15 Aquarium Visits in Tanzania Worth Booking

1.Nungwi Turtle Aquarium Guided Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 197 reviews · 2.5 - 5 hours · from $22Our pick

Meet rescued green turtles in Nungwi’s natural tidal lagoon, feed them seaweed, and swim beside them with an aquarium guide. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and a private driver are included. Some trips also add a village visit or free time at Kendwa Beach.

“My husband and I had a wonderful time on this trip. Not only did we get an unforgettable experience with the turtles (which were all in very good condition), our guide also gave us an unexpected tour of a local village where we attempted weaving and coconut shaving with the elder and learnt about local culture. At no point were we pressured to buy anything and felt this whole morning was a genuine and welcome experience. Would highly recommend.”

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2.Swim with Sea Turtles at Baraka or Salaam Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 65 reviews · 3 hours · from $80

Meet rescued sea turtles at Baraka Aquarium in Nungwi or Salaam Aquarium in Kizimkazi, chosen according to your hotel’s location. Swim in the lagoons, feed the turtles seaweed, take photos, and hear about their care and future rehabilitation from a local guide. English-speaking pickup is included.

“Abdul was an amazing and knowledgeable host. He picked us up early so we could avoid the crowds at the aquarium and told us all about the history of Zanzibar on our journey. 10/10 would recommend!”

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3.5-Hour Snorkeling, Swimming with Dolphins and Sea Turtles Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 48 reviews · from $60

From Nungwi, join Suleiman and a maximum of six other people for a five-hour sea outing to Mnemba Atoll. Expect reef fish, dolphin spotting, a fruit picnic on a sandbank, and a final swim in a natural sea-turtle lagoon.

“I wish I could split the day and rate it as separate experiences. Sea Turtles - 5 stars - amazing! This was so special. We were taken off the boat and walked a short distance to the aquarium and into the lagoon. The guy who met us was friendRead more”

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4.Massai village & Baraka turtules aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 42 reviews · 5 hours · from $57

Spend an afternoon near Kidoti learning about Maasai life, dress, customs, and dance, then visit Nungwi Mnarani Aquarium to swim with and feed turtles. Hotel pickup, entry fees, an English-speaking guide, and small-group transport are included. Guide Isaac has been praised for caring family groups.

“This was very informative and entertaining. My group loved this excursion”

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5.Baraka Aquarium Feed, Swim & Snorkel with Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 27 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

At Baraka Natural Aquarium near Nungwi, you can feed rescued sea turtles seaweed, swim in their coral-rock tidal pool, and learn about rehabilitation. A private guide, hotel pickup, entry fees, and water are included. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and patience for a hands-on visit.

“We would have liked to snorkel for longer but was super fun.”

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6.Swimming with Turtles at Salaam Cave Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 26 reviews · 4 hours · from $56

Spend four hours visiting Salaam Cave Aquarium in Kizimkazi, learning about turtle protection, and swimming near turtles as they feed. A private guide meets you at your hotel, provides water and entrance fees, and returns you afterward. Bring a towel, sun protection, and sturdy footwear.

“Ha sido divertira. Algo diferente y para recordar y repetir”

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7.Mnemba Island Half Day Live Aquarium With Transfer – Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 19 reviews · from $46

Leave early for a three-hour Mnemba reef trip with a professional guide, boat ride, snorkeling gear, fruit and snacks, and possible dolphin sightings. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you choose the transfer option. Expect a boat-based outing, not a guaranteed visit onto Mnemba Island.

“My husband and I went on this trip two days ago. The driver was 40 minutes late unprepared (had to stop twice - to fill air in tires and gasoline in tank). He put us on a boat and the captain took us to see the dolpins and then to the coral reef. We saw dolphins, a lot of fishRead more”

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8.Mnemba Snorkeling, Dolphin and Baraka Natural Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · from $75

Join Captain Barnaba Excursions for a five-hour outing from northern Zanzibar. Ludwig and the guides take you by motorboat to dolphin waters, Mnemba’s coral reefs, a tide-dependent sandbank, and Nungwi’s Baraka Natural Aquarium, where you can see and swim with green turtles.

