EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 328 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 shalev s 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Yusuf and hassan were amazing!
Absolutely amazing experience with Dream Dhow Zanzibar. One of the best things we did in Zanzibar. A huge thank you to Hassan and Yusuf, who were fantastic throughout the entire day. The dhow itself was beautiful, comfortable and clearly very well maintained, and felt completely different from most of the other tour boats we saw around Mnemba. Everything was incredibly well organized while still feeling relaxed and personal. We also really appreciated how seriously they took responsible and ethical tourism. Before we even left, they explained that we wouldn’t use fins while snorkeling to avoid accidentally damaging the coral, and that they don’t chase dolphins or join the crowds of boats that surround them and send people into the water. We were incredibly lucky to come across dolphins when there were no other boats around at all. Because we were completely alone and could keep a respectful distance, Hassan and Yusuf allowed us to enter the water without chasing or approaching the dolphins. Seeing them like this, peacefully and on their own terms, was genuinely magical and felt completely different from the dolphin tours we had heard about elsewhere in Zanzibar. The entire day was beautifully organized, the boat was fantastic, and you can tell that Hassan and Yusuf genuinely care about both their guests and the environment they work in. If you’re looking for a Mnemba/dhow experience in Zanzibar and care about doing it responsibly, we couldn’t recommend Dream Dhow enough. Thank you Hassan and Yusuf for an unforgettable day!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Sydney J 
 
 
 
 Verified 
An Unforgettable Honeymoon Experience with Yusufu & Yahaya!
We had such an amazing experience with this boat excursion, and I honestly can’t recommend Yusufu and Yahaya enough! We originally had an all-day boat excursion planned for Monday, but unfortunately it had to be canceled last minute because of the tides. Of course, we completely understood that the tides are out of everyone’s control. When we were offered the option to reschedule for Tuesday, we realized that the original pickup location would have meant traveling about an hour away from our resort, and we also really wanted to spend more time relaxing at the resort during the last few days of our honeymoon. I reached out to the organizer through WhatsApp, and they were incredibly flexible and accommodating. They offered us the option of taking a private fiber boat instead, which ended up being perfect for us. It was faster, a little less expensive, completely private, and the pickup location was only about 15 minutes from our resort instead of an hour away. The communication throughout the entire process was excellent, and they really worked with us to find an option that fit what we wanted. Our boat guide, Yusufu, was absolutely incredible. Before we even arrived, he reached out to let us know he was already waiting at the beach and gave us his number to share with our driver so they could easily find each other. They communicated throughout the entire process, and as soon as we arrived, Yusufu was there waiting for us with the biggest smile. He helped us with our bags and personally escorted us to the boat. During the excursion, Yusufu told us that he is a certified scuba diver and has been certified for about six years. His knowledge of the ocean, tides, and marine life immediately made us feel so comfortable and safe, especially when it was time to snorkel. He actually got into the water with us to make sure we were safe and comfortable, and he pointed out so much amazing marine life that we probably would have missed on our own. You could really tell that he genuinely loves what he does and takes pride in giving his guests a great experience. After snorkeling, we went to a beautiful sandbank with the clearest water. Yusufu and our boat driver, Yahaya, even prepared fresh fruit for us and made sure we had plenty of water. It was such a thoughtful touch and made the whole experience feel even more special and personal. Yahaya was also wonderful throughout the entire excursion. He was an excellent and careful boat driver, and together, he and Yusufu provided such amazing hospitality and customer service. On the way back, Yusufu even contacted our driver ahead of time to let him know we were on our way and gave him the location where we would be meeting. Once we arrived back at the beach, Yusufu helped us with our bags, made sure we safely got out of the water, and personally escorted us back to our driver. What really stood out to us was how smoothly everything was handled from beginning to end. Even though our original excursion had to be changed because of the tides, the team was flexible, communicative, and found us an alternative that ended up being even better for what we wanted. We feel so lucky that we got Yusufu and Yahaya for our excursion. They were both incredibly kind, knowledgeable, attentive, and professional, and they made our honeymoon experience even more memorable. If you are considering booking this excursion, I would absolutely recommend it. And if you’re lucky enough to get Yusufu and Yahaya, you’re in for an amazing experience! ❤️🌊
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 browneyewanderer 
 
 
 
