Private Dolphins, Jozani Forest, Kuza Cave and Paje Beach Tour

Dolphins and the reef around Mnemba atoll

Mnemba is a small private island inside a ring of coral reef off the north-east coast of Zanzibar, and the waters around the atoll are among the clearest and richest on the island. Pods of bottlenose and spinner dolphins pass through regularly, and the drop-off along the reef is where boats look for them in the morning, when the sea is calmest. The boat leaves from the beach near Matemwe or Kiwengwa and reaches the atoll in about twenty to thirty minutes.

Our guide and the boat crew follow responsible rules: the boat approaches slowly, keeps its distance and never chases or encircles the animals, and swimming is only where the dolphins are relaxed and the crew judges it safe. Dolphins are wild and sightings are never guaranteed. Mnemba snorkelling over the reef is the second part of the morning, about an hour with masks and fins among parrotfish, angelfish, moray eels and corals a few metres below. Allow about three hours for the whole sea section.

Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

From the coast the tour drives inland to Jozani Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar's only national park, a belt of groundwater forest and mangroves about thirty-five kilometres south-east of Stone Town. It is the home of the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found nowhere else, with a rust-red back, black face and white crown. Family groups feed in the trees close to the trails and are used to quiet visitors, so a Jozani Forest tour usually brings you close to them, though wild animals move freely and nothing is guaranteed.

The guided walk along the forest trail and the raised boardwalk through the mangroves takes about an hour. Jozani Forest opening hours run from early morning to late afternoon; the park entrance is paid at the gate. Wear closed shoes, bring insect repellent and keep a little distance from the monkeys, which are curious but should never be fed.

Kuza Cave in Jambiani

Kuza Cave is a limestone cave in the village of Jambiani, south of Paje, where a pool of clear freshwater fills the bottom of the cavern and light from the opening turns it turquoise. For the villagers it has long been a sacred place, and a small cultural centre beside it shares Swahili traditions, drumming and crafts. After the salt and sun of the morning, a swim in Kuza Cave is cool and silent, and most guests stay about forty-five minutes to an hour.

How to get to Kuza Cave is simple on this private tour, as it lies on the road between Jozani and the south-east beaches, and the entrance fee is paid on site. Bring a towel and keep swimwear on under your clothes. The pool is deep, so non-swimmers should stay on the steps or use a float, and the rock can be slippery, so take care on the way down.

The Rock at Michamvi Pingwe and lunch

At Pingwe on the Michamvi peninsula the tour stops at The Rock, the small restaurant perched on a coral outcrop a short way off the beach, reached on foot at low tide and by small boat at high tide. The view of it against the turquoise lagoon and the white line of the reef is the classic east-coast photo of Zanzibar, and the stop takes about twenty minutes.

Lunch is not included in the tour. If you would like to eat at The Rock, tell us when booking and we will try to help with a reservation; the meal is at your own expense. Otherwise your guide suggests beach restaurants in Paje or Jambiani serving Swahili grilled fish, rice and fruit, and the lunch break is timed as you prefer.

Paje Beach, the end of the day

The day ends on Paje Beach, the long white strand at the heart of the south-east coast, about an hour by road from Stone Town. A shallow lagoon stretches out to a reef far offshore, seaweed farmers work the flats at low tide, and the afternoon wind fills the sky with kites. The village behind the palms is relaxed and friendly, with cafes and small guesthouses. The best time to swim at Paje Beach is around high tide, when the water comes up to the sand.

Free time here is as long as you like, typically an hour, which is the advantage of a private tour after a full day. Afterwards our driver takes you back to your hotel, wherever you stay on the island; from Paje, Stone Town is about an hour away and the north coast about an hour and a half.