Reef mantas gather at cleaning stations on reefs where small fish remove parasites. Divers and snorkellers occasionally see them off Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.
Sharks & rays
Reef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
A graceful giant ray that glides through the reef channels of the islands.
Size
Wingspan up to 5 m
Lifespan
40 years
Diet
Plankton.
Habitat
Coral reefs and coastal waters.
About the reef manta ray
Did you know?
01
They have the largest brain-to-body ratio among fish.
02
They are harmless to people.
03
They can be identified by the spots on their belly.
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 reef manta ray
More wildlife to discover
Sharks & rays
Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The world's largest fish, a gentle filter feeder that visits Mafia Island.
Mafia Island
Whales & dolphins
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops aduncus
A friendly, resident dolphin that lives in the bays around Zanzibar.
Kizimkazi, Nungwi +3 more
Fish
West Indian Ocean Coelacanth
Latimeria chalumnae
A "living fossil" fish, thought extinct for 66 million years, found off the Tanzanian coast.
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
Start Planning
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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