 Verified 
A beautiful Zanzibar sunset cruise
After doing some research before arriving in Zanzibar, I decided that Dream Dhow best suited our needs. We communicated via WhatsApp for over a month before our arrival, and every question I had was answered promptly and helpfully. We wanted a private sunset cruise, and the crew delivered with such professionalism. The food prepared on board was absolutely delicious! I especially loved the pilau rice, lobster and chicken,I’m still thinking about it! 😋 I was also particularly impressed that there were strict instructions not to remove jellyfish from the sea, as this causes them harm. It was lovely to see that care for the marine environment was taken so seriously. We had music, soft drinks (including delicious homemade juice), wonderful food, an amazing sunset and, most importantly, a brilliant crew. Asante sana, Captain Samuel and the Dream Dhow team. What a beautiful experience! 🌅❤️
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Astrid W 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Wonderful day trip with a dhow
It was a wonderful excursion with a very nice team. We can recommend this excursion without reservation. It is a totally relaxed day trip.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Jens S 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Great day!
It was a wonderful day. We had a great day on the sea with a lot of effort. Although it was high tide at the sandbank, swimming was wonderful. We had a great lunch cooked on the ship with a lot of effort. Snorkeling is a bit difficult for inexperienced swimmers because of the waves, but our guide took good care of everyone. The sailing back and the sunset on the sea made this great day unforgettable.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Claudia S 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Dreamy day with Dream Dhow
Book your tour with Dream Dhow!!! We had the best day exploring Mnemba island. The staff was extremely friendly and went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. The food was absolutely exceptional and it was our favorite meal we’ve had so far on the island. They also provided water, sodas, and snacks. Lots of food so you won’t go hungry! I enjoyed the evening coffee as well :) We saw dolphins, amazing fish while smirking, and beautiful views as we sailed along the island. Definitely reach out to this team for the best Zanzibar experience.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Kevin 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Marvellous experience with exquisite crew!
My wife and I had a fantastic tour. We did the Mnemba island tour and we were able to see dolphins, visit non-crowded snorkling spots, have fun in the crystal kayak and were able to walk on the sand banks without many people. Besided the beauty of the sea (life) the hospitality and going above and beyond from the crew (Mani and team) stood out. They were extremely friendly, helped us with snorkling and provided delicious fresh lunch, drinks and snacks. Thanks guys for the amazing experience - hope many more people will join you!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Rosie A 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Not as ethical as advertised
We booked the private Mnemba boat trip with Dream Dhow specifically because we wanted to support ethical tourism. Unfortunately, the start of the day was very disappointing and left us feeling quite uncomfortable. The boat took us to an area where a large number of other boats had gathered around a group of dolphins. The dolphins were being surrounded and crowded by the boats, and some tourists were getting into the water near them. Although our guide did not encourage us to jump in, we were disappointed that we had been taken to this location in the first place. My husband asked our guide whether the dolphins found this stressful, and he confirmed that they did. Given that we had specifically chosen this company because of our hope for a more responsible and ethical experience, this was particularly disappointing. We had expected that, if we happened to encounter dolphins, it would be a natural and respectful encounter rather than being taken to the same crowded area where numerous boats were surrounding them. We also paid a significant amount for the private day trip, so this part of the experience left us feeling frustrated and annoyed. The rest of the day was very enjoyable. Mnemba Island was beautiful, lunch was great, and the snorkelling was good. Most importantly, on the way back to Zanzibar, we encountered dolphins again — this time they were simply swimming naturally alongside the boat, with no crowds of other boats around them. This was exactly the kind of experience we had hoped for and showed that it is possible to see dolphins without contributing to the stressful situation we had witnessed earlier. Overall, it was still a good day, but I really hope Dream Dhow will reconsider taking tourists to the crowded area where so many boats surround the dolphins. If the company is promoting an ethical tourism experience, I believe encounters should be handled in a way that puts the wellbeing of the dolphins first. We would have been much happier if the entire dolphin experience had been like the natural encounter we had on the way back.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Andrea-C 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Amazing day, and the right way to see dolphins
We booked a private boat trip to Mnemba Island with Dream Dhow, and it was the highlight of our trip to Zanzibar. Word of warning first: there are masses of unregulated boats sold by beach hawkers, and we saw exactly how they operate out on open water. Several of them started aggressively chasing the pod of dolphins, cutting them off, crowding round while tourists started jumping in trying to swim with the dolphins - horrifying as saw a parent push his teenage daughter into the sea and she ended up crying probably as she was surrounded by moving boats and swimmers with no regard for anyone else! Having just been on the most epic safari the week before, we really didn’t want to see a bunch of tourists fling themselves off boats to chase dolphins - it felt a bit like watching a stag do arrive in the middle of a David Attenborough documentary! Dream Dhow are ethical and so the exact opposite which is why we chose them. We got to see dolphins interacting naturally with their calves and the rest of their pod for a few minutes which was amazing. As soon as more boats appeared and it started turning into a scrum, our crew thankfully quickly moved us on. The crew made the day - Hemedy was our brilliant guide, Captain Mbarouk was the captain and Yahaya the chef cooked us an amazing lunch onboard - lobster, fresh fish, chicken, a delicious vegetable curry and rice. Huge fruit platter as a snack with crisps and different types of local nuts. Soft drinks were included and beers available for a small extra charge. Thank you Dream Dhow for such an amazing day.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Hannah M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Best Zanzibar excursion!
First off—the staff was INCREDIBLE! Huge shoutout to Hemedy, our guide; Mbarouk, our captain; and Jamal, our chief. We truly cannot express enough how amazing this excursion was from start to finish. There was a huge downpour on our way to the island, and the crew was so quick to cover the boat and make sure we stayed dry. I also ended up getting seasick on the boat, and they were completely prepared—they immediately had medicine available for me and took such great care of me! We specifically chose this company because of their commitment to respecting the dolphins and wildlife. While many boats crowd and bombard the dolphins, this crew kept their distance and was incredibly respectful of the animals. Because of that, we got SO lucky! The dolphins eventually swam away from the crowds, and we were able to see about 10 of them in a much more peaceful and respectful setting. It was such a special experience. And the FOOD… INCREDIBLE. I honestly cannot believe the feast they cooked right on the boat. Everything was so delicious that we could not stop eating! They were also incredibly attentive, constantly checking on us and making sure our drinks were full. We swam for a bit, went snorkeling, and when it was time to head back, they continued serving us snacks—chips and nuts, followed by a beautiful fresh fruit platter once those were gone. We were basically nonstop eating and being taken care of the entire trip! Between the incredible crew, beautiful water, amazing food, and the respectful approach to the dolphins, this was easily one of our favorite experiences. We would absolutely recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Zanzibar!