Boat Tour activities in Africa
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Dhow Trip
Taking a Dhow Trip is almost obligatory and drifting through the mangroves is a wonderful way to experience the islands. You'll be approached by touts and would-be captains almost as soon as you arrive, but it's worth shopping around to find a captain you like and a price you're happy with. Prices vary depending on where you want to go and how long you go for. Groups of more than five aren't recommended as the boats aren't very big.
Solo travellers joining an existing group to make up numbers will often be offered a great price, on the condition that they don't tell their fellow passengers how much they paid. As this generally means the others paid the extortionate asking…
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Safari Blue Menai Bay Dhow Tours
For something different, contact Safari Blue Menai Bay Dhow Tours, which organises day excursions on well-equipped dhows around Menai Bay. The excursions, which leave from Fumba, include a seafood and fruit lunch, plus snorkelling equipment, and time to relax on a sandbank. The dhows can also be privately chartered, for honeymoons or groups. Before booking, it's worth checking weather conditions, as some months - notably April/May and July/August - can get quite windy or rainy.
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Travelin' Lady
Companies offering two-, three- and five-hour boat cruises to check out whales and dolphins are set up at the end of Playa de Los Cristianos, near the port, and in Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje. Most trips include food, drink and a quick swim. Though all are basically the same, we recommend the smaller Playa de Los Cristianos-based companies. Travelin' Lady offers personal service, small boats, and lower prices than many other outfits in the area.
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Gelal
The trustworthy Gelal, who hangs out near Panorama Restaurant near the ferry landing, offers hassle-free tours on his family's feluccas at good-value fixed prices. He is from Seheyl Island and can also arrange a visit of the island and lunch in his house, as well as a swim on a safe beach.
The Nile looks fabulous and magical at Aswan, and few things are more relaxing than hiring a felucca (traditional canvas-sailed boat) before sunset and sailing between the islands, the desert and the huge black boulders, listening to the flapping of the sail and to Nubian boys singing from their tiny dugouts.
When walking along the Nile, it's hard to avoid felucca touts any time of the…
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KWS Office
Most people visit the marine park on a snorkelling or glass-bottomed boat trip, which can be arranged at the KWS office on the coast road south of town. Boats only go out at low tide, so it's a good idea to call in advance to check times. The going rate is around KSh3500 per boat (five to ten people) for a two-hour trip, and masks and snorkels are provided. Alternatively, you can take a tour with any of the agencies in town.
The use of fins (flippers) is discouraged as there has been lots of damage caused by inexperienced snorkellers. Walking atop the reef at low tide also does irreparable damage and should be avoided. The KWS compound sits on a lovely stretch of beach…
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Sail Away
The recommended Sail Away is the best contact for island dhow safaris, with various day and overnight sails in the archipelago (check out their website for a sampling).
Prices are very reasonable: a day trip including snorkelling around the islands of Magaruque or Benguera, a good lunch, refreshments, park entry fees and snorkelling equipment costs around US$47, with discounts sometimes available for walk-ins. Overnight safaris range from two to four days and cost from around US$70 per person per day, with everything that the day trip includes, plus full board and accommodation. All boats have extra motors, safety and first-aid equipment and communication on board. Sail…
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Duiker Island Cruises
Although increasingly given over to tourism, Hout Bay's harbour still functions and the southern arm of the bay is an important fishing port and processing centre. From here you can catch a boat to Duiker Island (also known as Seal Island because of its colony of Cape fur seals, but not to be confused with the official Seal Island in False Bay). Three companies run these cruises daily, usually with guaranteed sailings in the mornings: Circe Launches, Drumbeat Charters and Nauticat Charters.
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Tamarind Dhow
Topping the luxury dhow cruises is the Tamarind Dhow, run by the posh Tamarind restaurant chain of the same name. The cruise embarks from the jetty below the Tamarind restaurant in Nyali, and includes a harbour tour and a fantastic meal. The lunch cruises leave at 13:00. Longer and more splendid evening cruises leave at 18:30. There is a choice of seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. Prices include a complimentary cocktail and transport to and from your hotel.
