Tours/Kizimkazi/Zanzibar Dolphin Tour, Sandbank & Snorkeling at Pungume Island
Viator · Private tour

Zanzibar Dolphin Tour, Sandbank & Snorkeling at Pungume Island

3.9(42)Kizimkazi1 hour
VIATOR3.1(7)TRIPADVISOR4.1(35)

Description

Experience one of Zanzibar’s most exciting day trips, combining dolphins, snorkeling, sandbank relaxation, and a fresh seafood BBQ. This adventure takes you across the Indian Ocean, from spotting playful dolphins to exploring colorful coral reefs, and ending with a delicious beach lunch on a pristine sandbank.

Tour Options

Kizimkazi Only
  • Option 1: : This option includes pickup from any hotel or accommodations within Kizimkazi only. Pickup included
South of Zanzibar
  • Option 2: This pickup option includes areas in the southern region: Michamvi, Paje, Jambiani, Makunduchi, and the surrounding villages Pickup included
Anywhere in Zanzibar
  • Option 3: This premium option includes pickup from any hotel, resort, guesthouse, or private stay anywhere in Zanzibar. Pickup included

Itinerary

Admission included90 min

Begin your day with a boat ride into the Indian Ocean to look for dolphins in their natural habitat. Zanzibar is renowned for its friendly pods of bottlenose and spinner dolphins, and with a bit of luck, you might even have the chance to swim alongside them. This is a truly magical and unforgettable experience. Also, from June to October, we may encounter humpback whales.

Admission included30 min

After your dolphin experience, we will return to the beach for a refreshing tropical fruit platter. Enjoy fresh pineapple, mangoes, bananas, watermelon, coconuts, and other seasonal fruits while taking in the beautiful ocean views.

120 min

Next, we will go to Pungume Reef, one of Zanzibar's hidden gems for snorkeling. Here, you can discover colorful coral gardens, tropical reef fish, and vibrant marine life. The crystal-clear waters make it the perfect spot for underwater exploration, whether you are a beginner or an experienced snorkeler. While snorkeling, you might encounter green turtles, seahorses, octopuses, frogfish, trumpetfish, Napoleon wrasse, lionfish, stonefish, zebrafish, starfish, bluefin trevally, leaffish, scorpionfish, and many other fascinating species.

Admission included120 min

From Pungume, the journey leads to a stunning white-sand sandbank, surrounded by turquoise waters. You can relax on the soft sand, swim in the warm ocean, or simply enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Meanwhile, our crew will prepare a delicious BBQ seafood lunch featuring fresh fish, seasonal lobster, octopus, rice, and local sides, all served right on the beach.

Admission included60 min

On rare occasions, when the tide is high enough, the tour includes a bonus stop at Uzi Island. This unique area is home to mangrove forests, red colobus monkeys, coconut crabs, and other fascinating wildlife, making this trip even more memorable.

Highlights

BBQ seafood lunch: Lobster, Shrimps, Fish, Calamari, Rice, and Vegetable curry. A vegetarian option is available on request.
Hotel pickup and drop-off (depending on package)
Use of Snorkelling equipment
Fresh tropical fruit platter; Watermelon, Pineapple, Bananas, Mangoes, and more
Bottled water & soft drinks
Professional guide & boat crew

What's included

Included
BBQ seafood lunch: Lobster, Shrimps, Fish, Calamari, Rice, and Vegetable curry. A vegetarian option is available on request.
Hotel pickup and drop-off (depending on package)
Use of Snorkelling equipment
Fresh tropical fruit platter; Watermelon, Pineapple, Bananas, Mangoes, and more
Bottled water & soft drinks
Professional guide & boat crew
Not included
Conservation fee

Pickup Locations & Times

We offer convenient pickup options to make your experience hassle-free. Depending on your booking selection, pickup may be available from either Kizimkazi or any location across Zanzibar. You’ll see the specific pickup options clearly during the booking process. Select the option that best suits your location and needs.

Traveller Ratings

3.9
42 reviews
5
24
4
5
3
5
2
2
1
6

Important Information

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews(42)

L
laurentm750
September 9, 2024
An exceptional day

The captain’s good humour, energy and kindness helped to make this day a pure moment of happiness. He listened to our desires at every moment. We saw the dolphins without chasing them. We were alone on the island for lunch, delicious and carefully prepared. Thank you Captain Jack Sparrow 😉. Recommended!

R
RamzyD
July 25, 2024
Pungume and Uzi Island

a full-day trip to Pungume and Uzi Island, and it was an incredible experience! The day was packed with exciting activities, including snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters, exploring vibrant coral reefs, and discovering the rich marine life. The islands themselves are stunning, with pristine beaches and lush greenery providing a perfect backdrop for relaxation and adventure. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly, making sure we had everything we needed for a safe and enjoyable day. They provided interesting insights into the local ecosystem and the history of the islands. Lunch was a delightful spread of local cuisine, which we enjoyed on the beach, adding to the overall experience. Overall, this trip is a must-do for anyone visiting the area. Whether you're an avid snorkeler or just looking to explore some beautiful islands, Pungume and Uzi Island offer something for everyone. Highly recommended!

