GUIDE FOR SNORKELING TRIPS IN TANZANIA WITH AFRICANMECCA

The coast off Tanzania and its surrounding islands are blessed with an incredible marine world that is to be seen to be believed. The many islands, large and small each has extraordinarily living coral in many different varieties and an equally stunning array of marine life. You could stay at some of the hotels and resorts on distinct islands and coasts that have been built in strategic locations to allow for easy accessibility to varied snorkeling sites. You can also reach the boat meeting place closest to other accommodations by way of road.

You might call the coral reefs “the rainforests of the ocean” because they support the presence of many life forms that in turn support reef fish and pelagic marine life. If you should vacation in Tanzania during the migratory season of October to March, you are likely to view humpback whales, especially around Mafia Island. Tanzania has varied seasides that you could use as a base for your snorkeling tour in Africa.

If you have never tried exploring this magnificent realm before, snorkeling is perfect for beginners. You only need to know how to swim to view the fascinating marine creatures of the shallows, lighted up by the sunlight filtering through the clear waters.



The warm waters of the Indian Ocean remain at gentle temperatures of around 75-94 F (24-29 C) that are not only ideal conditions for the proliferation of the coral but also allow for comfortable snorkeling sessions. You could begin your marine exploration trip in eastern Tanzania on Zanzibar Island. There are numerous locations around the island with ideal snorkeling depths ranging up to 15 meters.

Among the winding atoll reefs and coral bommies, you are likely to sight many diverse marine creatures like turtles, from hawksbill, loggerhead, green to olive ridley, many varieties of rays, barracudas, octopus, eels and over 400 species of fish including moorish idols, sweetlips, triggerfish, butterflyfish, glassfish, lionfish, zebrafish, leaffish, batfish and many more. The locations around Stone Town, the sunken ships that whisper to you of Zanzibar’s vibrant history and the world-renowned Mnemba all offer many wondrous delights, each more captivating than the other.



You could also visit Kendwa Reef, Kendwa Gardens, the reefs of Bwejuu, Tumbatu Island, to name a few. The Chumbe Marine Park is another must-visit location with AfricanMecca that is part of the Chumbe Island Coral Park. Menai Bay and the islets of Pungume and Komonda are other interesting sites.

The expert snorkel guide or even divemaster assigned via AfricanMecca will take you to the prime snorkeling sites, and will provide you with all the necessary information, from safety to fish identification tips. He will also point to you the many fascinating creatures that have different shapes and forms allowing them to camouflage themselves among the waving coral fingers of the reefs while pods of bottlenose dolphins inspect your curiosity.



Next, you could go on to explore the marine park at Chole Bay on Mafia Island, the first gazetted marine reserve to be set up in Tanzania. The reserve covers a massive 822 square kilometers (317 square miles) in the southern part of Mafia as well as many other small isles. When on your holiday in Africa to this incredible world, you will learn that Chole Bay is a sheltered location that keeps out the monsoon winds coming in from the Indian Ocean, making it a year-round snorkeling site.

At just 10 meters below the surface, you could sight numerous species of fish and other marine creatures such as angelfish, butterflyfish, fusiliers, damselfish, crocodilefish, flatworms, nudibranchs, seahorses, stingrays, frogfish, spanish dancers and many more. Enjoy watching them darting about in the exquisite surroundings created by as-yet-named over 52 species of living coral such as whip corals, giant table corals, sea fans, blue-lipped staghorn and many more.

Here, coral form bommies or coral outcrops grow higher than the coral in most other locations. The prime snorkeling sites around Mafia Island are those between the Chole and Kinasi Walls, Coral Patches, Kisiwa Ndogo and Kisiwa Kubwa, Utumbe, Kirongo or the coral hillocks of Milimani. If you would like to snorkel in one of the most pristine underwater realms in the world, then do include a visit to Pemba Island to your travel itinerary in Tanzania.



The clear waters allow visibility up to depths of an amazing 40 meters (perfect for scuba divers). There is a collection a designated exploration sites around the island and among the many-hued fish you would encounter, you would spot jacks, potato groupers, wahoos, napoleon wrasse, tuna, barracudas, black triggerfish, pufferfish, scorpionfish, dogtooth tuna, parrotfish, giant trevally, titan triggerfish, sweetlips, and green turtles and many more.

Also, look for anemones, sea sponges, squids, and many more outlandish creatures. You could explore some of the best snorkeling sites such as Shimba Hills, House Reef near Manta Resort, the Njao Gap between Pemba and Njao Islands, and Fundu Gap to name a few.

Another breathtakingly unspoiled location for marine adventures on your off-beat vacation in Eastern Africa is the Kilwa coast. The reefs around Kilwa are well-preserved thanks to a unique technique the fishermen employ that has been handed down over the centuries and helps to keep the coral from being damaged. Snorkel opportunities are minimal at Kilwa as most reefs are deep; though the reefs off Kisiwani Island are appropriate for snorkeling. You are likely to see many oceanic treasures such as batfish, unicornfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, goatfish, and mackerel to name a few.



The coast of Kilwa is also ideal for whale and dolphin sightings. Fanjove Island is yet another location that is relatively undiscovered and a discerning destination for a barefoot beach tour in Tanzania. The best months for marine explorations around Fanjove are in the months from November through March when the seas are calm and winds are tame but also June to October when it is dry, warm with plenty of sunshine. These conditions are ideal for viewing a stunning range of marine life.

The Kunduchi and Jangwani Beach locations in the northern coast of Dar es Salaam offer accessibility to local snorkeling spots. Mbudya Island is located a couple of miles from Kunduchi Beach and is completely uninhabited. There are three main decent snorkeling sites around the island that are now a part of the Mbudya Marine Reserve that encompasses Fungu Yasini Islands, Pangavini and Bongoyo. You can explore the Octopus Gardens at Mbudya east, the Coral Gardens on the west of Mbudya and the reefs to the north of the island.

The use of flippers is discouraged when snorkeling here since they can suffocate the coral polyps with the sand that is unavoidably disturbed by snorkelers. While on holiday in the Slipway – Oysterbay coastal suburbs off Dar es Salaam, do include a trip to Bongoyo Island. Here you can visit an adequate snorkeling site called the Shark’s Lagoon Cave. This area is known for sightings of young sharks that are often found swimming beside the coast, hunting octopus, their favorite food.



Lying to the north of Dar es Salaam is the small historic town of Bagamoyo that in its heyday was the German capital in Tanzania. Lazy Lagoon Island off the mainland of the town is another unique location for a snorkeling trip while staying at the lodge on the island. The lagoon along with its surrounding areas are a distinct marine ecosystem of mangroves and other coastal vegetation that houses a variety of animal and birdlife while the ocean is home to a thrilling variety of pelagic, reef and demersal creatures.

Contact AfricanMecca for more guidance in selecting your preferred distinct snorkel locations along the coast of Tanzania. Our Indian Ocean tour consultant will assist you in planning your marine travel in Africa so you will have the most unforgettable snorkeling exploratory trip ever. We can recommend the finest seashore and safari stay-over options that match your requirements and expectations from your wilderness vacation and make it truly memorable.

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