CRUISE ITINERARYS
Zanzibar Sailing - Zanzibar Yacht Cruise Itinerary
Zanzibar Sailing cruise itinerary. 3, 5 and 7 night yacht charter cruises. Charter the best yachts in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar Sailing Adventures
The mere mention of the word Zanzibar evokes a sense of mystery and excitement, of pristine white beaches and colourful markets redolent with the heady aroma of spices that made these islands famous.
Whilst being a popular beach resort destination Zanzibar also offers some wonderful sailing holidays and yacht charters. Beautiful beaches, gin clear water with an average temperature in the high twenties, year round reliable trade winds all tied together by the incredibly warm Swahili culture makes this a must see destination.
Our Zanzibar Sailing cruise, stopping off at beautiful anchorages makes for an unforgettable adventure that allows you to delve back into the mists of time. A Zanzibar Sailing holiday is a journey of cultural and historical discovery.
The following is a guideline itinerary on what to expect on a Zanzibar sailing holiday. We prefer to keep things flexible to match our guest’s interests and requirements, the mood on the day and optimizing weather and conditions to create the best experience we can.
Longer charters are available to combine other areas such as Mafia and Pemba Island Archipelago.
HIGHLIGHTS
Stone Town
Menai Bay
Bawe, Prison, Chapwani and Changu Islands
Mangwapani / Tambatu Island
Kendwa and Ras Nungwi
Mnemba Island
Detailed Itinerary
Zanzibar Sailing Cruise | 7 Nights / 8 Days
Day 1: Stone Town to Menai Bay
We start with the guests boarding the vessel in Stone Town, a world heritage site recognised as the oldest Arabian city still functioning today. Depending on your arrival time. We may overnight on the yacht anchored off Stone Town beach or we head south to Menai Bay and Fumba Peninsular.
This southern region is famous for its resident dolphins on the southern point at Kisimkazi, where if you are lucky you will be able to swim with dolphins. Because you are living on a yacht we can go to places others can’t and can be with the dolphins long before or after other boats have to depart.
The Menai Bay region also has 10 different islands, islet’s and sand banks we can explore including, Murogo island, Pange Island, Chumbe Island, Ukombe Island, Tete Island, Kwale Island, Pamunda Island, Miwi Island, Niamembe Island, Pungume Island, as well a number of small unnamed islands, sand backs and atolls.
We will spend a couple days hear, exploring, fishing, snorkelling and relaxing with nights spent anchored off totally deserted beaches.
If you go onto google earth and explore the Menai Bay region you will get a good sense of the area.
Day 2 & 3: Menai Bay Conservation Area
The Menai Bay region also has 10 different islands, islet’s and sand banks we can explore including, Murogo island, Pange Island, Chumbe Island, Ukombe Island, Tete Island, Kwale Island, Pamunda Island, Miwi Island, Niamembe Island, Pungume Island, as well a number of small unnamed islands, sand backs and atolls.
We will spend a couple days hear, exploring, fishing, snorkelling and relaxing with nights spent anchored off totally deserted beaches.
If you go onto google earth and explore the Menai Bay region you will get a good sense of the area.
Day 4: Mangwapani / Tambatu Island
Mangwapani was a favourite hideaway for old time slavers trying to avoid the British anti-slavery fleet.
Today the site boasts two hotels and a pristine beach.
A short walk away is the cave that once housed those poor souls who were unfortunate enough to have been captured as slaves.
Tambatu Island, one of th few islands in the world where Voodoo is still practiced.
Just south of Tambatu is a wonderful sheltered bay that often has a pod of dolphins cavorting around it. It’s also a great place to explore on Kayaks.
Day 5: Kendwa and Ras Nungwi
Kendwa is one of the world’s top beaches. Kendwa also hosts the monthly full moon party, and if you like to party then this is one you don’t want to miss.
A short walk from Kendwa is Ras Nungwi, the northern most tip of Zanzibar. Here one can witness traditional dhows being built in a manner that has been unchanged for nearly a thousand years. There is also a turtle sanctuary. Visitors can interact directly with these ancient creatures, as well as coming into close contact with a number of other interesting inhabitants of the island.
There is a good vibe here in the evenings with good beach front restaurants and beach bars with live music, so if you feel like heading a shore and enjoying the night life, you can.
Day 6: Mnemba Island
A 2 hour sail away is Mnemba Island Coral Atoll, a spectacular coral atoll and private island situated a couple of miles off the north east point of the main island.
Mnemba offers world class diving and snorkelling and provides a secure anchorage for the night. The island itself is private with a luxury lodge so you can’t go ashore but the yacht can anchor here for the night.
It’s a piece of heaven and with the snorkelling reefs directly under the yacht, so you can literally just flop over the side of the yacht to see the fish.
Day 7: Mnemba Island
We will spend the day at Mnemba Island atoll and depart mid-afternoon to return to Nungwi for your last night. Go ashore have drinks at one or two beach bars, or perhaps dinner at a beach front restaurant, or just relax on board for the last night.
Or we will spend a 2nd night at Mnemba and leave early the next morning.
Day 8: Nungwi - End of Charter
Disembark in the morning at Nungwi Beach.
Transfer to the airport or your next destination.
When is the best time to go sailing in Zanzibar?
Mid Dec to End Feb - Best charter areas N Zanzibar and Pemba Archipelago west coast and south.
March April calm with flat seas and hot. Cruising everywhere is fantastic
May calm seas but usually some rain about. Still not a bad time to be cruising as cool with calm seas.
June through to end Sept - Best charter areas Pemba North and West Coast.
Oct through to mid Dec. Fantastic time, calm seas, good fishing, hot and cruising all areas is fantastic
How to get to there?
There are International Flight direct to Stone Town (Zanzibar Island) or Via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
We meet you at Zanzibar airport
Road Transfer to your hotel or resort if you have pre-charter nights booked, or directly to Nungwi or to Stone Town beach front to meet crew and transfer by dingy to yacht.
Gallery
This is a guide itinerary only. There is no set cruise time frame or route we take, as it all depends on the conditions at the time and the wishes of the guests.