Groups of bottlenose dolphins live in Menai Bay and off the east coast of Zanzibar. Boats leave at dawn to find them. Please choose operators who keep a respectful distance.
Whales & dolphins
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops aduncus
A friendly, resident dolphin that lives in the bays around Zanzibar.
Size
Up to 2.6 m; 230 kg
Lifespan
40 years
Diet
Fish and squid.
Habitat
Shallow coastal waters and reefs.
About the indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin
Did you know?
01
They hunt in coordinated groups.
02
Each has a unique whistle used like a name.
03
They can leap about 6 metres.
When to see it
Seen all year round; the best sightings depend on where you are.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Where to see it in Tanzania
Trips that go there
Where to meet the indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin
More wildlife to discover
Whales & dolphins
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
A giant baleen whale that migrates through Tanzanian waters from July to October.
Pemba Island, Mafia Island +2 more
Endemic
EN
Primates
Zanzibar Red Colobus
Piliocolobus kirkii
A rare monkey found only on Zanzibar, easy to see at Jozani Forest.
Jozani Forest, Zanzibar Stone Town +1 more
Sharks & rays
Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The world's largest fish, a gentle filter feeder that visits Mafia Island.
Mafia Island
Fish
West Indian Ocean Coelacanth
Latimeria chalumnae
A "living fossil" fish, thought extinct for 66 million years, found off the Tanzanian coast.
Start Planning
Your wildlife wish list, our job
Tell us what you most want to see and we will plan the season, the place and the guide to match.
Prefer to talk? Call +255 754 123 456