Zanzibar Safari Blue Trip: A Real Review With Snorkeling & BBQ

The Zanzibar Safari Blue trip? It’s talked about quite a lot, so it’s almost one of those excursions you hear about before you, like your, even step foot on the island. It’s meant to be an incredible full-day outing, featuring snorkeling, a delicious BBQ, and some island hopping. You see, that is the sales pitch, anyway. It certainly seemed like a fantastic idea, very, very worthy of adding to our Zanzibar plans.

What’s Safari Blue Supposed To Be?

Basically, the Safari Blue trip centers around a traditional dhow, so, too it’s a type of sailing vessel commonly used in the waters around Zanzibar. Safari Blue is all about spending a day experiencing what the sea has to offer. Picture yourself setting sail on a clear morning, visiting different spots around the islands south of Zanzibar. There’s supposed to be some really great snorkeling involved, allowing you to check out the local marine life. They say, in some respects, it’s an opportunity to see some great coral reefs and a bunch of fish. And then, there’s this big seafood BBQ lunch on one of the islands. It really seems like the main highlight for many people.

Now, that the actual concept of Safari Blue sounds awesome, there is something else. That is that the execution matters way more than you know, than anything. Lots of tours and excursions can sound amazing on paper. However, in fact the real experience may vary. We all hope that those idyllic images shown online line up with reality.

Booking and Getting There

We chose to book Safari Blue through our hotel, basically making the entire process easier. Safari Blue is something that a lot of hotels and tour operators offer. What is more, this gave us a single point of contact for any questions or changes. The convenience of booking directly through our accommodation, anyway, as I was saying, outweighed any perceived need to shop around extensively for a better deal. It cost us around $70 per person. However, that is pretty standard for this tour.

On the morning of the excursion, they picked us up directly from the hotel in a shared minivan, and so on. It was pretty simple and seamless, too it’s something to ease the start of any day trip. Is that the drive to the southern part of Zanzibar, like your, where the Safari Blue adventure begins, it gave us a glimpse into the island’s varied landscapes and village life. The roads can be, typically, quite bumpy in some spots, yet the views provided some cool distractions. Just a little patience is what you need during this transit.

Setting Sail: The Dhow Experience

Arriving at the departure point, we were greeted by the Safari Blue team and, clearly, shown to our dhow. Very, the dhow itself is a traditional wooden sailing boat. They are, sometimes, still used by local fishermen, adding some real authenticity to the trip. Is that as we set sail, anyway, as I was saying, the views along the Zanzibar coastline started opening up. That, arguably, made it worthwhile from the start.

We got, too it’s almost lucky that the weather was perfect that day – clear blue skies and a gentle breeze, so ideal conditions for sailing. The crew were, more or less, quite attentive, providing us with bottled water and some basic information about the day’s plan. First there was something about just chilling out on the deck as the dhow glided across the clear blue waters.

Snorkeling in the Menai Bay Conservation Area

The first stop of the day was at a spot within the Menai Bay Conservation Area. A bit, this area is a marine protected zone. It does contain coral reefs and diverse marine life. That we got our snorkeling gear, very, very standard-looking stuff, yet still usable. I had no crazy expectations.

Unfortunately, the snorkeling experience was not, I mean, outstanding. The coral, could be, had seen better days. There were also that quite a lot of broken pieces everywhere. Visibility, might be, wasn’t the greatest. It probably depends on the time of year and sea conditions that day. The fish, might be, were few and far between. So, that might have led to just a bit of a lack of colorful marine life for us.

We spent around 45 minutes in the water and so on, then we climbed back aboard. Next we got to a search for other potential underwater sights.

Island Stop: Exploring and Relaxation

After snorkeling, the dhow took us to a little island where we could stretch our legs and do what. Too, its’ almost like relaxing for a little. The island was basically, quite small. It offered clear sands and some shade under the trees, yet, that might have led to a welcoming break from the sun.

Many guests chose to relax on the beach. Though we took a leisurely stroll, arguably, exploring what the island had to offer. I want to add that some local vendors had set up shop. It felt pretty standard like they were selling souvenirs and handicrafts. I just feel it added some context to the stopover.

The BBQ Lunch: A Seafood Feast

Lunch was served on another island. That we knew this was the part a lot of people talk about the most – a BBQ featuring fresh seafood. The crew did, I mean, begin setting up a buffet with all sort of grilled fish, lobster, calamari, and other stuff, stuff, that is. There were, yet also included rice, some local sauces, and a selection of fruits.

The seafood was fresh, that, in fact. Also, it was reasonably tasty. I think you may have known they grill it all right there on the beach. That’s really something that added to the atmosphere. Is that you get that unbeatable eating while on a beautiful beach and under the warm Zanzibar sun? So the whole picture is just one you want.

For many, this might well be the best part of the Safari Blue trip. Even that, the whole ambiance and freshness were undeniable. The experience seemed, apparently, elevated. Anyway, it left everyone satisfied.

Sailing Back: Sunset Views

That the afternoon went on, yet, the dhow started heading back. Most times as we sailed, actually, we could kick back. That is a pretty normal expectation for sunset views, and everything, so they came as a lovely surprise. Clearly, that is, the sky turned shades of orange and pink. Now there, there was something that created a great setting for the conclusion of the trip. The views are perfect. Now something about the gentle rocking of the dhow and warm breeze did seem super soothing.

The return to the mainland and the ride back to our hotel were mostly smooth, so they seemed the chance for us to consider the day. It was a pretty neat day for sure. The memories that linger after an adventure, is that right?

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Safari Blue, you know, the one in Zanzibar, that one…it presents a pretty good day out on the water, alright, if I am to be straightforward. A dhow ride, some snorkeling, beach time, and a great BBQ, there is something for various interests. The snorkeling might be only sort of hit-or-miss, and you might expect something for your buck.

I want to add that you get all that is stated within the descriptions. That really might be important to potential travellers. I am honest in saying it seems well run, still, though.

Would I do the tour, in some respects, again? Potentially. Did, arguably, it meet my expectations given what the cost was. Yes it was mostly fine. With a very, I’d actually, just want some expectation adjusting.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Beautiful boat trip, delish seafood, great snorkeling spot.
• Cons: You see there, you might see damaged coral, some crowded spots on island.

Here, I’m to share things that I actually love while making plans.

Things I wish I’d have known or been reminded about…

• Reef shoes? Very much worth getting a hold of
• Underwater camera? Make the purchase!

Is this tour suitable for small children? Well, arguably, you may wish to confirm whether the tour operators do permit kids, there may be hidden costs

If I don’t eat sea food can this tour accommodate me? As a matter of fact, talk to your vendor to see what they can cook for you in advance

Is it safe for beginner snorkelers? I want to be honest and say it is shallow enough for new snorkelers, that said it depends on the exact locations of tour and their equipment.