Your Africa, beautifully told. Tailor-made East African journeys
Beach dinner set up on white sand with lanterns and barbecue at dusk

Nobu / Zanzibar

Kizimkazi.

The island's southern edge, where dolphins run the channel and the oldest prayer in East Africa still stands.

Start your Kizimkazi journey
YOUR AFRICA, BEAUTIFULLY TOLD.
Travel stylePrivate & tailor-made
Start withYour dates and interests
Suggested paceFewer stops, more time
Your next stepA conversation with Nobu

The Nobu perspective

Kizimkazi,
at your pace.

Kizimkazi sits at Zanzibar's quiet southern edge, combining working fishing villages, offshore dolphin waters and the twelfth-century Dimbani mosque. It suits travellers who prefer marine encounters and Swahili heritage in a low-key setting away from northern resort crowds.

Early boats seek resident bottlenose and spinner dolphins under responsible rules: keep distance, avoid chasing and let animals choose any approach. Reef trips, kayaking and fishing-village walks add gentler ways to understand the southern coast.

At Dimbani, a coral-rag mosque bearing a Kufic inscription dated to 1107 offers rare architectural continuity. Visits require respectful dress and conduct, placing present-day faith and community life ahead of a visitor's photograph.

Dhow with printed sail on shallow water, woman standing aboard

KIZIMKAZI

What to experience

Things to do here

When to go

Best time to visit

Start with the season that suits the journey you want, then confirm conditions for your exact route.

A closer look at Kizimkazi

Jul / Individual planning

Your dates, your route

Start with your preferred month. Your designer will help match the season, chosen stays and connections to your route, interests and preferred pace.

June to October

The drier coast

June to October brings calmer seas and reliable sun for dolphin excursions and diving; roughly August to October also overlaps passing humpback whales. December to February is warm and largely dry. Wildlife movement and sightings are never guaranteed.

March to May

The long rains

March to May brings heavy rain and rougher seas that may restrict boats, while November's short rains are lighter. Dolphin outings depend on calm morning water and current conditions, so timing and wildlife encounters always remain flexible.

5 places to stay

Where to stay

Compare the selection by style.

5 stays · All stays

Good to know

Know before you go

Getting there

Road and air connections depend on the wider route and current operations. Nobu confirms the suitable connection for your dates before approval.

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Fees and permissions

Park, conservancy, community, activity or permit rules may apply. Nobu confirms the operative permissions and current fees in the approved quote.

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Time and pace

The right stay depends on season, interests and onward routing. Nobu will recommend a pace for the individual journey rather than promise a fixed transfer or duration.

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Zanzibar marine fees and access

Good questions. Straight answers.

Can you see dolphins at Kizimkazi?

Yes. Kizimkazi is Zanzibar's main dolphin-watching launch point, with resident bottlenose and spinner pods offshore and a near-daily chance of sighting them on a calm morning. We work only with operators who keep a respectful distance and never chase the pods.

What is the Kizimkazi Dimbani mosque?

It is the oldest surviving mosque in East Africa, a coral-rag building on Kizimkazi's shore carrying a Kufic inscription dated to 1107 — a rare and moving piece of Swahili-coast heritage, and still an active place of worship.

When is the best time to visit Kizimkazi?

The dry season from June to October gives the calmest seas and the most reliable dolphin trips, and overlaps the humpback whale window from roughly August to October. December to February is warm and largely dry.

How far is Kizimkazi from Zanzibar airport?

Transfer time depends on the selected route, traffic, road conditions and current operations. Nobu will confirm the appropriate connection for the approved itinerary.

Is Kizimkazi good for a quiet beach stay?

Very. As the island's southernmost village it is marine-focused and peaceful, with a small collection of stays and a working-village feel — well suited to travellers who want the coast and its culture away from the crowds.

Can I pair Kizimkazi with a safari?

Easily. Zanzibar works as a natural finale to a Tanzania or Kenya safari, with ZNZ well connected to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

Suggested Kizimkazi journeys

A few good ways to begin.

Suggested routes are a starting point for a tailored journey.

All journeys

Helpful stories & guides

Kizimkazi travel guides

Useful reads to help you compare places, think through the timing and imagine how your journey could come together.

Use the left and right arrow keys, or swipe, to browse the stories.

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Add another chapter.

Give your time in Kizimkazi another dimension. We’ll help you consider the connections and the time each place deserves.

Turquoise water meeting a narrow white sand shoreline from above

A journey made around you

Your next chapter
starts with a conversation.

Tell us what has caught your attention. We will start there and shape the journey around you.

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