Popular Water Activities To Do During Excursions in Zanzibar : For those who are planning to test the waters or participate in watersports while visiting Zanzibar, we have listed the best activities to do in the water here. With its stunning Turquoise Ocean and white sand beaches all around, Zanzibar is among the greatest places for water sports like swimming, fishing, diving, snorkeling, and more. A quick boat ride from the Mnemba Atoll Marine Park, which is well-known for its plethora of marine life and stunning beach settings, leads to one of the greatest water sports in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar Island offers an extensive range of water sports in addition to fishing and scuba diving, such as windsurfing, snorkelling, kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing, kiteboarding, dhow cruises, and other exciting and leisurely pursuits. When you first arrive in Zanzibar, the first things that spring to mind are the beaches and the water. The view is breathtaking, with blue tones abounding. You have to see it for yourself to truly understand its beauty.
The turquoise water of the Indian Ocean that envelops Zanzibar is not only lovely to behold but also enjoyable to swim in. Which are the best water sports and things to do on Zanzibar Island when on vacation? The following are the best and most well-liked water sports and activities you can partake in while in Zanzibar:
Scuba diving and snorkelling.
The underwater attractions of Zanzibar include a vast array of marine life, including barracudas, dolphins, hawksbill and green turtles, manta rays, and many more. There is also an incredible variety of hard and soft corals.
Zanzibar is home to incredible coral reefs and over 450 different species of fish. While snorkelling is possible almost anywhere on the island, the best locations are those close to the well-known Mnemba Atoll, a marine conservation area.
Mnemba Island, off the northeastern coast of Zanzibar, is a popular spot for diving and snorkelling. There are many more excellent dive sites, including wrecks, around Mafia Island and the main Zanzibar Island, Pemba Island, as well as in the canal between the two. Snorkelling is excellent right off the shore at low tide at the Menai Bay Conservation Area off the southwest coast of Zanzibar, Chumbe Island, and Chole Bay on Mafia Island.
The conditions are good because the water temperature ranges from 24–25°C in July or August to 28–29°C in January or February. The water’s extraordinary clarity allows for an average underwater visibility of 12 to 18 metres, with the potential to reach 30 metres. It’s as if you never visited Zanzibar if you are on the island and fail to see this amazing underwater wonderland.
Swimming with dolphins.
This is the kind of experience that ought to be on every traveler’s wish list for Zanzibar. Swimming with dolphins in their natural habitat is an amazing experience that you won’t soon forget. In their current state, they ought to remain wild and unrestrained. It’s more common to swim alongside dolphins than with them, which is exactly how nature intended it to be. The most well-liked place to swim with dolphins is the settlement of Kizimkazi on the southwest coast of Zanzibar, where you can see both bottlenose and humpback dolphins.
This safari activity is offered by a wide variety of tour companies, but we suggest you do your homework and pick a reliable provider because some of them provide unethical dolphin encounters. The large number of boats and people during peak hours, coupled with some operators’ unrestrained pursuit and “corralling” of dolphins, is making the dolphins more apprehensive.
Be ready to get up early because most trips start at sunrise due to the water’s tendency to warm up throughout the day and the dolphins’ tendency to descend to the ocean floor in order to escape the heat. You get a momentary glimpse into the world of dolphins and can feel their presence right beneath you when you jump into the water while they are swimming around.
Parasailing or paragliding.
In Zanzibar water sports, participants can soar more than 400 feet (122 metres) over the ocean using a 984-foot-long (300-meter) rope. This is one of the greatest ways to enjoy a little adventure and the best vistas on the island. You are harnessed into a parachute that is connected to a speedboat. The best part is that you don’t have to do it alone. Most operators offer tandem parasailing experiences so you and your significant other can enjoy the amazing views together.
Water skiing and wake-boarding.
The water close to Zanzibar is calm for the majority of the year, which is perfect for wakeboarding and water skiing. This one is for adrenaline addicts and thrill seekers. This one is a fast-moving boat ride, so hold on tight! You can use two skis or, for a less complicated option, a wakeboard to ski on top of the water.
Kiteboarding.
It’s a popular sport all over the world where you get pulled across the ocean by a massive kite while riding a small surfboard. Although kiteboarding is slower than skiing, it is still an exciting sport. Zanzibar does not offer kiteboarding all year round because it requires wind. The best months to go kiteboarding are December to March and June to September.
Because of its shallow waters, sandy bottom, and consistent winds, Paje, a settlement on Zanzibar’s southeast coast, is the main place to go kite-surfing. The offshore reef offers amazing waves for more experienced kite surfers seeking wave riding, wake style, and free riding.
Dhow cruise.
Adhow is a classic one-masted wooden sailing vessel with lantern sails for long-distance trade and transport in the Indian Ocean region. Its fanciful form symbolizes the coast of East Africa. A day or several-hour dhow cruise around Zanzibar’s small islands is a fantastic and romantic experience. Evening trips include light refreshments, and day trips usually include a swim and lunch stop at an outer island or sandbank. A timeless and moving view of the sunsets can be seen from the dhow.
