Kenya · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips & Dhow Sails in Kenya

22 tours  ·  from $34 a head

Hippos on Naivasha, dolphins off Kisite, and sunset dhows out of the creeks. The 15 below are priced by hours afloat, with a note on which sail properly and which run a motor.

Day Trip: Hell's Gate Bike Ride & Lake Naivasha Boat Ride - Cycling Through Hell’s Gate National Park
1-Day Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Cycling Tours, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, Tour Reviews, Tours in Nairobi

Day Trip: Hell’s Gate Bike Ride & Lake Naivasha Boat Ride

1.Day Trip: Hell’s Gate Bike Ride & Lake Naivasha Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 251 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $34Our pick

You’ll cycle up to 16 km through Hell’s Gate National Park beside zebras, giraffes, gazelles, and buffaloes, then walk through a steaming gorge before a guided Lake Naivasha boat ride. Drivers such as Isaiah, Erick, Patrick, and guides including Ruth and Rosey have helped make this a friendly, flexible day, but park, bike, boat, and lunch costs are extra.

“It was an unforgettable trip! Hells Gate is really stunning and biking is the perfect way to explore it. Our driver and guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. The boat tour on Lake is Naivasha a very nice way to see the hippos, the giraffes on the island and all.the bird species. All in all, a perfect outing!”

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Mombasa: Kisite Park Private Cruise with Breakfast and Lunch - Breakfast on the way to Kisite Marine Park
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours in Mombasa

Mombasa: Kisite Park Private Cruise with Breakfast and Lunch

2.Kisite Park Private Cruise with Breakfast and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 181 reviews · 8 hours · from $163

This private coastal day links dolphin watching, reef snorkeling, a Kisite sandbank stop, Swahili breakfast and lunch, Wasini Island, and Shimoni Slave Caves. Guides such as Francis, Jimmy, Eric, and Ali are praised for careful help in the water. Scuba is available for an added €60 cash fee.

“Our day out to Wasini island and Shimona caves was stunning. Our driver Jimmy picked us up and dropped us back at our accommodation, so all was smooth and easy. The team were knowledgeable and friendly. Snorkelling on the reef was amazing, Francis took time to show us special sights like octopus in the coral. White sand beach in the middle of the sea. Fantastic meal on Wasini Island. Tour of the caves included a local guide who told us the history - a hard listen but a good thing to know about. We felt really safe and well looked after all day, and saw some amazing sights. Highly recommended!”

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Day Tour To Hell's Gate National Park and Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha. - The Great Rift Valley viewpoint and Mount Longonot
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Nairobi

Day tour to Hell’s Gate National park and optional Boat ride on lake Naivasha

3.Day tour to Hell’s Gate National park and optional Boat ride on lake Naivasha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews · from $125Top rated

Leave Nairobi at 7am for Hell’s Gate National Park, where you cycle among zebra, eagles, and dramatic volcanic scenery with a private guide. Add a $25 Lake Naivasha boat ride for hippos and birds. Park fees, transport, bike rental, and guide are included, while lunch and the boat cost extra.

“Stephen and the entire crew was amazing. The park and experience exceeded our expectations. Pick up and drop off was on time. We felt completely comfortable and safe.”

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Full Day Lake Nakuru Park and optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha - Leaving Nairobi before the city wakes
Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, Lake Nakuru Safaris, Tour Reviews, Tours in Nairobi

Full Day Lake Nakuru Park and optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha

4.Full Day Lake Nakuru Park and optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 95 reviews · from $202

Leave Nairobi early with a private driver-guide for Lake Nakuru’s rhinos, lions, giraffes, flamingoes, and birdlife. Add a one-hour Lake Naivasha boat ride for hippos and fish eagles. Guides such as Paul, Jimmy, Simba, Peter, and Albert are praised for wildlife spotting and clear explanations.

“Our guide was Jimmy again (yay) - and he's very patient and fun to hang with - amazing driver (both on road and offorad!) - we enjoyed our game drive in this park. He was able to spot animals for us and explain to us a lot of things. We've been to Southern Africa before and Read more”

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Small Group Budget Tour to Hells Gate National Park and Lake Naivasha Boat Ride - Cycling into Hells Gate National Park
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Nairobi

Small Group Budget Tour to Hells Gate National Park and Lake Naivasha Boat Ride

5.Small Group Budget Tour to Hells Gate National Park and Lake Naivasha Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · from $57

Spend a full day leaving Nairobi for Hell's Gate National Park and Lake Naivasha. Cycle 8 kilometers through the park, walk the gorges, and take an optional boat ride for bird and hippo viewing. Guides such as David, Jaffar, Kazungu, and Jeffer lead the outing, with vehicle support if you tire.

