What the original trip is
Safari Blue started at Fumba in 1995. "The Original Safari Blue" and "Safari Blue" are registered trademarks of Harringford (Zanzibar) Ltd. The company calls the name its registered trade name, not a general term for a Zanzibar boat trip.
According to its own pages, the shared Original Experience is a full day in the Menai Bay Conservation Area on a wooden dhow. It includes:
- guided snorkelling, with equipment provided
- dolphin watching
- a stop on a sandbank
- a swim in a mangrove lagoon
- a seafood barbecue at its own tented restaurant on Kwale Island
The lunch is lobster, two kinds of grilled fish and calamari, with halal chicken and a vegetarian dish as alternatives. Fruit tasting follows, and drinks and snacks are included all day. The company has nine dhows, 10–13 m long, each taking about 16 guests. Everything is included except the transfer to and from Fumba, which you can add when booking.
When we checked, the shared trip cost USD 85 per adult (15+) and USD 45 per child (6–14). Under-6s were free. The Bubble Boat is the same day on your own boat for a USD 250 supplement per boat. A private dhow charter cost USD 550 for two.
Why so many trips use the name
Menai Bay is a conservation area used by many boat operators. Fumba, Kwale Island, the sandbanks and the lagoon are on most of their routes. The company says on its own site that boat owners across the island sell trips as "Safari Blue", and that this confuses travellers. On GetYourGuide alone, dozens of Menai Bay listings put "Safari Blue" or "Blue Safari" in the title. Their prices vary widely, and some start from pickup areas such as Paje, Jambiani, Nungwi or Matemwe.
These trips can be good days out. They are simply not the trademarked product. Lunch spot, boat size, group size and what the price covers vary from one supplier to the next.
How to tell which one you are booking
| Check | The original | Other "Safari Blue" trips |
|---|---|---|
| Where you buy | Its own portal, or an agent on its Trusted Sales Partners page | Platforms, hotel desks, beach sellers, local agencies |
| Boat and crew | Logo on the flags, crew in Safari Blue uniforms | Different branding, or none |
| Lunch | Its own tented restaurant on Kwale Island | Varies: island, sandbank or on board |
| Price | All-inclusive except the Fumba transfer | Check whether the price covers lunch, drinks, the transfer and the conservation fee |
| Who runs it | Harringford (Zanzibar) Ltd | The supplier named on the listing or receipt |
When we checked, the Trusted Sales Partners page named eight local agents: Zenith Tours, Wayfairer Travel, Exotic Zanzibar, Takims Holidays, Sun Tours, Alfa Zulu Travel, Zanzibar Tours and Travel, and Authentic Zanzibar. The list can change, so check it on the day you book. If a reseller is not on it, ask them which company runs the boat.
Booking a Menai Bay day online
If the trademark does not matter to you and you want card payment and a cancellation window, our Safari Blue page compares the Menai Bay dhow days on GetYourGuide. For each one, read the supplier name, the pickup time, the group size and whether the conservation-area fee is included. For other lagoon and sandbank trips, see Blue Lagoon and starfish.
