Tanzania · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

Top 15 Cruises & Boat Tours in Tanzania

42 tours  ·  from $18

The 15 best cruises & boat tours you can book today, with the price, the length of the day and who each one suits. Number one is there for a reason; start at the top.

From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure - Starting from Mama Mia at 8:30
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dolphin Watching, Kendwa Tours, Mnemba Island Tours, Mnemba Island Tours in Kendwa, Tour Reviews

From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

1.Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,043 reviews · 4 hours · from $50Our pick

Set out from Mama Mia near Kendwa at 8:30 for a four-hour English-guided boat trip with Captbarnabatours. Search for dolphins respectfully, snorkel Mnemba Atoll, and visit a disappearing sandbank when tides allow. Captain Ludo, Hassan, Hamis, Abra, and Ebra are among the crew praised for careful, friendly support.

“The tour was simply amazing. We swam with many dolphins, and it was an unforgettable experience. What we really appreciated was that the dolphins were not chased. Sometimes we were completely alone with them in the open sea, which felt very special and respectful. The driver and the guide were incredibly kind and friendly. We also enjoyed delicious fresh fruit on the sandbank. There was enough time for snorkeling around Mnemba Island, and we never felt rushed. We highly recommend this tour!”

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Zanzibar: Prison Island and Nakupenda Boat Trip with Lunch - Prison Island: cells, stories, and enormous tortoises
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Nakupenda Sandbank Trips, Nakupenda Sandbank Trips in Zanzibar, Prison Island Tours, Prison Island Tours in Zanzibar, Tour Reviews, Zanzibar Tours

Zanzibar: Prison Island and Nakupenda Boat Trip with Lunch

2.Prison Island and Nakupenda Boat Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 882 reviews · 6 - 9 hours · from $39

From Stone Town, guide Milano Prada or another multilingual guide takes you by boat to Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank. Expect tortoises, old prison cells, swimming, snorkeling, fresh seafood, fruit, and a long beach stop. Hotel pickup is optional, and private groups are available.

“Milano was a great guide. We had the best day from start to finish - would highly recommend!!”

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Zanzibar: Prison Island & Nakupenda Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch - Meeting your guide outside Stone Town
BBQ, Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Nakupenda Sandbank Trips, Nakupenda Sandbank Trips in Zanzibar, Prison Island Tours, Prison Island Tours in Zanzibar, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zanzibar Tours

Zanzibar: Prison Island & Nakupenda Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch

3.Prison Island & Nakupenda Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 554 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $35

Sail from Stone Town to Changuu, known as Prison Island, for colonial ruins and giant Aldabra tortoises. Then spend several hours at Nakupenda Sandbank swimming, snorkeling, and eating a BBQ lunch. Guides such as Salim and Bahama lead friendly, informative small-group trips.

“The activities were great! Very well planned and organized. Very nice tour guides!”

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Matemwe: Mnemba Island Dolphin & Snorkeling Boat Trip - Meeting at The Mora beach in Matemwe
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dolphin Watching, Mnemba Island Tours, Mnemba Island Tours in Nungwi, Nungwi Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Matemwe: Mnemba Island Dolphin & Snorkeling Boat Trip

4.Mnemba Island Dolphin & Snorkeling Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 152 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $35

Meet your captain at The Mora beach in Matemwe for a half-day boat trip toward Mnemba Island. You’ll snorkel, watch for dolphins and turtles, enjoy fresh fruit, and travel with guides such as Lava Lava, Abdul, or Nasor when available.

“It was great. Pretty choppy waters so not great if sea sick. Could have been fed more”

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Zanzibar: Sunset Dhow Cruise - Boarding Near Nungwi Beach and Sexy Fish Restaurant
Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Sunset Dhow Cruises, Tour Reviews, Zanzibar Tours

Zanzibar: Sunset Dhow Cruise

5.Sunset Dhow Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 141 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $19Best value

You’ll cruise from Kendwa Beach with an English-speaking guide, fresh fruit, drinks for purchase, and live drumming aboard a wooden dhow. Hotel pickup covers Nungwi, Kendwa, Stone Town, and nearby areas. Expect a 3 to 4-hour outing and waist-deep water when boarding.

“Great experience! Super lovely tour guides. Would highly recommend if you want to see the sunset in an enjoyable way.”

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Zanzibar: Mnemba island Snorkeling & Boat Tour with Lunch - From Muyuni Beach to the Mnemba waters
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Mnemba Island Tours, Mnemba Island Tours in Zanzibar, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zanzibar Tours

Zanzibar: Mnemba island Snorkeling & Boat Tour with Lunch

6.Mnemba island Snorkeling & Boat Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 132 reviews · 6 hours · from $47

Travel from your Zanzibar hotel to Muyuni Beach, then take a boat toward protected Mnemba Island. Snorkel with an English-speaking instructor among coral and fish, enjoy tropical fruit and an optional seafood lunch, and return after about six hours. Guides may include Abdul, Hassan, Tom, or Lava Lava.

