Safari Blue Zanzibar
A full day sailing the Menai Bay Conservation Area
- Location Fumba and Menai Bay, south-west Unguja
- Duration Full day, approximately 8 hours
- Tour type Private or shared
- Availability Daily, weather and tide permitting
Price on request Send the form and we reply with a firm quote, usually within a few hours.
Overview
Safari Blue is the classic full-day dhow excursion in Zanzibar, and it earns its reputation. The day runs from Fumba on the south-west coast, out into the Menai Bay Conservation Area, on a traditional wooden dhow with a local crew.
The first stop is the reef, where snorkelling gear is handed out and you spend an hour over live coral and shoals of reef fish. From there the dhow sails on to a mangrove lagoon of extraordinary colour, then to a sandbank that surfaces as the tide drops.
Lunch is served on an uninhabited island: a seafood barbecue with grilled fish, calamari, rice, salads and a spread of tropical fruit, eaten under the palms. The afternoon is free to swim, walk the shoreline or sit in the shade. On the sail home the crew raise the sail properly, and if conditions allow the day finishes with the sun going down over the water.
The day is long, roughly eight hours door to door, and it is the single best value excursion on the island for anyone who wants sea, food and sailing in one trip.
Highlights
- Sail a traditional wooden dhow with a local crew
- Snorkel live coral reef inside a conservation area
- Seafood barbecue lunch on an uninhabited island
- Sandbank and mangrove lagoon stops
- Tropical fruit tasting on the beach
- Sunset sail back to Fumba, conditions permitting
Itinerary
- 07:30
Hotel pickup
Collection from your hotel and the drive to Fumba on the south-west coast.
- 09:00
Boarding and safety briefing
Meet the crew, collect your snorkelling gear and life jacket, and set sail into Menai Bay.
- 10:00
Snorkelling the reef
About an hour over live coral, with the crew in the water alongside you.
- 11:30
Mangrove lagoon and sandbank
Sail into the lagoon, then stop at a sandbank as the tide drops.
- 13:00
Seafood lunch on the island
A barbecue served on an uninhabited island, followed by a spread of seasonal tropical fruit and free time on the beach.
- 15:30
Sail back and sunset
The dhow raises sail for the return leg, timed for the light on the water.
- 17:00
Return transfer
Land at Fumba and transfer to your hotel.
What is included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Traditional dhow with captain and crew
- Professional snorkelling guide
- Snorkelling mask, fins and life jacket
- Seafood barbecue lunch
- Tropical fruit and soft drinks
- Conservation area fees and taxes
- Safety equipment
Not included
- Lunch and drinks, where not listed as included
- Personal shopping and souvenirs
- Gratuities for your guide and driver
- Travel insurance
- Anything not named under what is included
- Alcoholic drinks
Pickup and meeting point
Pickup time: Between 07:00 and 08:30 depending on your hotel.
Meeting point: Hotel reception, then the dhow departs from Fumba.
We collect from these areas:
- Stone Town
- Zanzibar City
- Maungani
- Nungwi
- Kendwa
- Matemwe
- Kiwengwa
- Pwani Mchangani
- Uroa
- Pongwe
- Chwaka
- Michamvi
- Paje
- Jambiani
- Makunduchi
- Kizimkazi
- Fumba
- Mangapwani
What to bring
- Swimwear worn under your clothes
- Towel
- Reef-safe sun cream, applied before boarding
- Hat and sunglasses
- Waterproof bag
- Dry change of clothes
- Light layer for the sail home
Important information
- This is a long day on an open boat. Sun protection and water matter.
- Departure and return times shift with the tide. We confirm your pickup the evening before.
- Tell us about seafood allergies or dietary needs when you book.
- The trip depends on weather. If the sea is unsafe we reschedule or refund rather than sail.
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
How long is the day?
Around eight hours from hotel pickup to hotel drop-off, depending on where you are staying. Guests on the east coast face a longer drive each way.
Is the dhow shaded?
Partly. There is a canopy over the middle of the boat, but you will be in the sun on deck and in the water.
Does this work for young children?
Families do this trip often. Child life jackets are provided. Consider the length of the day and the drive from your hotel when you decide.
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