Kizimkazi

Kizimkazi sits at the southern tip of Unguja and is the oldest continuously settled place on the island. The mosque here carries a Kufic inscription dated to 1107, the earliest known Islamic inscription in East Africa, and the village has been a fishing community ever since.

Kizimkazi is best known today for the dolphins. Pods of bottlenose and humpback dolphins live in the waters off the south coast and boats go out at first light to find them. When it is done properly, with the crew keeping distance and letting the animals set the terms, it is a good experience. Ask us and we will put you with operators who work that way.

Salaam Cave sits inland from the village, a small natural coral cave lit by candlelight, with a still freshwater pool for swimming. It is the quietest of the island’s three visitable caves.

The village itself is small, quiet and largely undeveloped by tourism, with a handful of hotels along the coast either side of it.

Kizimkazi holds the oldest known Islamic inscription in East Africa, dated 1107, and the waters off the south coast are home to resident pods of bottlenose and humpback dolphins.

June to October is dry and the sea is calmest for boat trips.
December to February is hot and bright.
March to May brings the long rains and rougher water.
Dolphin trips leave at first light, when the sea is flattest and the pods are most active.

Kizimkazi has a small number of hotels and lodges along the coast either side of the village. Nothing here is large. Many visitors stay elsewhere and come for the morning dolphin trip. We book across every category.

About an hour by road from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, on the road down the south-west of the island. We meet every flight with a name board and a fixed price agreed in advance.