin waters and Mnemba Atoll for guided snorkeling, fruit on a sandbank, and an optional lunch. Guides may speak English, German, French, Italian, or Swahili. Private trips are available, and the actual Mnemba Island is not open to visitors.

“we spent a very good time with them! è stato tutto molto bello, Fazhil è una guida attenta, disponibile e rispettoso verso gli ospiti, la natura e gli animali. Sempre sorridente ci ha spiegato e raccontato ogni cosa grazie ancora Fazhil. Grazie anche al mitico captain Philip, ci siamo immersi con i delfini e nuotato con loro rispettandoli e senza infastidirli! the best”

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12.Snorkel Mnemba’s Reefs & Swim with Dolphins Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 36 reviews · 3 - 5 hours · from $40

Meet at Muyuni Beach for a 3 to 5 hour trip to the Mnemba reef zone. You’ll ride by van and speedboat, snorkel for about two hours with an English-speaking guide, and have fruit and water aboard. Dolphins may appear, but sightings and swimming are never guaranteed.

“So much fun and they let you do so much outside of what’s said.. very very nice and waited for us when we were late- such an amazing price for an awesome experience!!! DO THIS!!!”

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13.Swim with dolphin + Snorkel mnemba coral Reef

★★★★★★★★★★3.1 · 25 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $24

Leave by local boat from Nungwi at about 8:15 am for Mnemba Atoll. You’ll snorkel among coral, parrot-fish, tiger-fish and possible turtles, then look for dolphins before returning around noon. Gear, a guide, fruit and government tax are included in selected options. The island itself is private, so you view it from the water.

“Activité à faire si vous visitez zanzibar ! Attention nous avions demandé un guide français mais ça n’a pas été le cas. L’activité aux dauphins était moyenne car oui on en voit mais nous sommes 20 bateaux autour d’eux en train de les encercler ce qui fait un peu mal au cœur. Autrement, Mnemba island et le snorkelling ont été au top et les guides vous accompagnent dans l’eau pour vous montrer les récifs à voir absolument, le plateau de fruits était excellent.”

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14.Swimming with Dolphins and Snorkeling Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $120

Set out from Matemwe or Kizimkazi in a private boat with a captain who knows local dolphin areas. You will watch for dolphins in open water, snorkel above coral reefs, and enjoy fruit, snacks, and water before returning to shore. Hotel pickup is included from northern Unguja hotels.

“Die Tour war an für gut und interessant. Da es sich um eine Touristenattraktion handelt, ist der Andrang besonders groß, sodass alle 20-30 Boote gleichzeitig auf die Delfine stürmen, sobald diese sich an der Wasseroberfläche zeigen. Es wird das Gefühl einer Treibjagd erweckt. Sollte man dennoch Interesse an der Tour haben, würden wir empfehlen diese vor Ort im Hotel zu buchen, da es über Get your Guide doppelt so teuer ist. Dies gilt auf für alle anderen Aktivitäten. Die Prisonislandtour war sogar fast 3-mal so teuer im Vergleich zur vor Ort Buchung. Wir würden Get your Guide nicht nochmal verwenden.”

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15.Dolphin tour at kizimkazi and Salaam cave

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 15 reviews · 4 hours · from $75

You’ll travel by speedboat from Kizimkazi to search for bottlenose and humpback dolphins, then visit Salaam Cave Aquarium to swim with sea turtles. The private tour includes boat service, snorkeling equipment, entrance fees, and optional hotel pickup. Mohammed may assist with photos, timing, and communication by WhatsApp.

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