“This was BY FAR the best experience I have ever had in my entire life. The guides went above and beyond to explain everything to us and to guarantee we had the ultimate experience. A MUST when in zanzibar. This was magical. I cannot recommend enough. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience!”

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9.Horse Ride + Swimming with Turtles in Aquarium at Nungwi Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $150

Spend about four hours with private transport, starting with a one-hour bareback horse swim at Mangapwani or Sea Cliff Beach. Then visit Baraka Natural Aquarium in Nungwi to see, feed, and swim with rescued sea turtles. You must be able to swim. Bottled water and entrance fees are included.

“The tour guide we very personable, and make sure I was comfortable throughout the entire tour. The drivers was always ready to drive from hotel to each of the location and he was punctual.”

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10.Full Day Private Mnemba Island + Turtles Aquarium & Kendwa Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · from $104

Spend a full day around Mnemba Island swimming near wild bottlenose dolphins, snorkeling, and visiting a low-tide sandbank. Then see sea turtles at Baraka Natural Aquarium and relax at Kendwa Beach. Private transport, gear, water, and fruit are included, while lunch costs extra.

“Contact with the provider was slow upon requesting confirmation of the tour. The snorkelling was not enjoyable. Too many boats and was very crowed. We spent most of the time trying to avoid other swimmers and boats. We enjoyed seeing the turtles and going to the beach.”

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11.Jozani Forest, Kuza Cave & Salaam Cave Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 6 reviews · 7 - 8 hours · from $115

Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private guide exploring Jozani Forest, swimming in Kuza Cave, and feeding sea turtles at Salaam Cave Aquarium. Hotel pickup, entrance fees, water, and swimming safety guidance are included. Choose from seven guide languages when booking.

“Nous avons été déçue. 1 : dans l’annonce nous avions sélectionner la langue française, ce qui n’a pas été respecté. Le fait de ne parler anglais en soit ne nous as pas déranger c’est plutôt sur le principe autant ne pas proposer si vous ne faites pas. 2. Le chauffeur est arrivé en retard à cause apparemment du trafic, puis s’est arrêté prendre de l’essence (ça il nous a prévenu pas de soucis) puis a un autre moment sur la route il s’arrête encore une fois descend de la voiture (sans rien nous dire et reviens 10min après). A la forêt de Jozani il nous lâche en nous montrant du…”

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12.Nungwi Village Tour & Swim with Turtles at Mnarani Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 5 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $54

Spend 2.5 hours with a private guide exploring Nungwi’s fish market, dhow boat yard, village streets, and Mnarani Natural Aquarium. You’ll need about $10 in cash for aquarium entry and the turtle swim. Guides speak several languages, including English, German, French, and Spanish.

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13.Baraka Aquarium and Dolphin Sightseeing with Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $115Top rated

Spend about eight hours with guide and driver Ali or the Kijo Viaggio team, visiting Baraka Aquarium, searching for dolphins near Matemwe and Mnemba, then sailing from Nungwi on a traditional dhow at sunset. Lunch, water, snorkeling gear, transport, and fees are included.

“Ali was the Perfect Guide for this Trip. Very reliable and friendly!”

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14.Horseback Riding and Turtle Aquarium Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4 reviews · 1 day · from $150

You’ll ride a horse bareback with a natural halter on Nungwi Beach, guided by a multilingual team, then visit Baraka Natural Aquarium to feed and swim with turtles. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and photos are included. You must be able to swim and feel comfortable around horses.

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15.Private Mnemba Island and Turtle Aquarium Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $190

Spend about seven hours with a private guide and boat exploring Mnemba Island’s reefs, then swim, snorkel, and feed sea turtles at Baraka Aquarium near Nungwi. Guides such as Mohamed and Abdul have helped tailor the day to different comfort levels. Pickup, fruit, and snorkeling gear are included.

“We did a number of tours with this company, we went to the turtle aquarium, snorkelling, swimming with dolphins. They provided airport transfers, provided us transport to stone town and a spice farm. They were friendly and helpful and there was lots of laughter. We felt safe with them. The overall experience was great. Would definitely recommend.”

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