The 13 Best Dhow & Sunset Cruises in Kenya

1.Dhow Adventure to Wasini Island & Kisite Marine Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 337 reviews · 9 hours · from $128Our pick

Leave Diani early for a full day on a spacious traditional dhow. Watch for dolphins, snorkel Kisite Marine Park with supplied gear and guides, enjoy seafood or vegetarian lunch on Wasini Island, then visit the coral garden and slave caves. Underwater photos and videos are included, with pickup from Diani and Galu.

“This is probably the most famous activity to do in Diani. And it is great for sure. The trip was very well organized, with all the times respected and followed. The guides and crew were very welcoming and professional. They took a lot of pictures, which was nice too. The snorkeling close to the island is incredible and worth it. One of the best spots I have been. With all that said, I honestly would have loved a shorter version of this trip where we went directly snorkeling. That would have made the trip amazing and less tiring. The lunch was okay, but not necessary.”

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2.PILLI PIPA DHOW, the genuine product, snorkeling tour to Kisite Marine Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 217 reviews · from $130

From Diani, a minivan carries you to Shimoni, where you board the Pilli Pipa Dhow for two snorkeling stops in Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park. Look for dolphins and turtles, then enjoy seafood, drinks, and island time on Wasini. Equipment, park fees, guides, and hotel transfers are included.

“Let me start by saying this: I am not an easygoing or easy to please person. I like to get something in return for my money. This trip was perfect. 1 - pick up on time, with small souvenir from agency; 2 - van to Pilli Pipa OK; 3 - no delays, after arriviRead more”

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3.Sunset Canoe Tour along the River with Mangroves

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 65 reviews · 2 hours · from $28Top rated

Meet Omari at Kongo Mosque for a two-hour, human-powered canoe trip along Kongo River. He guides you through mangroves, points out birds, crabs, fish, reptiles, and local plants, and explains village life and conservation. The trip ends with sunset over the creeks and includes mangrove planting.

“Fantastic guide - he really knew his stuff and had great vibes. Beautiful little jaunt down the river.”

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4.Kongo River Sunset Experience in a canoe

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 31 reviews · 1h 5m · from $32

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kongo Mosque or arrange Diani pickup, then walk to the estuary and board a traditional, hand-rowed canoe. Captain Suleman and guides such as Khalifa explain the mangroves, birds, and local history during a calm 65-minute sunset ride. The small group is limited to 10 people.

“The guide was great, knew a lot about the birds and mangroves. From all the canoes on the river our guide was by far the best, spinning the canoe around for unique videos and taking pictures for us”

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5.Watamu Marine Park & Sudi Island Mangrove Forest Canoe Ride.With sea food lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · from $101

Travel from Mombasa to Watamu for a glass-bottom boat ride, seasonal dolphin sightings, snorkeling, and a guided canoe trip through Sudi Island’s mangroves. You’ll also get a beach seafood lunch, drinks, equipment, and hotel transfers. Guides such as Derrick and Jim may lead the day, depending on availability.

“Such an amazing trip- great guides. Lots of dolphins. We did have weather on our side but the guides were amazing Derrick and Jim were so insightful and kept us comfortable.”

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6.Sunset Cruise along Kongo River on Wooden Canoe boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 2 hours · from $35

Kongoriver Safaris takes you by tuk-tuk from selected Diani hotels to Kongo River Beach for a private, English-guided wooden canoe ride. You’ll explore mangroves, watch birds, enjoy a light snack, and return as the sun sets. The outing lasts two hours and costs $35 per person.

“Retki oli aika mitään sanomaton. Joella ei ole juurikaan nähtävää ja auringonlaskukaan ei ollut kovin kummallinen. Kuljetus oli järjestetty tuk tukilla, jossa meitä oli yhteensä 6hlöä (!). En menisi uudestaan.”

