Dolphin Capital of Zanzibar & Ancient Mosque Village
Kizimkazi 3-Day Itinerary
Three days on Zanzibar’s south coast — wild dolphins, a 12th-century mosque, mangrove kayaking and pristine reefs. The perfect introduction to Kizimkazi.
3
Days
2
Nights
from $399
Per Person
South Coast
Location
Day-by-Day Kizimkazi Itinerary
Arrive & Discover the South Coast
Arrival & Orientation
Morning
Arrive at Zanzibar International Airport and transfer south to Kizimkazi (approx. 75 minutes). Check in to your lodge and settle in before the midday heat. Take a short orientation walk through Kizimkazi Dimbani village, meeting local fishermen preparing their outrigger boats.
Afternoon
After lunch, head to the south coast beach for your first taste of Kizimkazi’s uncrowded shoreline. The water is warm, shallow and crystal-clear — perfect for a relaxed swim or snorkel. At low tide, walk the tidal flats and look for starfish, sea cucumbers and small reef fish in the rock pools.
Evening
As the sun descends towards the Indian Ocean, find a spot on the beach for Kizimkazi’s legendary sunsets. The southern position of the village gives long, unobstructed views over open water. Dinner at your lodge or a local restaurant — fresh-grilled lobster and coconut rice is the local speciality.
Tip: Book your dolphin tour for Day 2 morning as soon as you arrive. The best operators fill up quickly and early departure is essential.
Wild Dolphins, Ancient Mosque & Mangrove Kayaking
The Full Kizimkazi Experience
Morning
Rise before 6 am for your wild dolphin swimming tour — the most memorable experience on Zanzibar’s south coast. Your boat departs at dawn when spinner dolphin pods are resting in the bay. Slip into the water alongside pods of up to 200 dolphins. Most tours last three to four hours and cover several dolphin encounters before returning to shore.
Afternoon
After breakfast back at your lodge, arrange a guided visit to the Shirazi Mosque of Kizimkazi Dimbani — East Africa’s oldest mosque, built in 1107 CE. Your guide reveals the extraordinary Kufic script carvings and explains the site’s 900-year history. The visit takes around 45 minutes. Then transfer to Kizimkazi Mtendeni for a half-day mangrove kayaking excursion through the green channels.
Evening
Return to your lodge in the late afternoon for a shower and rest. The combination of early morning dolphin swimming and afternoon kayaking makes for a full day. Dinner is a relaxed affair — fresh tuna, octopus salad and Zanzibar-spiced chai on a candlelit terrace.
Tip: Dress modestly for the mosque visit — cover shoulders and knees, and bring a scarf. The mosque asks for a small entrance fee that goes directly to its maintenance.
South Coast Snorkeling, Sandbank & Departure
Final Adventures
Morning
Choose your final Kizimkazi adventure based on tide times and your preference. Option A: join a guided south coast snorkeling trip to two or three reef sites where sea turtles, moray eels and vibrant coral gardens await. Option B: take a local fishing boat to one of the sandbanks that emerge at low tide for a private picnic surrounded by turquoise water — a magical, crowd-free finale to your trip.
Afternoon
Return to your lodge for a late checkout lunch. Take a final walk through the village, pick up locally made Swahili crafts or Zanzibar spices from village sellers, and say farewell to the fishing community. Transfer to Zanzibar Airport for onward travel, or continue north to Paje or Stone Town if your itinerary allows.
Evening
If extending your stay, consider spending a night in Paje (30 minutes north) for a complete contrast — Kizimkazi’s quiet authenticity versus Paje’s lively kite-surfing beach scene. The combination makes an ideal south-east Zanzibar weekend extension.
Tip: Check tide times before Day 3 — sandbank trips require a specific low-tide window. Your lodge or guide can advise on the best departure time.
