The Top Places to Swim with Dolphins in Zanzibar

When it comes to the coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is the center of attraction, and that’s mainly because of the tourism that has replaced the hunting practices some years back. These activities were previously endangering the sea animals.

With a multitude of bottlenose dolphins, the spinner and humpbacks dolphin, Zanzibar is renowned as a perfect place for your holiday.
There are several hotels along the coast of Zanzibar that organize dolphin tours for tourists and the beach is the best place to spot and relate with these dolphins.

Getting to the beach every morning before the water gets warm is most fun! You’ll spot several schools of dolphins from afar, just before the sun becomes scorching.

Top three places to swim with dolphins in Zanzibar include:

Kizimkazi Beach

If you’re looking to reconnect with nature, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to explore the most popular place to spot Zanzibar dolphins, the Kizimkazi Beach. Just across a small village on the south of the Zanzibar Island, this beach features miles of white sand and turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. It wouldn’t be a complete description if I don’t mention the several schools of bottle-nosed and humpback dolphins.

Other than swimming with the dolphins, you can indulge in other activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling to explore the underwater world.
When you go on a dolphin tour your tour operator will take you on a boat to the places where the dolphins frequent. Usually it will be early morning and there would be many boats as there are many tourists who wish to see as well as swim with the dolphins. Once the boats are ready all of them will head to the dolphin area and as soon as the dolphins are spotted the motors of the boat would be switched off or kept at a low hum. The boats will usually encircle the dolphins so that they stay in that circle and once this is done, the tourists can get into the water and swim alongside these wonderful creatures. However, care should be taken to not touch the dolphins as it is frowned upon. The dolphins generally love humans and will keep swimming and jumping in the water. Keep your cameras ready and take some wonderful pictures.

Menai Bay

The breath-taking Menai Bay is a wonder to behold. The Menai water is very calm and cool for swimming, but the company of the dolphins takes this to a whole new level. There are several schools of the bottle-nosed dolphins there, and many tourists like the calm nature of this part of Zanzibar.

Nungwi and Matemwe

Just along the north of the Unguja Island, you have Nungwi and Matemwe. The sparkling white sands blends with the turquoise water body that gives you a true sensation of nature. When you swim, you don’t do it alone. There are schools of dolphins so you don’t get bored. However, when you find yourself here, don’t go fish feeding.