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7.Kisite Marine Park Dhow & Snorkeling with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 1 day · from $135

From Diani, Tiwi, or Msambweni, you’ll ride a traditional dhow from Shimoni to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park. Look for dolphins, snorkel with marine escorts at two sites, then eat fish and crab at a cliff-top restaurant on Wasini Island. Hotel transfers, equipment, drinks, park fees, and lunch are included.

“Je me suis sentie en toute sécurité. Les gens sur le bateau veulent toujours que se soit plaisant.”

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8.Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · from $28

Meet Omari at Kongo Mosque at 4:45 pm for a two-hour paddle along Diani’s Kongo River. Your locally hired captain rows a traditional wooden canoe through mangroves, past villages and bird-filled banks, while Omari explains the ecosystem, trees, culture, and local history. The trip ends back at the meeting point after sunset.

“Great way to relax and check out native fauna and wildlife. The guides were knowledgeable and the scenery was beautiful.”

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9.Sunset Mangrove Canoe Tour with Coconut Drink

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 8 reviews · 3h 30m · from $20Best value

Spend about three and a half hours walking the Watamu mudflats and paddling a traditional canoe through Mida Creek’s mangroves. Guides such as Harrison and John explain village life, birds, mudskippers, oysters, and mangrove restoration before sunset behind Green Island. Finish in a Giriama village with fresh coconut or palm wine.

“Dans un premier temps on nous a oublié, on devait venir nous récupérer à l’hôtel. Finalement nous sommes allés en Tuk Tuk avec un tarif convenu au départ. Une excursion plus que sommaire un tour en barque quelques flamants Roses une heure environ. Retour à l’hôtel, et là on nous réclame encore plus d’argent. Dommage.”

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10.Kongo River Sunset Experience in Canoe

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · from $39

Meet at Kongo Mosque, walk to the estuary, then board a traditional, human-powered canoe for a quiet sunset ride through mangroves and palms. Your captain shares local history and points out birdlife along the river. Pickup and drop-off by tuk-tuk are included within Diani, but food and drinks are extra.

“The best place to watch the sunset in diani.The beach is clean.So many locals selling boat rides to the mangrooves foe sunset.We booked a sunset boat with stallone +254710239929.You can also try the new zip line .Amazing food at the estuary,Very good price,friendly owner.”

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11.Nairobi national park: Sunrise and Sunset Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5 reviews · 5 hours · from $37

Start before sunrise or later in the afternoon for a four-hour Nairobi National Park game drive in an open-roof safari vehicle. An English-speaking guide leads the search for lions, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, and other wildlife. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and a coffee stop are included, but park fees are extra.

“william era un autista che si è prodigato molto per farci trovare i rari rinoceronti ed altri. guida un po spericolata ma consigliato”

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12.Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 4 reviews · 4 hours · from $70

You’ll spend two hours aboard a traditional dhow, sailing from Estuary Beach Restaurant along the Mwachema River toward the Kongo River as daylight fades. Captain Bakari has received special praise for his handling of the trip. Back ashore, choose an a la carte main course with fresh juice and water during a private four-hour evening outing.

“Vse je bilo,kot smo se dogovorili,res lepa izkušnja.Imeli smo zelo dobrega kapitana Bakarija,priporočam Robert in Katja,Slovenija”

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13.mangrove tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 4 reviews · 2 hours · from $65

From Diani Beach, you’ll travel to the Kongo River for a brief introduction to Kongo Mosque, then paddle upstream by traditional canoe through quiet mangroves. Look for local birds, listen to river stories, and watch the sunset if the weather cooperates. Guide Giustino can lead the tour in Italian, with other language options available.

“A parte l’inconveniente iniziale, hanno sbagliato il resort dove venirci a prendere, per il resto è un’attività dove c’è poco da vedere oltre le mangrovie e la moschea di cui parlano niente di entusiasmante. Però se si vuole vivere l’esperienza di navigazione sul fiume Kongo con una canoa tipica del posto e si vuole assistere ad un tramonto africano, è l’attività giusta. La nostra guida Giustino, molto simpatico e parlava italiano (come richiesto).”

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