“High-quality company. Our guide Mr. Kazungu was early at pick up. He was very well informed and gave us good tips on our trip. Safe comfortable drive in a clean car. Had a very enjoyable trip. The bicycle rental was well organized and quick tRead more”

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Day Tour To Lake Nakuru Park With Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha - The 6:00am start and the road to Nakuru
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, Lake Nakuru Safaris, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Nairobi

Day Tour To Lake Nakuru Park With Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha

6.Day Tour To Lake Nakuru Park With Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · from $210

Leave Nairobi at 6:00am for Lake Nakuru, pause at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, and spend about three hours seeking flamingos and other wildlife. Continue to Lake Naivasha for a one-hour boat ride with hippos, eagles, and birdlife. Guides such as Festus Kazungu and Samuel have earned praise for their warmth and park knowledge. Park fees and boat fare cost extra.

“We had an excellent day around beautiful, peaceful Lake Nakuru. The national park offers much more than the famous flamingos; we saw plenty of wildlife while enjoying the surroundings. Samuel was a highly knowledgeable guide who really made an effort to give us the besRead more”

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Day Tour To Hell's Gate National Park and Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha. - The Great Rift Valley viewpoint and Mount Longonot
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Nairobi

Day Tour To Hell’s Gate National Park and Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha.

7.Day Tour To Hell’s Gate National Park and Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · from $65

Travel from Nairobi with a private driver, cycle through Hell’s Gate National Park with a local guide, and add a Lake Naivasha boat ride for hippos, fish eagles, and pelicans. Guides such as Calvin, Frank, Gaddafi, and Sam have helped make the day informative and flexible. Park, boat, lunch, and some cycling fees cost extra.

“We had a an elderly, german Guide for our tour and really had a fun time! He didn’t speak fluent german completely, but tried his best to make the whole tour in german (as we also speak English pretty well, we just spoke a mix of both languaRead more”

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Diani Beach: Glass Boat Cruise to Robinson Island - The tuk tuk ride adds a local touch
Cruises & Boat Tours, Diani & Coast Beach Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours in Diani Beach

Diani Beach: Glass Boat Cruise to Robinson Island

8.Glass Boat Cruise to Robinson Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 69 reviews · 4 hours · from $42

Florence and her team take you by tuk tuk from Diani Beach to a glass-bottom boat for a 3 to 4 hour trip toward Robinson Island. Look through the clear floor for fish, snorkel with a guide such as Tobias or Mishe, and swim from a tidal sandbank. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and your camera.

“Florence was the best. We had missed the message re the pick up time but she messaged us again and waited for us and contacted the skipper to wait for us. A perfect day with a wonderful crew. Tobias was our snorkeling guide and showed us a wonderful array of the reef life. Glass bottomed boat gave great views of the sea bed and the captain fed the fish beneath it to attract them. Amazing. Highly recommend”

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Diani Beach: Kongo River Estuary Sundowner Boat Tour - The tuk tuk ride is part of the experience
Cruises & Boat Tours, Diani & Coast Beach Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Diani Beach

Diani Beach: Kongo River Estuary Sundowner Boat Tour

9.Kongo River Estuary Sundowner Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 39 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

Florence collects you by private tuk tuk in Diani and takes you to the Kongo River Estuary, where Captain Abdul guides a peaceful canoe ride among mangroves and birds. You’ll visit a local village, then watch the sun go down from the water. The 2-hour tour costs $42 and runs in English.

“Beautiful sunset, quite and serene experience on the river. Really amazing guides, Abdul the guide was really amazing. He attended to everyone of our requests respectfully.”

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Private Tour to Mount Longonot and Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha - The 6 a.m. road from Nairobi to the Rift Valley
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, Mount Kenya & Highland Treks, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Nairobi

Private Tour to Mount Longonot and Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha

10.Private Tour to Mount Longonot and Optional Boat Ride on Lake Naivasha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $125

Leave Nairobi at 6 a.m. with a private English-speaking guide and driver, hike Mount Longonot in the cooler morning, then visit Lake Naivasha for lunch and an optional one-hour boat ride. Guides such as Frank, Joshua, Victor, and Patrick have led similar trips, with patient support on the steep climb.

