Tanzania · SUNSET DHOW CRUISES
This is the shortlist you would text a friend: 15 sunset dhow cruises worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the thing to know before you commit.
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.”
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.”
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”
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”
You’ll sail from Zanzibar toward Kwale Island and Menai Bay aboard a traditional dhow, with snorkeling, a tide-dependent sandbank, a clear green mangrove lagoon, and a grilled seafood lunch. Hotel pickup, equipment, soft drinks, and a small group of up to 15 are included.
“A great experience. Definitely an enjoyable time in Zanzibar. The transport to/from needs improvement. Tour company hires 3rd party for this.”
Meet at Nungwi Inn Beach Restaurant near The Z Hotel for a three-hour sunset cruise on a traditional dhow. Expect a beach walk, coconut drink, music, snacks, and sunset views, but bring water shoes and confirm drinks, departure time, and boat capacity.
“The guide did not show up at the meeting point. When contacted, he informed us to get on a boat that the captain had not received money for our excursion. We were not allowed on the boat; cost us two cab fares and no sunset cruise.”
Join a shared traditional dhow cruise from Nungwi and Kendwa at 3:30 pm. Guide Charisma is associated with the trip, which includes live local music, bottled water, tropical fruit, and sunset views. The four-hour outing suits couples and anyone wanting a calm, photo-friendly evening on Zanzibar’s coast.
“It was a nice cruise with a view of the sunset. The guide willingly attended to us and took care of us. I can recommend it for me, although I would recommend it for someone who likes quieter and more boring activities without adrenaline.”
Join Amaya Tours for a 2.5-hour sunset sail from Nungwi Beach on a traditional wooden dhow. You’ll see the coast toward Kendwa, stop for photos or swimming, enjoy snacks and water, and hear traditional music. Hotel pickup is offered from several Zanzibar beach areas.
“Super relaxing cruise with an amazing sunset. One of my favorite things we did in Zanzibar”
Spend about seven hours sailing from Zanzibar City on a traditional dhow, with stops for swimming, snorkeling, a sandbank, the ancient baobab tree, and a Swahili seafood barbecue on Kwale Island. Adam and his crew have earned praise for safe, friendly service, though pickup details need checking.
“Adam and his team on the dhow ensured that the eclectic mix of passengers on his dhow including two very young little boys had a safe and enjoyable time. The sandbar was amazing, the starfish colourful but looked unworldly. The lunch of seafood on Kwale island delicious. But for me the best bit of the day after the snorkelling was sailing without engines on the dhow.”
Sail from Nungwi Beach at 4:00 PM on a traditional wooden dhow for Zanzibar’s golden-hour sunset. You’ll get ocean views, a calm tropical setting, and possible fruit and water service. The cruise lasts about two hours, with total activity time listed as 2.5 hours.
“There’s so much that could be done to improve this activity. The meeting point was emailed to us but no one was there at the meeting time and the contact number for the organiser was 1 digit short so I had to call the help centre, then someone came to meet us. Luckily someone in our group had a local sim and could use their phone to call. When we were boarding the tide was in so everyone tried to carry their bags at shoulder height but my almost 80yo father forgot about his phone in his shorts pocket so that was submerged and he lost all his photos from…”
Sail privately from Stone Town for about two hours aboard a traditional dhow, with snacks, sunset views, and sights of Prison Island, Bawe Island, Nakupenda Sandbank, Chumbe Island, and more. Pickup and private transport are included, but bring sunscreen and a towel.
“The hotel pickup was delayed because the driver went to the hotel next door but the ride was comfortable and convenient. The boat ride was stunning, although getting onto the shore through rocks was very difficult in a long dress. The crew offered light snacks and refreshRead more”
Board a shared traditional dhow at Nungwi Beach for a late-evening sail along Zanzibar’s north coast. You’ll watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean, enjoy tropical fruit and local snacks, and hear traditional music while meeting other passengers. No individual guide is named.
Board a traditional dhow near Nungwi for a sunset sail along Zanzibar’s Indian Ocean coast. You’ll watch the sky change color, hear local singing and dancing, and share seasonal fruit such as mango, watermelon, banana, and pineapple. Hotel pickup may be arranged.
“Your recommendation means the world to us, and we look forward to welcoming you again for more adventures!”
Meet your guide at Stone Town’s Old Fort for a traditional dhow cruise along Zanzibar’s coast. Enjoy live music, dancing, fruit, snacks, and soft drinks as the sun sets. The cruise lasts about two hours, though the full activity is listed as five hours. Guides speak English, French, Polish, Russian, or German.
“Great experience! Provided snacks, fruit and delicious white wine. The guide will answer any questions you may have. The view during the sunset is incredible, it was very atmospheric, live music and dancing along with a guide as an nicest added bonus ;)”
Join Mussa or another English-speaking guide for a two-hour sunset dhow cruise from Stone Town. You’ll pass the House of Wonders and Old Dispensary, enjoy local snacks, soft drinks, and live traditional music, then return by dhow as the Indian Ocean turns gold.
“A perfect end to the day! Plus, our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Zanzibar and what it’s like to live there. We pestered him with questions and he seemed to genuinely enjoy answering them. Would recommend!”
Pick a park, a reef or a route up the mountain.