Why Three Days is Perfect for Kizimkazi
Kizimkazi is compact enough that three days allows you to experience all its major highlights without feeling rushed. The dolphin tour, mosque visit, mangrove kayaking and south coast snorkeling can be comfortably spread across three days with time for proper rest and beach relaxation in between. Unlike the busier resort areas, Kizimkazi rewards those who slow down and absorb the village atmosphere at a gentle pace.
Three nights is also the sweet spot from a logistical perspective. The 75-minute transfer from Zanzibar Airport makes a one-night stay impractical, but with three nights you maximise the time at your destination while keeping travel costs reasonable. If you can spare four nights, adding an extra day allows you to visit both the sandbank and the snorkeling reef, plus more time to simply sit on the beach watching fishermen bring in the evening catch.
The Wild Dolphin Experience — What to Expect
The dolphin tour on Day 2 of this itinerary is the centrepiece of any Kizimkazi visit. Boats depart at first light to find pods before they move to deeper feeding grounds. The spinner dolphins are typically found in large social groups — pods of 50 to 200 animals are common — and they are accustomed to boats in the bay. When the guide signals it is safe, guests slip silently into the water with mask and snorkel.
Underwater, the dolphins are curious and often approach closely, clicking and whistling as they investigate their visitors. The experience is completely wild and unscripted — sometimes the dolphins move on quickly, other times they circle back repeatedly. Either way, being in open ocean water alongside these animals is an experience that travellers consistently describe as one of the most profound of their lives. Bring an underwater camera or hire a GoPro from your tour operator.
The Ancient Mosque — A 900-Year-Old Marvel
Most visitors to Zanzibar know about the island’s Islamic heritage but few realise that its oldest mosque predates the famous Stone Town buildings by several centuries. The Shirazi Mosque was built in 1107 CE by settlers from the Persian Gulf — part of the Shirazi diaspora that spread along the East African coast in the 11th and 12th centuries. The mosque was rebuilt in the 18th century but retains its original Kufic inscription panel, which is one of the most important Islamic inscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa.
The guided visit takes 45 to 60 minutes and includes the mosque interior, the burial grounds of early Shirazi community leaders, and the surrounding village of Kizimkazi Dimbani. Your guide, typically a community elder with deep knowledge of the site, will explain how the Shirazi traders established Kizimkazi as a major dhow trading port in the 12th century and how the village has maintained its Islamic identity for nearly a millennium.
Extending Your Kizimkazi Trip
If the three-day itinerary leaves you wanting more, Kizimkazi is an excellent base for exploring the broader south-east Zanzibar coast. Paje, just 30 minutes north by road, is famous for kite surfing and has a lively beach bar scene that contrasts beautifully with Kizimkazi’s tranquillity. Jambiani, another 15 minutes north of Paje, has one of the longest and most pristine beaches on the island.
Our five-night South Zanzibar Discovery package combines Kizimkazi, Paje and Stone Town into a single seamless itinerary with all transfers included. For those who want to go deeper into the natural world, our Kizimkazi Heritage Break extends the dolphin and mosque experience with an additional day of south coast reef diving — Kizimkazi’s underwater world is just as impressive as what lives on the surface.
Practical Information for Your Kizimkazi Visit
Kizimkazi is accessible by shared dala-dala from Stone Town’s Darajani market for around $1–2, though the journey can take up to two hours with stops. Private transfers cost around $40–60 each way and take 70–80 minutes. Most visitors find that combining a private transfer in with a shared dala-dala out (or vice versa) provides the best value. Tuk-tuks and bicycle hire are available in the village for local travel.
The village has several small restaurants and snack stalls serving local food. Fresh coconut, fried cassava chips and pilau rice are widely available at minimal cost. Mobile network coverage is decent with Airtel and Vodacom Tanzania SIMs. There are no ATMs in Kizimkazi itself — withdraw cash in Stone Town before travelling south. The nearest pharmacy is in Makunduchi, approximately 20 minutes north.
Ready to Follow This Itinerary?
Book our Kizimkazi Dolphin & Beach package from $399 and our team will arrange every detail — transfers, accommodation, dolphin tour and all activities included.
Book This Itinerary