Swimming with dolphins in Kizimkazi: prices, times and ethics (2026)
Kizimkazi, a fishing village in the south-west of Zanzibar, is where the boat trips to see the dolphins of Menai Bay set off. Guides say two species live there: the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin and the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, which is threatened. A trip lasts about 3 hours, often starting at dawn, on a small motorboat; some packages add a full day with snorkelling at Pungume island. Dolphins are wild animals: no trip can promise you will see them, and how the boat approaches them matters as much as the price. No official price list was found; the prices below come from booking sites checked in October 2026.
Highlights
The dolphins from the boat
Boats leave from the village and look for groups in the bay. When the dolphins are there, you see them swimming around the boat; getting into the water with mask and snorkel is only possible if the group stays calm, and the captain decides.
The historic Kizimkazi mosque
In the village, a small mosque whose Kufic inscription, dated 1107 according to guides, is cited among the oldest in East Africa. It is visited with a local caretaker; its fee and opening hours could not be confirmed.
Pungume island
The full-day packages combine the dolphins with a sandbank, snorkelling and lunch off Pungume, for about 8 to 10 hours in total.
Practical info
Tips
- Prices seen in October 2026 on booking sites, per adult: from about 45 USD for a 2 to 3 hour group trip, 55 to 100 USD for an early-morning trip with snorkelling, and 100 to 190 USD for a full day with Pungume or with pick-up from a distant hotel. Check whether mask and snorkel, the marine area fee and the meal are included. On ethics: marine conservation groups say pressure from boats can disturb dolphins while they hunt or rest. Choose an operator that limits the number of boats around one group, does not chase the animals and lets everyone swim without touching them. If a boat rushes at the dolphins or several surround a single one, ask to leave. The earliest trips are the quietest.
How to get there
Kizimkazi is about one hour to one hour 15 minutes by road from Stone Town and Paje (estimate, depending on traffic). Most operators pick travellers up at the hotel, with a surcharge depending on distance. Without a transfer you need a taxi or private driver booked in advance: see getting around Zanzibar. Jambiani beach is the closest of the east-coast beaches.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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