“Fantastic trip. The guide Frank and Patrick the driver were really amazing. Great fun guys and very knowledgable. I would fully recommend this excursion to anyone. We would definitely use this company again.”

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Kisite Marine Park Private Boat Snorkeling with breakfast & Lunch - Kisite Marine Park for snorkeling and swimming
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Private, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Malindi

Kisite Marine Park Private Boat Snorkeling with breakfast & Lunch

11.Kisite Marine Park Private Boat Snorkeling with breakfast & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $161

You’ll travel from your hotel or port to Shimoni, board a private dhow, search for dolphins, snorkel at Kisite Marine Park, and eat a Swahili seafood lunch on Wasini Island. Breakfast, fruit, drinks, equipment, park fees, transport, and underwater photos are included, with a village visit and Shimoni Slave Caves added to the day.

“We had an amazing adventure! The entire day as planned and arranged seamlessly. Beautiful coral reef, lots of fish, dolphins, amazing food, and site seeing. We loved our guide and boat captain. Highly recommend!”

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Bike Tour at Hell's Gate National Park, Boat Ride at L. Naivasha - Ol Jorowa Gorge on foot
Cruises & Boat Tours, Cycling Tours, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Tours

Bike Tour at Hell’s Gate National Park, Boat Ride at L. Naivasha

12.Bike Tour at Hell’s Gate National Park, Boat Ride at L. Naivasha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $92

Join guide Reagan for a 5 to 8-hour Naivasha outing that pairs bicycle wildlife viewing and a one-hour hike at Hell's Gate National Park with a boat ride on Lake Naivasha. Expect giraffes, zebras, buffalo, hippos, birds, Fischer's Tower, Ol Jorowa Gorge, and a possible stop at a Maasai market. Pickup costs an additional $25.

“The tour was great! We had a great time with Reagan as our guide! He even bought us waters which we really appreciated!”

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Diani Beach: Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise to Robinson Island - From your hotel to the water by tuk-tuk
Cruises & Boat Tours, Diani & Coast Beach Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours in Diani Beach

Diani Beach: Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise to Robinson Island

13.Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise to Robinson Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 22 reviews · 2 hours · from $35

Join Kaaribu Experiences for a two-hour glass-bottom boat trip from Diani Beach to Robinson Island. Tina may collect you by tuk-tuk, while the captain points out fish, starfish, and sea urchins, then puts on an underwater show beneath the boat. You can snorkel, swim, or relax on the sandbank.

“Tina picked us up from our hotel and we travelled to the departure area in our tuk tuk. Great trip and Tina stayed with us for the whole experience We loved it and thank you”

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Diani: Sunset Cruise along Kongo River on Wooden Canoe boat - Boarding the wooden canoe at Kongo River
Canoes & Kayaks, Cruises & Boat Tours, Diani & Coast Beach Trips, Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Diani Beach

Diani: Sunset Cruise along Kongo River on Wooden Canoe boat

14.Sunset Cruise along Kongo River on Wooden Canoe boat

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

You’ll travel by tuk-tuk from your Diani hotel to Kongo Beach, then board a traditional wooden canoe for a slow river ride. Expect mangrove scenery, bird watching, a light snack, and sunset views. An English-speaking guide leads the private two-hour outing, though no individual guide name is provided.

“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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A day tour; Lake Nakuru national park& L. Naivasha Boat ride - The early road to the Great Rift Valley
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate, Lake Nakuru Safaris, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Nakuru

A day tour; Lake Nakuru national park& L. Naivasha Boat ride

15.A day tour; Lake Nakuru national park& L. Naivasha Boat ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 18 reviews · 10 hours · from $145

Leave Nairobi early with an English-speaking driver-guide such as Titus for Lake Nakuru game viewing and a Lake Naivasha boat ride. Look for rhinos, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, flamingos, hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds. The boat ride costs extra, and park entry is not included, so check the current fees before booking.

“Great tour AL thought couldn’t see a lot of flamingo but we spotted a lot of rhino in action around the park”

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★ 5.0Hell’s Gate & Lake Naivasha: Bike Tour, Hike & Boat RideFrom $363 reviews

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