Kizimkazi Beach

At the southern tip of Zanzibar’s main island, a fishing village wakes before dawn every morning. The boats leave the Kizimkazi jetty in darkness, navigating by torch and local knowledge to the spot in the southern channel where the dolphins sleep. By the time the sun is fully up, passengers are in the water alongside spinner and bottlenose dolphin — watching the acrobatic spinners launch themselves in spiralling leaps or simply drifting in the current with a pod of bottlenose rising and diving around them.

Kizimkazi is Zanzibar’s dolphin village. The two resident populations — spinner dolphin and Indo-Pacific bottlenose — have made the protected southern bay their home and their resting ground, returning each dawn before dispersing offshore to feed. The dolphin tour industry here has grown significantly, and responsible operators prioritise the dolphins’ welfare (never entering the water between a mother and calf, not chasing the pods when they signal stress). Choose your operator on that basis.

Where is Kizimkazi?

On Zanzibar’s southern coast, 60 km from Stone Town (1.5–2 hours by car). The village splits into two sections: Kizimkazi Dimbani (to the north, where the mosque is) and Kizimkazi Mkunguni (to the south, the main dolphin tour departure point). Most dolphin day trips from Stone Town, Nungwi, Paje and Jambiani drive to Kizimkazi Mkunguni.

The dolphin encounter: responsible tourism

The responsible way to experience the dolphins:

• Choose an operator who waits for the dolphins to approach the boat rather than driving into the pod.
• Never enter the water between a mother and calf.
• Decline if your operator positions the boat to cut off a moving pod.
• Enter the water quietly, without splashing, and allow the dolphins to come to you.
• Depart when the dolphins show stress signals (fast directional swimming, tightly packed group).

Kizimkazi Dimbani Mosque

The Kizimkazi Mosque (also called Kizimkazi Shirazi Mosque) was built in 1107 AD — making it the oldest mosque in East Africa. The original Shirazi Arabic inscription inside the mihrab documents the founding date and the name of the mosque’s patron. The mosque was subsequently enlarged and rebuilt in later centuries but incorporates the original foundation and decorative elements. It is still in active use; visitors should remove shoes, dress modestly and visit outside prayer times.

The Shirazi were Persian traders who established settlements along the East African coast in the 10th–12th centuries; the mosque is a direct legacy of that early Indian Ocean trading network and one of the most significant historical monuments in Tanzania.

The Kizimkazi landscape

Kizimkazi’s coastal landscape is more dramatic than the flat-beach Zanzibar norm: ancient baobab trees frame the rocky headlands, dhow-building yards are still in operation on the foreshore, and the small offshore island of Kizimkazi creates a protected channel where the southern swell is broken and the water is clear. Sunset from the headland above the village — looking south across the channel with baobabs in the foreground — is one of Zanzibar’s finest.

Combine Kizimkazi with…

• Jambiani Beach — 30 minutes north; cycle or drive for the lagoon beach.
• Paje Beach — 40 minutes north; kitesurfing and east-coast atmosphere.
• Stone Town — day trip north for the UNESCO heritage town.

Frequently asked questions about Kizimkazi

Is swimming with dolphins ethical at Kizimkazi?

With a responsible operator who follows the guidelines above: yes. The dolphins are wild animals who can choose to engage or avoid the boats. Problems arise when operators chase or corner pods; choose operators with a documented welfare policy.

Can you see dolphins without getting in the water?

Yes — the pods are often visible from the boat and are close enough for photography. Non-swimmers can do the tour from the boat.

How old is the Kizimkazi mosque?

The original foundation dates to 1107 AD, making it nearly 920 years old and the oldest mosque in East Africa. The current building incorporates elements from multiple construction phases but the original inscription remains.