The best boat excursion in Zanzibar” safari Blue departs from the fishing village of Fumba in South West of Zanzibar and we will take you to see the dolphins, sandbanks, islands and coral reefs of Menai Bay, a beautiful conservation area.

 

Safari Blue is a full day trip and includes use of top quality snorkeling equipment with guides and instructors, ice cold sodas, mineral water and a delicious Zanzibar seafood lunch with grilled fish and slipper lobster, gastronomic fruit tasting, coffee. There is also an “ngalawa” a traditional outrigger canoe swim in a stunning mangrove lagoon and climb a huge and ancient baobab tree. We round the day off by returning to Fumba by traditional lanteen sail.

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​Also include Menai Bay

Located in southwest of Unguja Island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, has six islets, a coast line of 61 km and is the largest conservation area in Zanzibar. The average water depth in the bay area is about 10 m during high tide. 

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Menai Bay Conservation Area is located in Menai Bay, Zanzibar Tanzania. At 470 square kilometres (180 sq mi), it is Zanzibar's largest marine protected area. It was officially established as a conservation area in August 1997 in the traditional fishing area, known as Unguja Island, covering the tropical marine environment comprising extensive coral reefs, tropical fish, sea grasses, and mangrove forests. In addition to controlling illegal fishing, Menai Bay Conservation Area's alternative initiatives have included bee keeping, mangrove replanting, tree nurseries and tourism. The management of the Menai Bay Conservation Area  falls upon the Fisheries Department and the bay's local villages. It is rated by the IUCN as Category VI Managed Resource Protected Area

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Traditionally, the Menai Bay area is a heterogeneous habitat of mangrove forest, sea grasses, coral rag land, and a marine ecosystem with a rich biodiversity of in biodiversity of plant, invertebrate and bird species. Mangrove forests abound on Uzi, Nyamanzi, Nga’mbwa shorelines and also around some of the islets. Mangrove resources have provided livelihood to generations of community residing around Menai Bay either directly or indirectly.

 

The forests have been the source of wood for domestic fuel and also an economic source of income, the extraction of which has been the prerogative of the women, with men concentrating on its use as construction material and to make charcoal. The mangroves have 10 different species that protect the coast against the open sea. Locals have been traditionally harvesting them for boat building also.

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The coral reefs which are of the fringe coral type are found all along the coast line of Zanzibar, which includes Menai Bay Conservation Area , contain layers of calcium carbonate created by secretions of millions of polyps (150 species have been reported in the entire coastline); they provide food and shelter to fish, crabs, lobsters and clams. The open sea in the Menai Bay Conservation Area  is reach in phytoplankton and zooplankton, which serve as food for sardines and small pelagic fish having commercial value for local firshmen. It is also a safe habitat for marine mammals such as sea turtles, whales, dolphins and dugongs.