What You Need to Know: Our Safari Blue tour costs US$85 per person and runs as a full day from about the middle of the morning to late afternoon. The price includes pickup and drop-off at your hotel, the dhow trip in Menai Bay, snorkel gear and a seafood lunch on Kwale Island. Child prices are shown in your quotation.
What Happens on a Safari Blue Day?
The day follows the tide and the wind, so the order can change, but most Safari Blue trips include the same stops:
- The dhow ride out from Fumba beach across Menai Bay, a protected area of reef, mangroves and small islands
- Snorkeling on a coral reef, with masks, snorkels and fins provided
- A sandbank stop, where you swim in shallow water and the crew serve fresh fruit
- Lunch on Kwale Island: grilled fish and seafood with rice and Swahili sides, under the trees
- The Kwale lagoon, a calm, mangrove-lined pool for swimming at the right tide, and a giant baobab tree on the island
- The sail home in the afternoon, often under the dhow's lateen sail
Dolphins are sometimes seen in Menai Bay on the way, but they are wild and never guaranteed; for the best chance, our dolphin and sandbank trip from Kizimkazi goes looking for them first thing.
How Long Does Safari Blue Take?
Plan on a full day. From Stone Town, the drive to Fumba takes about 30 minutes, and you are back at your hotel in the late afternoon. From the north or east coast the drive is longer, about an hour and a half each way, so the day starts earlier. We confirm the pickup time the evening before, once the tide times are known.
How Much Does the Safari Blue Tour Cost?
What you pay and what it covers:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | US$85 per person |
| Children | Child prices are shown in your quotation |
| Included | Hotel pickup and drop-off, the dhow trip, snorkel gear, a seafood lunch |
| Not included | Drinks beyond those served on board, tips for the crew, Zanzibar's inbound travel insurance |
Every foreign visitor to Zanzibar needs the government's inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult; if your trip starts on the mainland, the mainland policy covers Zanzibar too. See Zanzibar entry requirements.
Is Safari Blue Right for You?
It suits anyone who enjoys a day on the water and does not mind sun and salt for six hours or more. You don't need to be a strong swimmer for the sandbank or the lagoon, but snorkeling is easier if you are comfortable in the sea. Non-swimmers can stay on the dhow or on the sand. If you get seasick, take something before you board; Menai Bay is usually calm, but the wind picks up in the afternoon from June to September.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want a relaxed, sociable day at sea with lunch | You want the best snorkeling: Mnemba Atoll has clearer water and more fish |
| You're staying in Stone Town or the south-west | You'd rather learn about the island on land: the spice farm tour |
| You don't mind a full day out | You want only a sunset sail: the sunset dhow cruise |
What to Bring on the Safari Blue Tour
Pack light; the crew keep bags dry on board as far as they can:
- Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses; the sun on the water is strong
- Water shoes for the sandbank and the rocks around the lagoon
- A waterproof bag for your phone, and some cash for drinks and tips
When Is the Best Time for Safari Blue?
The trip runs most of the year. The calmest, clearest conditions are usually from December to March, when the sea is warm and the north-east monsoon is light in Menai Bay; June to October is dry and sunny but breezier. During the long rains of April and May, trips can be cancelled for weather; we then try to move you to another day. See the best time to visit Zanzibar for each month.
How to Book the Safari Blue Tour
Tell us your hotel and preferred date through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com. We reply with a written quotation that names every hotel for your dates. A 30% deposit confirms your holiday and the balance is paid on arrival, by Pesapal (card or mobile money) or bank transfer in US dollars; cancellations follow our booking terms.
Common Questions About the Safari Blue Tour
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
How much is Safari Blue in Zanzibar?
With us, US$85 per person, including hotel pickup and drop-off, the dhow trip, snorkel gear and a seafood lunch on Kwale Island.
Where does Safari Blue start?
From Fumba, on the south-west coast, about 30 minutes from Stone Town. We collect you from your hotel anywhere on the island.
Will we see dolphins on Safari Blue?
Sometimes. Dolphins live in Menai Bay but sightings are never guaranteed; our Kizimkazi dolphin trip gives a better chance.
Is Safari Blue suitable for children?
Yes, for children who are happy on a boat for most of the day. The sandbank and lagoon are shallow; children's prices are in your quotation.
What is the seafood lunch on Safari Blue?
Grilled fish and seafood with rice, Swahili side dishes and fresh fruit, served on Kwale Island. If you need a vegetarian meal, ask us when you book.
Should You Book the Safari Blue Tour?
Book it if you want one long, easy day at sea with snorkeling, a sandbank and a seafood lunch, for US$85 per person with hotel transfers. If snorkeling is your main reason, choose Mnemba Atoll; to fit it into a longer stay, see our Zanzibar holidays.