D
debbyd856
February 9, 2024
Better to book as a private tour

I am very committed to animal welfare and never had the feeling that the animals were stressed here. We did not feel like the boat trip was a chase. Swimming with the dolphins is a bit absurd, however, as the dolphins tend to swim away as soon as people jump into the water. My friend and I stayed in the boat, so we really got more out of the dolphins. In retrospect, we would have preferred to book the tour privately. The constant getting up and down on the boat meant that you didn't really have a great dolphin experience. Privately, we would have simply told our skipper to drive to the dolphin spots and we could have enjoyed watching them. In any case, make sure that the sea is not too rough on the day of your booking. Unfortunately, that spoiled the fun of the boat trip and snorkeling a bit. We definitely recommend booking the tour on site on the beach. With our friend Captain Piilo you get very good prices and are in the very best hands for private tours +255 622 227 709 Contact is quick and uncomplicated via Whatsapp.

F
Francisco S
December 28, 2023
Amazing dolphin

I did all my activities with myfriend of mine in Zanzibar. From dolphin diving, nakupenda and even horse riding. It has all the activities available that you want to do, such as prison island, stone city and everything possible he is an excellent professional who you can count on to carry out the activities he will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you everywhere Contact my friend to do activities Instagram: hamza_tour_guide

G
Gitte R
October 17, 2023
Wild dolphins

Sailed on the ocean to see dolphins and maybe swim with them. They teased, went up and down countless times....but we waited for the right moment (the only boat) and up they came. Definitely an experience, too wild!!!

A
Andrzej_W
August 21, 2023
Poor trip

The tour started hour after schedule, the snorkeling spot was disaster which I can’t understand because Mnemba Island is recommended as the best one. Probably hundreds of boats go to the same reef where there is several fishes… Thw one positive aspect that we saw dolphins.

M
mbtp01
August 8, 2023
Bad experience. Do not book!

First, all the tours offered online and at the beach are exactly the same tour with exactly the same boats. However, on the beach we were offered it for 25$ per person. Less then half of what we paid here. For the price you would expect an ecofriendly tour, but but this was actually the worst part. We found dolphins but we were one of 20 boats circling them. When they were surfacing, people jumped into the water like maniacs while boats were crusing only feet away from the people. One person I saw actually jumping right on a dolphin!! It's crazy and just sad. Then we went to a place with starfish. Tourists dived them up in large numbers to take instagram-pictures and just threw them back in. Not knowing they can be infected or hurt by being dived up every day. Noone there had any respect for nature. To be fair, our Captain asked the people on our boat to put the starfish back where they were. Still I am really sorry I was part of financing this. If I could I would undo it..

5 people found this helpful
Operator response

The government is fighting so hard to stop trips being sold on the beach and here advertising that thing. Anything happens with beach boys cannot be guaranteed, from your safety and everything. Also the government loosing alot of taxes which is not good for the economy. Beachboys are illegal, trips being sold on the beach its illegal. The trip on the beach and this one is not the same. Nothing is being guaranteed trips on the beach, Anything cannot be guaranteed. Those boats that doesn't follow the rules are mostly booked by beachboys, and majority doesn't have license and insurance, and they dont follow the rules, so it might be stopped. We operate the trip eco friendly, we follow all protocols, our boats are all safe with life jackets and life ring. Our crew can assist you snorkeling and instruct you on the trip.

T
Tanja F
July 5, 2023
Dolphin hunt and mass tourism

Snorkeling crowded with 300 other people, injured dolphins mass tourism Cruelty to animals We were able to observe the dolphins in their natural environment, but they were under stress and fled again and again.

1 people found this helpful
F
Francisco S
July 1, 2023
Dolphin is amazing

I did all my activities with this friend of mine in zanzibar. From snorkling dolphins, nakupenda and even horse riding. It has all the activities available that you want to do such as prison island, stone town and everything possible he is an excellent professional who you can count on to do the activities he will pick you up from the hotel and accompany you everywhere Contact my friend to make activities Instagram: hamza _tour_guide

S
shvarz
June 22, 2023
Sad and unsafe

There are lots of companies running these tours and all do the same thing. Swimming with dolphins: 8-10 boats at a time are chasing a pod of dolphins, all jostling each other. As soon as they get close, people jump off and try to get close to dolphins, who dive down. This is dolphin harassment and also not safe for people as there's risk of being run over by the boats. Coral reef snorkeling: All these boats then come to a fairly small reef. Most of the reef is dead, but there are some live corals and still plenty of fish to see. The problem is that all the boats crowd together and you have to swim between them constantly in danger of bumping into one or, worse, being bumped by one. So, good views, but unsafe conditions. After that many boats come to the shallow sand bank, that was pretty nice. Overall, I would not recommend these trips, or recommend finding a way to go when there are less people if possible.

3 people found this helpful

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