“It was really goo trip. We saw many beautiful fishes and a lof of sfarfishes. Tom, our driver is really friendly and he told us some historical context about Zanzibar. Later we went swimming and snorkeling. Suddenly no dolphins today but it’s ok. Also we had an amazing lunch with delicious seafood.I really recommend it!”

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Sunset party cruise in Zanzibar with BoomBoom Boat - Starting at The Z Hotel in Nungwi
Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews, Zanzibar City Tours

Sunset party cruise in Zanzibar with BoomBoom Boat

7.Sunset party cruise in Zanzibar with BoomBoom Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 76 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $25

Join BoomBoom Boat at The Z Hotel in Nungwi for a 3.5-hour sunset party cruise with music, disco lights, fruit, and a swim stop. An MC keeps the deck lively as you pass Nungwi and Kendwa. Hosts speak English, Italian, Ukrainian, and Russian.

“Lo mejor si quieres conocer a gente allí. Los animadores Chada lo mejor!”

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From Nungwi : Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure - The dolphin search near Zanzibar’s northern coast
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dolphin Watching, Kendwa Tours, Mnemba Island Tours, Mnemba Island Tours in Kendwa, Tour Reviews

From Nungwi : Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

8.Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 39 reviews · 4 hours · from $50

You’ll leave from Nungwi or Kendwa around 9:00 for dolphin spotting, reef snorkeling near Mnemba, and a possible white sandbank stop. An English-speaking guide, boat, gear, fruit, soft drinks, life jacket, and conservation fees are included. The four-hour trip returns by 13:00.

“Overall, 3/5 is fair. Dolphin snorkelling - a group of 10-15 boats were in the same area, and as soon as dolphins were spotted, all raced towards it. If you weren’t in the first boat, the dolphins were scared away by the time you got there. Still, the thrill of racing towards dolphins and jumping out of a moving boat felt like something out of a Mission Impossible movie, an expected adrenaline rush. The Mnemba Boat Trip - truly beautiful. Unfortunately, the journey from the dolphins to the island took an unexpectedly long time, but when we arrived, we were treated to some time on a sandbank where we were…”

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Zanzibar: Nungwi Sunset Dhow Cruise - What sailing a traditional dhow feels like
Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Nungwi Tours, Sunset Dhow Cruises, Sunset Dhow Cruises in Nungwi, Tour Reviews

Zanzibar: Nungwi Sunset Dhow Cruise

9.Nungwi Sunset Dhow Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 39 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $19

Board the traditional dhow Kilimanjaro at Nungwi Beach near Sexy Fish Restaurant for a 2.5-hour sunset sail. You’ll see the Indian Ocean at golden hour, eat seasonal fruit, hear local drums and songs, and may swim before returning. Hotel pickup is available in selected areas.

“Lovely experience. Drummers and singers are loud if you sit near the front of the boat, so sit near the back if you have sensitive ears.”

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Full-Day Blue Lagoon and Sandbank Boat Tour from Zanzibar ( Safari blue) - The 8 a.m. pickup and the journey to the coast
Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day, Nakupenda Sandbank Trips, Nakupenda Sandbank Trips in Zanzibar City, Safari, Safari Blue Dhow Trips, Safari Blue Dhow Trips in Zanzibar City, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zanzibar City Tours

Full-Day Blue Lagoon and Sandbank Boat Tour from Zanzibar ( Safari blue)

10.Full-Day Blue Lagoon and Sandbank Boat Tour from Zanzibar ( Safari blue)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 35 reviews · from $100

Spend about eight hours on a shared dhow from Zanzibar City, visiting Kwale Island, a sandbank, the Blue Lagoon, and Niamembe Island. Expect snorkeling gear, fruit, seafood lunch, drinks, and guides such as Amina, Sunnia, or Abas, with organization varying by departure.

“Picked up 8am at hotel. At the beach, waited til 9.30am for the canoe to come, not a dhow. We asked where’s the dhow. Then waited til 10.30am for the dhow to come. At the sand bank, there was no fruits whereas other groups had fruits. The Read more”

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Zanzibar: Maasai village Tour with Sunset Dhow Cruise - Nungwi Beach connects the village to the sea
Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Nungwi Tours, Sunset Dhow Cruises, Sunset Dhow Cruises in Nungwi, Tour Reviews, Tours

Zanzibar: Maasai village Tour with Sunset Dhow Cruise

11.Maasai village Tour with Sunset Dhow Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 32 reviews · 3 - 5.5 hours · from $52

Meet a Maasai guide at Maasai World Village, learn about customs and daily life, and try traditional dress before boarding a dhow near Nungwi. Fruit is served during the shared sunset cruise, with time to swim, so bring a towel and clothes that can get wet.