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Satimbé Travel
Boat trips from Mopti on the Niger and/or Bani Rivers are one of the highlights of any trip to Mali, but they're also among the most daunting to organise. Satimbé Travel, an excellent company run by Issa Ballo, has been recommended as a pleasant and reliable local operator to deal with and most guides can make the arrangements on your behalf. Remember that longer boat trips are only possible from July or August to December when water levels are high.
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Neptuno
Companies offering two-, three- and five-hour boat cruises to check out whales and dolphins are set up at the end of Playa de Los Cristianos, near the port, and in Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje. Most trips include food, drink and a quick swim. Though all are basically the same, we recommend the smaller Playa de Los Cristianos-based companies. Neptuno offers personal service, small boats, and lower prices than many other outfits in the area.
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Bakaye Minedou Traore
Bakaye Minedou Traore operates a big pinasse to Timbuktu, while the 80m-long Baba Tigamba (known as Petit Baba) makes the journey on Friday afternoon. It has proper seats and even a small upper deck called, somewhat ambitiously, the cabine luxe! Smaller public pinasses should take about three days from Mopti to Korioumé, but with breakdowns and cargo stops they can take up to six.
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Ciel et Mer
There is also an organised boat trip, Ciel et Mer around the Île de Mogador islands, but bad sailing conditions can delay departures or leave you stranded at sea unable to escape relentless folk music. In summer there are four departures between 11.30am and 6.30pm. For the rest of the year, departures are at noon and 3.30pm. It also organises fishing trips.
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Jahazi Marine
A big luxury dhow cruise operator is Jahazi Marine, which offers evening trips. The price includes transfers, a sunset cruise, a walk through the Old Town and entry to Fort Jesus for the light show and a five-course meal; for an extra fee you can sample a casino and head on to the Bora Bora International Nightclub in Bamburi, on the northern beaches.
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Club de Mar
To learn more about whales and dolphins, contact the Club de Mar. This is both a marine-life investigation centre and a whale-watching outfitter with daily cruises that normally include the presence of a marine biologist, so that you can truly learn something about local marine life. All the cruises set sail from the Vueltas port.
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Cap Sainte Marie
If you're heading to Île Sainte Marie, the boat company Cap Sainte Marie has an office in Toamasina (sharing the same office as the boat company La Compagnie du Canal) and runs daily bus transfers to meet their shuttle at Soanierana-Ivongo (€60 return).
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Katrin
The waters between western Tenerife and La Gomera are among the world's best for spotting whales and dolphins. One reputable outfit is Katrin, which conducts marine biology research and also takes groups out with special needs.
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Magic
Magic operates a couple of smart catamarans out of the port. Sailing at 10:00 or 10:30 (also at 16:00 from May to October), cruises include a barbecue lunch and allow plenty of time for swimming and snorkelling.
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Lamu Dhow
Multi-day dhow trips head out to Paté or the still more remote island of Kiwayu. When it is properly up and running, Lamu Dhow will offer luxury trips with accommodation actually on board a massive vessel.
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La Compagnie du Canal
Sharing the same office as the boat company Cap Sainte Marie, La Compagnie du Canal has daily services to Manambato €50 via Ankanin'ny Nofy €35, on the Canal des Pangalanes.
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Power Boat Tours
If you want virtually guaranteed hippo sightings, you will have to venture onto the lake. Power Boat Tours that can take you further afield can be found at nearby Dunga Fish market.
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Marea Errota
Marea Errota is a handsome swashbuckling galleon that does twice-daily coastal cruises down to the Papagayo beaches. Pick-up from your accommodation is included in the price.
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César II
The 33m-long César II sails to the Isla de Lobos off Fuerteventura from Monday to Friday. Tours run between 10:15 until 17:45 and include a light lunch.
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African Queen
The luxury yacht, African Queen, cruises dolphin waters for three hours. Several other boat and charter trips can be arranged from Wilson's Wharf.
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Remote Rivers
Chez Maggie is an agent for Remote Rivers, which runs sustainable-travel-focused trips down the little-explored Mangoky, Mahavavy and Manambolo Rivers.
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Agamenon
Get out on the water with Agamenon, a leisure boat that takes several daily excursions to see whales, explore coastal caverns or deep-sea fish.
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