Luxury Yacht Charters in Tanzania
Tanzania is endowed with an enviable list of natural wonders. The country is arguably in a list of less than a handful of countries in the world where one can combine a top of the range wildlife safari with a yacht cruise of similar caliber. The Serengeti National Park of legend, probably the world’s most iconic African wildlife park, lies in north-western Tanzania. The country is also endowed with other top wildlife viewing parks and reserves such as the Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park, Ngoro Ngoro Crater and Katavi National Park to game a few. Couple a visit to any of those with a cruise along one of the world’s most iconic archipelagoes – the Zanzibar Archipelago – and other beautiful islands and coastline that forms the epicentre of Swahili culture and you will find that Tanzania really has more than any other country has to offer in terms of wildlife viewing coupled with yacht cruising.
Luxury Yacht Charters in Tanzania
Threaded in rich history and powder-white beaches lined by warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar is today one of the most iconic names in the world. Just hearing the name spoken awaken’s one’s inner sense for adventure and exploration. Lying some 25 nautical miles off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa and some six degrees below the equator, Zanzibar is an archipelago consisting of two main islands, Unguja and Pemba, and some smaller islands. Historically, Zanzibar mainly referred to the coral stone built city, today aptly known as ‘Stone Town’ (that for over a century was not only the centre of trade along Eastern Africa but also became the capital of the Sultanate of Oman), on the island of Unguja.
The island’s 800 years of history leading up to present day can be witnessed via a casual stroll or guided tour of ‘Stone Town,’ a necessary stop when cruising the Zanzibar Archipelago. Our yacht fleet is based just outside the iconic historical city and is home to the only international airport in the archipelago. Sailing around Unguja offers offshore secluded tidal sand banks that can only be set foot on at low tide. These are extremely picturesque locations that are very popular with our cruises for their great snorkelling and privacy. Several small islands around the main island offer beautiful remote locations to drop anchor and go ashore and explore or snorkel the beautiful reefs that surround them. Of particular interest to the area is a visit to Prison Island to visit the giant Aldabra Tortoises and Grave Island to visit the graves of English sailors that lost their lives around Zanzibar in the 1800s – 1950s. A unique Zanzibar Flying Fox aggregation of giant Fruit Bats can also be witnessed roosting during the day and setting flight at sunset while sipping a cold drink from the comfort of your yacht.
Unguja Island
Being that it is a well established tourism destination with an enviable choice of cafes, beach bars, night life and restaurants, Unguja Island is an excellent option for those wanting to find and explore some remote locations, immerse themselves in the history of the region and from time to time go ashore to enjoy strolling through what establishments have to offer. We offer day trips and live aboard trips around Unguja Island.
Please Contact Us for more information on our day and live aboard yacht cruises around Unguja Island.
Pemba Island
Pemba Island lies some 25 nautical miles north of its sister island of Unguja. Being that Pemba is less (than Unguja) endowed with powder white beaches, it is less appealing to the masses of traveling tourists. This however makes it more appealing to the yacht cruiser who is more dedicated to nature and looking to explore remote places. Pemba is endowed with spectacular channels and inlets that provide safe calm anchorages and countless miles of rugged wild coastline to explore on a SUP or Kayak as well as snorkelling the steep coral drop-offs during an incoming tide.
Pemba Island provides the best scuba diving in Tanzania and its deep clear waters make it an excellent ground for those with fishing in mind.
On land there are several things to do including visits to tropical rain forests, cultural tours of local villages and spice tours with Cloves (Pemba used to be the world’s top producer of the spice) the main focus of the tour.
We offer live aboard trips to Pemba Island with departures from Unguja. For more information on live aboard yacht trips to Pemba Island. Contact Us
The Mafia Archipelago
The Mafia Archipelago is Tanzania’s second largest archipelago and lies some 20 nautical miles off the Tanzanian coastline. It consists of the main island of Mafia and several other smaller islands located to the west and south. Being lesser known than the Zanzibar Archipelago, the Mafia Archipelago, with only a handful of resorts located on the main island of Mafia, is more of an off the beaten track destination. However, Mafia is endowed with stunning natural beauty and attractions with highlights being some of the best coral reefs and sport fishing in Tanzania as well as an annual gathering of Whale Sharks that make it possible to have some close up and personal encounters with these magnificent gentle giants of the sea.
With departures from the famed Stone Town of Zanzibar, Mafia Island is mainly a live aboard yacht cruising destination that includes a stop at Latham Island located between Unguja and Mafia Islands. The waters around the Mafia Archipelago are sheltered and calm and offer great anchorages, sightseeing and scuba diving and snorkelling in just about any sea conditions. The added attraction of a potential encounter with a Whale Shark between October and March every year and a yacht cruising trip around the Mafia Archipelago should be on everyone’s bucket list.
The Kilwa Archipelago
At the heart of the Kilwa Archipelago, located in southern Tanzania, is the historical island of Kilwa Kisiwani. Settled by Arab traders as far back in the 9th Century, historically, Kilwa Kisiwani was the center of the Kilwa Sultanate, a medieval sultanate whose authority at its height in the 13th-15th centuries stretched the entire length of the Swahili Coast. So great was its influence that Kilwa minted its own coin for some 500 years and its wealth and status could be seen from the size and architecture of the city built by the Shirazi Arab rulers of the time. Vasco de Gama stopped at Kilwa during his voyage through the region and the Portuguese eventually conquered the island. Abandoning their outpost, the Portuguese eventually lost Kilwa back to the Arabs in the 17th Century.
Kilwa’s influence on the region dwindled as Kilwa was conquered by the Omani Arabs. The Omanis moved their capital from Oman to Zanzibar and their influence on the region grew while that of Kilwa dwindled to a point that it was abandoned by the 1840s. Today Kilwa Kisiwani has UNESCO World Heritage Site status and there are efforts to preserve the incredibly rich history of the area. With respect to yachting, the Kilwa Archipelago offers some wonderful opportunities. Between Mafia Island (to the north) and Kilwa there are three largish beautiful islands that sit on the continental shelf. These offer great snorkelling and fishing for daytime activities as well as sheltered waters for overnight anchorages. The bay outside Kilwa Harbour is lined with dramatic coral drop-offs that sink into the abyss of what are generally clear deep blue waters. The area is rich in large pelagic fish and snorkelling and freediving the drop-offs is always a spectacular event.
Kilwa Harbour offers a very good sheltered anchorage for any yacht and is the starting point for a cultural visit to Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara Islands where ruins of ancient Kilwa can be visited. Kilwa Masoko is the most active of the nearby villages and is a place to go ashore and visit local communities. Kilwa Kivinje, a short drive from Kilwa Masoko, is the last of the locations where the ancient city of Kilwa Kisiwani had established its outposts. Last but not least, Kilwa Harbour offers a unique possibility of an encounter with Hippo’s and Crocodiles at nearby river mouths and mangrove estuaries.
We offer multi-day live aboard charters to the Kilwa Archipelago. Please Contact Us for a live aboard charter to this amazing destination along the Swahili Coast.