“It’s was very nice tour ever , we experience a lot of culture from Masai and the sunset was amazing! I really recommend it”

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Zanzibar: Private Sail to Pungume Sandbank with BBQ Lunch - The drive south toward Kizimkazi
BBQ, Cruises & Boat Tours, Kizimkazi Tours, Lunch Experiences, Nakupenda Sandbank Trips, Private, Tour Reviews

Zanzibar: Private Sail to Pungume Sandbank with BBQ Lunch

12.Private Sail to Pungume Sandbank with BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $85

From your Zanzibar hotel, travel to Kizimkazi and sail by private boat toward Pungume Sandbank. Your English-speaking guide and captain look for dolphins before taking you to clear water for swimming, snorkeling, and a seafood BBQ. Guides such as Abdul and Iddi have earned praise for their friendly help.

“Superbe activité, le guide était savant. Il connaissait la biodiversité, l’histoire du pays… la croisière était calme privée et surtout plaisante. Merci beaucoup à notre guide.”

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Stone Town: Sunset Dhow Cruise Experience - Boarding a shared Arabian dhow
Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Stone Town Walking Tours, Stone Town Walking Tours in Zanzibar City, Sunset Dhow Cruises, Tour Reviews, Zanzibar City Tours

Stone Town: Sunset Dhow Cruise Experience

13.Sunset Dhow Cruise Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 22 reviews · from $39

Join a shared traditional dhow from Stone Town for a sunset sail along the waterfront. Expect views of the House of Wonders and Old Dispensary, local music, snacks, and soft drinks. The cruise is listed at about two hours, though some outings have lasted closer to 80 to 90 minutes.

“Really enjoyable time, but it lasted about 1 hour and 20 minutes, not 2 hours as advertised”

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3 Days Nyerere NP [Selous GR] Game, Walking and Boat - Day 2: A full game drive beside the Rufiji
3-Day Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dar es Salaam Tours, Nyerere National Park Safaris, Nyerere National Park Safaris in Dar es Salaam, Tour Reviews, Walking Tours

3 Days Nyerere NP [Selous GR] Game, Walking and Boat

14.3 Days Nyerere NP [Selous GR] Game, Walking and Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $750Top rated

Spend three days in Nyerere National Park, formerly Selous Game Reserve, with a private guide, Rufiji River sunset cruise, full-day game drive, and morning bush walk. The operator works with guides including Hassan, Eric, and Salum Msese, with pickup and drop-off in Dar es Salaam.

“Fantastic experience! The guys picked us up at our hotel and took us to the airport.”

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Catamaran Sunset Cruise in Stone Town - A yacht built for comfort, not just transport
Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Sailing, Stone Town Walking Tours, Stone Town Walking Tours in Zanzibar, Tour Reviews, Zanzibar Tours

Catamaran Sunset Cruise in Stone Town

15.Catamaran Sunset Cruise in Stone Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $100

Set out from Stone Town at 3:30 pm aboard a spacious catamaran with Captain Lorne, Kiwi, Bakari, and their crew. Enjoy Indian Ocean views, sunset light, snacks, beer, wine, soft drinks, music, and snorkeling gear during this relaxed three-hour cruise for up to 15 people.

“What an amazing afternoon. Bakari and Hussam were amazing and the yatch was perfect. Had a great luxurious sunset on the way back.”

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New in Cruises & Boat Tours

★ 4.8Sunset Sailing Tour with Snacks and DrinksFrom $1086 reviews
★ 4.3African Sunset Boat Party in Zanzibar Music, ViewsFrom $283 reviews
★ 5.0Zanzibar boat rental/charters6 reviews
★ 4.0Zanzibar Sunset CruiseFrom $26010 reviews
★ 5.0The Rock Restaurant by Speed Boat3 reviews
★ 5.0Private Catamaran – Stone Town Islands & Sandbanks (8 hrs)13 reviews
★ 5.0Baraka Aquarium and Dolphin Sightseeing with Sunset CruiseFrom $1154 reviews
★ 5.0Private Catamaran – Stone Town Islands & Sandbanks (5 hrs)10 reviews
★ 4.5Zanzibar Dhow Cruise day adventure, sea sports at Kwale Island, very memorableFrom $13512 reviews
★ 4.0Private Sunset Dhow Cruise in Stone Town ZanzibarFrom $8910 reviews
★ 4.5Dolphin and Turtle Tour with Sunset Cruise at Nungwi BeachFrom $1007 reviews
★ 5.03 Days Explore Selous Game Reserve + Boat safari + bushman walkingFrom $8005 reviews
★ 5.03-Day at Dar es Salaam To Selous GR (Nyerere NP) Game, Boat & Walking SafariFrom $7704 reviews
★ 5.03-Days Private Nyerere NP Game Drive and Boat safari tourFrom $1,8275 reviews
★ 4.7sunset dow cruise at kendwa beachFrom $503 reviews

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Prison Island Tours80Nakupenda Sandbank Trips48Mnemba Island Tours71Snorkeling47Dolphin Watching57Safari Blue Dhow Trips22Sunset Dhow Cruises17Canoes & Kayaks18
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