What You Need to Know: Our dolphin tour in Zanzibar leaves early from Kizimkazi in the south, about an hour from Stone Town, by private boat: dolphins first, then snorkeling on a reef and, at low tide, a sandbank. You are back at your hotel around midday. It costs US$105 per person (children half), with the boat, snorkeling gear, guide and hotel transfers. Dolphins are present all year, but sightings are never guaranteed.
Where Do the Zanzibar Dolphin and Sandbank Trips Go?
Kizimkazi is about 1 hour from Stone Town and 45 minutes from Paje. The sandbanks, such as Nakupenda, are closer to Stone Town; we choose the departure point closest to your hotel.
A Typical Morning on the Dolphin and Sandbank Tour
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6:30–7:00 am | Pickup from your hotel |
| About 8:00 am | Boat out to look for dolphins |
| Mid-morning | Snorkeling on the reef |
| Late morning | Sandbank at low tide, or back to shore |
| Around midday | Back at your hotel, or on to Jozani Forest |
How to Watch Kizimkazi's Dolphins Responsibly
Too many boats crowding the dolphins disturbs them. We use a private boat, brief the crew to keep a respectful distance and not to chase or cut across the pod, and only let guests into the water when the dolphins are calm and moving slowly. Early mornings, when there are fewer boats, are best for both you and the dolphins.
Do You Need to Swim Well for the Dolphin Tour?
You can watch from the boat without swimming. To snorkel, you should be comfortable in deep water; snorkeling gear is on board.
How Much Does the Dolphin and Sandbank Tour Cost?
The dolphin and sandbank tour is priced as one of our guided Zanzibar excursion days: US$105 per person, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel; children pay half. Activities run by other vendors, such as jet skis, are paid separately unless they are named in your itinerary.
- Private boat
- Snorkeling gear
- Your guide
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel
Zanzibar requires every foreign visitor to buy the government's inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult with reduced rates for children; from October 1, 2026 mainland Tanzania has the same requirement. If your trip includes both, one policy is enough, bought for your first point of entry. We help guests buy it, or you can buy it on the official portal.
Other Sea Trips from Zanzibar
We also run Safari Blue in Menai Bay, Mnemba Atoll snorkeling and the Nakupenda sandbank, from about US$85 per person. See things to do in Zanzibar.
How to Book the Dolphin and Sandbank Tour
Tell us your hotel, your date and the number of travelers (with children's ages), and we confirm the pickup time. A 30% deposit confirms your booking, and the balance is paid on arrival.
The Zanzibar Sandbank
At low tide, white sandbanks rise out of the turquoise water off Zanzibar's coast, with nothing but sand, sea and sky. You can swim, snorkel and walk, and on some trips have fruit or a seafood lunch on the sand before the tide comes in again. Sandbank timing depends on the tide, so we plan the morning around the tide tables for your date.
What to Bring on the Dolphin Tour
- Swimwear, a towel and a rash vest
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
- Water shoes for the reef and the boat
- A dry bag and a waterproof phone case
- Motion-sickness tablets if you need them
Dolphins of Kizimkazi
The waters off Kizimkazi, in Zanzibar's far south, are home to bottlenose and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins that feed and rest close to the shore. Fishermen have shared the bay with them for generations, and dolphin trips have run here for many years.
Responsible tours make a big difference: boats should approach slowly, stay to the side of the pod, limit their time and never chase or surround the dolphins. Swimming with them is only appropriate when they choose to stay near the boat. We ask our crews to follow these rules, so the dolphins keep coming back.
After the dolphins, a reef snorkel and a sandbank at low tide make a full morning. Combine it with Jozani Forest on the way back.
Who Is the Dolphin and Sandbank Tour For?
The dolphin and snorkeling morning suits most travelers: you don't need to swim well to enjoy the dolphins from the boat, and life jackets are available for snorkeling. Families like it for the boat ride and the sandbank, couples for the early-morning sea, and photographers for the light.
If you get seasick, take a tablet before you go; mornings are usually calmest. Bring a dry bag, sunscreen and a hat, and be ready for an early start.
Snorkeling on Zanzibar's Reef
After the dolphins, the boat stops at a coral reef where you snorkel among parrotfish, angelfish, starfish and, sometimes, turtles. Masks, snorkels and fins are provided, and the crew helps anyone who is new to snorkeling. Life jackets make it easy for weaker swimmers.
Common Questions About the Kizimkazi Dolphin Tour
When is the best time to see dolphins in Zanzibar?
Dolphins are present all year. Calmer seas from October to March make the boat ride more comfortable.
Can you swim with the dolphins?
Only when they are calm and moving slowly; otherwise you watch from the boat.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, from the boat; children pay half.
Is the dolphin tour ethical?
It can be: we ask the crew to keep a distance, limit time with each group and never chase or feed the dolphins.
When is the best time to see dolphins in Zanzibar?
Dolphins are present all year; calm mornings give the best chances.
How early does the dolphin tour start?
Pickup is usually around 6:30–7:00 from your hotel.
How much is the dolphin tour?
US$105 per person (children half), with the boat, snorkeling gear, guide and transfers.
What if we don't see dolphins?
Sightings are likely but never guaranteed; the snorkeling and sandbank still make a good morning.
The Bottom Line
Go early, watch from a private boat, snorkel the reef and finish on a sandbank. The dolphins set the rules, and we follow them.
Send us your dates, your hotel (or the area you'd like to stay in), the number of travelers and the trips you are interested in through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and our team will reply with a written quotation.