Our 11 Best Whale and Dolphin Watching Tours in Mauritius

1.Black River: Dolphin Swim and Whale Watching by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 595 reviews · 5 hours · from $129Our pick

From Grande Riviere Noire, you’ll ride a speedboat with up to 14 passengers and two skippers, looking for spinner and bottlenose dolphins, resident sperm whales, and humpbacks in season. Guides such as Globis, Conrad, and Alan have been praised for careful animal practices. Expect a wet, bumpy ride, dolphin swimming, whale watching from the boat, and reef snorkeling.

“Trip was good! Skippers friendly and happy to explain things, respectful of the animals too. We saw whales, dolphins and a turtle. Swam with dolphins (snorkel and fins provided). Then they took us to a reef for more snorkeling. Had a very good morning!! Refreshements on board - simple but gladd we had them. We had 8 people on our boat which was just enough that we didnt feel too crowded. Boat could do with some small repairs but nothing to detract from the overall experience. Only downside was that we couldnt book this trip including transfer from hotel in the north and it was an expensive trip to then…”

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2.Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 409 reviews · from $225Top rated

Spend about 7.5 hours with Lydia Boat Mauritius on a private speedboat from Le Morne. Guides such as Miguel, Navy, Owen, and Theo search for wild dolphins and whales, then lead snorkeling near the lagoon aquarium and Crystal Rock. Fresh seafood, oysters, sea urchins, lobster, drinks, and music complete the day. The barbecue is currently served on the boat because Benitier Island is closed.

“Amazing seeing dolphins and sperm whales. Then to a beautiful island for a wonderful lunch and swim. And on the way back they even helped us find sea turtles. Thanks to Miguel and Cristiano”

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3.Whale Dream ltd – Whales watching and swim with dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 308 reviews

Meet at 6am in Rivière Noire for a private four-hour boat trip with Whale Dream. Use a hydrophone to help locate sperm whales, pilot whales, humpbacks, and dolphins. You may swim with dolphins and snorkel, but swimming with whales is prohibited. Snacks, soft drinks, and equipment are included.

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4.Dolphins Encounter and Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 153 reviews · from $116Best value

Start early in Black River for a four to five-hour speedboat trip with a skipper and one crew member. Watch wild dolphins, swim with them when conditions allow, snorkel a coral reef, then search for whales using an onboard hydrophone. Groups are limited to eight, with water, soft drinks, commentary, and snorkeling equipment included.

“Very lucky trip!! For dolphins there are a lot of people seeking and following. So when they diving into the water, the dolphins will disapper. For the whales we saw around 6 ! Very close and shocked! We will suggest Dolswim!”

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5.Dolphins & Whales, Private Tour Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 21 reviews · 4 hours

Take a four-hour private speedboat trip off Mauritius with an English- or French-speaking skipper. You may see humpback whales and spinner dolphins, then stop at Crystal Rock and the natural aquarium for swimming and snorkeling. Skipper Ali and assistant Bebe have earned praise for calm, nature-minded guiding. Drinks, equipment, and a private boat are included.

“We saw both Dolphins and Whales, guide captain (Ali) was great.”

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6.Dolphins & whale watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $129

Set out from La Balise Yacht Center with Friendly Dodo for a three-hour west-coast trip among dolphins and whales. You may swim near dolphins, watch sperm whales year-round, and spot humpbacks from June to September. Small groups, onboard restrooms, snorkel gear, water, and snacks make this a practical early-morning outing.

“Grundsätzlich war es eine echt super Erfahrung, trotz des Deutschen an Board 😅 (kleiner Scherz). Einzig, die Verpflegung könnte dem Preis mehr angemessen sein. Würde es aber jederzeit wieder machen ✌🏻👍🏻”

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7.Whale and Dolphin Watching Private Boat Tour from Mauritius

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews

Set out from Grande Riviere Noire at 7:00 am with Dolswim Ltd for a private 4.5-hour search for wild dolphins and whales. Swim near dolphins if sea conditions allow, use provided snorkeling gear, listen for whale calls through a hydrophone, and return by boat with drinks and commentary. Lunch details should be confirmed before booking.

“Great experience. The skippers were knowledgeable but very hands off. Did not get in the water to assist anyone at all. Did not provide towels, bring your own. Be aware that there is no place to change into or out of your wet swim suit. There Read more”

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8.Private Dolphin Encounter and Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7 reviews · 5 hours

Set out from Black River on a five-hour private speedboat trip for a dolphin encounter, coral reef snorkeling, and whale watching. English and French speaking guides explain safe wildlife practices. Water, soft drinks, gear, and lifejackets are included. Dolphins may be observed or swum with, while whales are seen from the boat only.

“Rigtig god tur. Guiderne var gode til at informere om turforløbet og vi syntes de tog meget hensyn til delfinerne/hvalerne når de sejlede efter/rundt om dem ift. mange af de andre både, hvor det virkede som om man nærmest jagtede dem og stressede dem.”

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9.Private :Whales and dolphins watching/Swimming with dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews

Meet the Lydia Boat Mauritius crew at Le Morne public beach for a private half-day boat trip focused on wild dolphins. You will watch them in open water, swim only with guidance, and enjoy views of Le Morne. French and English support, snorkeling gear, and bottled water are included. Hotel transfers, towels, photos, and breakfast cost extra.

“It was absolutely amazing! Our hosts were top! The boat was great! The variety of activities was perfect. The BBQ was very generous and tasted great, our table on the island was the neatest of all) and we were not hurried, really took our time to enjoy every moment. Recommend!! Recommend!! Recommend!!”

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10.Whale & Dolphins Swimming – Private Speedboat Exclusive Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 3 reviews · 4 hours

Spend four hours on a private speedboat off Mauritius, looking for whales and dolphins, swimming with them where permitted, and snorkeling over the reef. Your crew provides breakfast, equipment, a lagoon cruise, and English, French, German, Italian, or Russian guiding. Hotel transfers are optional.

“Super activité, dauphin et cachalots étaient au rdv ! L’équipe de skipper était super à l’écoute ! Je recommande !”

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11.All In One- Dolphins, Whales, Snorkeling & Lunch onboard

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2 reviews · 6h 30m

Spend 390 minutes on a private speedboat off Mauritius’s west coast, looking for dolphins and whales, visiting Crystal Rock, and swimming in a natural aquarium. Your skipper and guide speak English, French, Arabic, Hindi, or Urdu. A fresh barbecue meal and drinks are included, though the meal may be served on an island rather than onboard.

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