Private/Sharing: Explore Mnemba Island with a dhow

It was a wonderful excursion with a very nice team. We can recommend this excursion without reservation. It is a totally relaxed day trip.

It was a wonderful day. We had a great day on the sea with a lot of effort. Although it was high tide at the sandbank, swimming was wonderful. We had a great lunch cooked on the ship with a lot of effort. Snorkeling is a bit difficult for inexperienced swimmers because of the waves, but our guide took good care of everyone. The sailing back and the sunset on the sea made this great day unforgettable.

Book your tour with Dream Dhow!!! We had the best day exploring Mnemba island. The staff was extremely friendly and went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. The food was absolutely exceptional and it was our favorite meal we’ve had so far on the island. They also provided water, sodas, and snacks. Lots of food so you won’t go hungry! I enjoyed the evening coffee as well :) We saw dolphins, amazing fish while smirking, and beautiful views as we sailed along the island. Definitely reach out to this team for the best Zanzibar experience.

My wife and I had a fantastic tour. We did the Mnemba island tour and we were able to see dolphins, visit non-crowded snorkling spots, have fun in the crystal kayak and were able to walk on the sand banks without many people. Besided the beauty of the sea (life) the hospitality and going above and beyond from the crew (Mani and team) stood out. They were extremely friendly, helped us with snorkling and provided delicious fresh lunch, drinks and snacks. Thanks guys for the amazing experience - hope many more people will join you!

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We booked the private Mnemba boat trip with Dream Dhow specifically because we wanted to support ethical tourism. Unfortunately, the start of the day was very disappointing and left us feeling quite uncomfortable. The boat took us to an area where a large number of other boats had gathered around a group of dolphins. The dolphins were being surrounded and crowded by the boats, and some tourists were getting into the water near them. Although our guide did not encourage us to jump in, we were disappointed that we had been taken to this location in the first place. My husband asked our guide whether the dolphins found this stressful, and he confirmed that they did. Given that we had specifically chosen this company because of our hope for a more responsible and ethical experience, this was particularly disappointing. We had expected that, if we happened to encounter dolphins, it would be a natural and respectful encounter rather than being taken to the same crowded area where numerous boats were surrounding them. We also paid a significant amount for the private day trip, so this part of the experience left us feeling frustrated and annoyed. The rest of the day was very enjoyable. Mnemba Island was beautiful, lunch was great, and the snorkelling was good. Most importantly, on the way back to Zanzibar, we encountered dolphins again — this time they were simply swimming naturally alongside the boat, with no crowds of other boats around them. This was exactly the kind of experience we had hoped for and showed that it is possible to see dolphins without contributing to the stressful situation we had witnessed earlier. Overall, it was still a good day, but I really hope Dream Dhow will reconsider taking tourists to the crowded area where so many boats surround the dolphins. If the company is promoting an ethical tourism experience, I believe encounters should be handled in a way that puts the wellbeing of the dolphins first. We would have been much happier if the entire dolphin experience had been like the natural encounter we had on the way back.

We booked a private boat trip to Mnemba Island with Dream Dhow, and it was the highlight of our trip to Zanzibar. Word of warning first: there are masses of unregulated boats sold by beach hawkers, and we saw exactly how they operate out on open water. Several of them started aggressively chasing the pod of dolphins, cutting them off, crowding round while tourists started jumping in trying to swim with the dolphins - horrifying as saw a parent push his teenage daughter into the sea and she ended up crying probably as she was surrounded by moving boats and swimmers with no regard for anyone else! Having just been on the most epic safari the week before, we really didn’t want to see a bunch of tourists fling themselves off boats to chase dolphins - it felt a bit like watching a stag do arrive in the middle of a David Attenborough documentary! Dream Dhow are ethical and so the exact opposite which is why we chose them. We got to see dolphins interacting naturally with their calves and the rest of their pod for a few minutes which was amazing. As soon as more boats appeared and it started turning into a scrum, our crew thankfully quickly moved us on. The crew made the day - Hemedy was our brilliant guide, Captain Mbarouk was the captain and Yahaya the chef cooked us an amazing lunch onboard - lobster, fresh fish, chicken, a delicious vegetable curry and rice. Huge fruit platter as a snack with crisps and different types of local nuts. Soft drinks were included and beers available for a small extra charge. Thank you Dream Dhow for such an amazing day.

First off—the staff was INCREDIBLE! Huge shoutout to Hemedy, our guide; Mbarouk, our captain; and Jamal, our chief. We truly cannot express enough how amazing this excursion was from start to finish. There was a huge downpour on our way to the island, and the crew was so quick to cover the boat and make sure we stayed dry. I also ended up getting seasick on the boat, and they were completely prepared—they immediately had medicine available for me and took such great care of me! We specifically chose this company because of their commitment to respecting the dolphins and wildlife. While many boats crowd and bombard the dolphins, this crew kept their distance and was incredibly respectful of the animals. Because of that, we got SO lucky! The dolphins eventually swam away from the crowds, and we were able to see about 10 of them in a much more peaceful and respectful setting. It was such a special experience. And the FOOD… INCREDIBLE. I honestly cannot believe the feast they cooked right on the boat. Everything was so delicious that we could not stop eating! They were also incredibly attentive, constantly checking on us and making sure our drinks were full. We swam for a bit, went snorkeling, and when it was time to head back, they continued serving us snacks—chips and nuts, followed by a beautiful fresh fruit platter once those were gone. We were basically nonstop eating and being taken care of the entire trip! Between the incredible crew, beautiful water, amazing food, and the respectful approach to the dolphins, this was easily one of our favorite experiences. We would absolutely recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Zanzibar!

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Absolutely incredible boat trip. I booked the private tour with my husband, we are newlyweds and are here in Zanzibar for our honeymoon. Besides the boat and the sea being magical in themselves, the guides and staff on the boat were one of the best things about the trip. They were so positive, energetic, and answered all our 1000 questions about everything. They also insisted on taking pictures of us together quite often and then cooked incredible food for us. A magical boat trip!

+2

We had an amazing day on the dhow. It’s a slow-paced experience that lets you truly disconnect and enjoy every moment on the water. The crew was super friendly and kept us informed of the schedule throughout. Honestly the best way to get away from the crowds and unwind.

We had such an amazing day on the Dream Dhow excursion! 🌊☀️ It was the perfect family day out for me, my sister, our two nieces, and my mother. From start to finish, everything was so enjoyable and well organized. We visited Mnemba Island, enjoyed the beautiful water, and had an absolutely delicious lunch served right on the boat. A special shoutout to Hemed, who was our main crew member. He was friendly, attentive, and made sure we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves throughout the day without ever being overbearing. He really helped make the experience memorable. We left with full stomachs, lots of photos, and some very happy nieces! 😂💙 If you’re looking for a fun, relaxed family excursion in Zanzibar, I would definitely recommend Dream Dhow. We had a fantastic time!