Boat Tours
8–9 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
£96
per adult
Pilli Pipa Dhow Safari
Pilli Pipa Dhow Safari
4.5
7:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 4:15 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Full view
About
PLENTY OF AVAILABILITY every day. Pilli Pipa has being running dhow safaris since 1989. It is a small family owned company run by Selina and Harm Lutjeboer. Safe, personal and professional service to guests. Guests taken into the pristine and preserved Kisite Marine National Park, aboard our traditional Arab sailing dhows, have the chance to interact and observe in small group sizes about 250 recorded fish species, 200 resident dolphins and over 140 catalogued individuals sea turtles. Snorkel with qualified marine guides who will teach and guide you along the reef whether you are a complete beginner or experienced snorkeler. Alternatively we offer world class scuba diving in and around the famous Kisite Marine Park, with PADI and NAUI accredited dive masters and instructors. Diving ranges from introductory "fun dives" in the shallows of the marine park, all the way to advanced drift dives in a number of secret and exclusive with the opportunity to dive with pelagic species.
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4.5
530 reviews
Excellent
366
Very good
103
Average
41
Poor
11
Terrible
10
beachbummer75
Singapore, Singapore383 contributions
I went with them for 2 days diving - first day in Kisite national park and second day at wasini channel village dives. They communicated clearly what to expect, were punctual and attentive. We saw dolphins along the way. The two dives offered different experiences with fishes, dolphins underwater and other critters. What stood out was their experience esp Jatin
He guided well even with leisure divers all over the place - one was constantly attempting to surface when we were only at 10m due to sheer panic every 10 mins (not even sure how he got certified) another diver was going all directions except following us. Yet he kept them at check while guiding and showing stuff underwater. Not easy feat.
Tanks, regulators, bcds, masks fins were provided as part of package and well maintained. They knew exactly the no of weights for each diver.
Lunch was excellent - crabs, fish, roasted seaweed, seafood soup
I recommend staying in Shimoni as it’s much quieter, very few tourists and not having to travel hours back and forth was worth the while.
had the chance to see the reefolution at work and prices were way more reasonable than what I had in Diani
He guided well even with leisure divers all over the place - one was constantly attempting to surface when we were only at 10m due to sheer panic every 10 mins (not even sure how he got certified) another diver was going all directions except following us. Yet he kept them at check while guiding and showing stuff underwater. Not easy feat.
Tanks, regulators, bcds, masks fins were provided as part of package and well maintained. They knew exactly the no of weights for each diver.
Lunch was excellent - crabs, fish, roasted seaweed, seafood soup
I recommend staying in Shimoni as it’s much quieter, very few tourists and not having to travel hours back and forth was worth the while.
had the chance to see the reefolution at work and prices were way more reasonable than what I had in Diani
Written 1 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
darmasmom
Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA139 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Snorkeling in Kisite was an amazing experience. Sea turtles, octopus, eels, rays, and a multitude of fish - even dolphins swimming all around us when we were swimming back to the boat. Although the coral was as colorful as I have seen elsewhere, its shape and texture we really interesting. The guide in the water with small groups of us would dive down to point out something we probably would not have otherwise noticed. He was also very helpful to me while I was having some trouble with my mask leaking. They had lots of equipment, including nearsighted masks for those of us who are somewhat blind.
We appreciated the free transportation from our hotel. The lunch provided was a really nice experience - good food served buffet style with entertaining descriptions of each dish by the waitstaff dressed in traditional attire.
Booking this trip was easy. Valerie responded to my questions promptly and answered them completely. We paid on the day of the trip. Highly recommend!
We appreciated the free transportation from our hotel. The lunch provided was a really nice experience - good food served buffet style with entertaining descriptions of each dish by the waitstaff dressed in traditional attire.
Booking this trip was easy. Valerie responded to my questions promptly and answered them completely. We paid on the day of the trip. Highly recommend!
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie P
Thanks for encouraging others to come and see the beauty of Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park. We are so glad that you had an enjoyable day and hope to see you again some time.
Written 28 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Neuman
Kenya3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Top notch service, it's an excursion that me and my kids will never forget. We enjoyed every bit of it. From the boat man, the snacks in the boat, the dolphin sighting, the snorkeling well taken care of. I don't even know how to swim but I managed to snorkel with the help of the boat men. The restaurant food presentation was out of the world. I will recommend you guys to my friends and family. Thank you for the unforgettable experience.
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EdmondDantes_10
London, UK145 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Reliable, well-established company for trips to Kisite national park. Very good seafood lunch on Wasini island.
A few things that could be better:
- you need to transfer several times between a small boat and their larger dhow
- dhow used an engine 100% of the time (not sure if they sometimes sail? Would certainly be nicer! Or if you’re going to use an engine, then I’d like it to be a little faster - it was a SLOW boat (so it takes 1h to get to Kisite from Shimoni)
- Snorkeling is limited: you get 2 sessions of ~45 min each. From pick up to drop off, you’re talking about a 10h commitment and you only get to experience the main purpose of the trip for 1.5h…
A few things that could be better:
- you need to transfer several times between a small boat and their larger dhow
- dhow used an engine 100% of the time (not sure if they sometimes sail? Would certainly be nicer! Or if you’re going to use an engine, then I’d like it to be a little faster - it was a SLOW boat (so it takes 1h to get to Kisite from Shimoni)
- Snorkeling is limited: you get 2 sessions of ~45 min each. From pick up to drop off, you’re talking about a 10h commitment and you only get to experience the main purpose of the trip for 1.5h…
Written 17 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hruhipour
Tehran, Iran14 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I recently went on a snorkeling tour with "Pilli Pipa" and it was amazing. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the snorkeling spots were breathtaking. The seafood lunch was delicious and the views were stunning. Highly recommend this tour.
Written 15 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie P
Thank you so much for the lovely review, we appreciate your comments.
Written 17 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mon Beau Chapeau
4 contributions
We had a very enjoyable time with Pilli Pipa. The entire crew was so nice, friendly, and hardworking. They made sure everyone was comfortable, well-equipped and looked after. The crew also catered to both experienced swimmers and less experienced ones so everyone had a good time regardless of swimming ability.
The lunch was as delicious as other reviewers mentioned. It was a seafood feast! They also catered to dietary restrictions if needed.
We ended the tour with a stop at the Shikoku caves. A sad history but good to learn about it as well.
Overall a highly enjoyable day thanks to the Pilli Pipa team. Highly recommended when in Diani!
The lunch was as delicious as other reviewers mentioned. It was a seafood feast! They also catered to dietary restrictions if needed.
We ended the tour with a stop at the Shikoku caves. A sad history but good to learn about it as well.
Overall a highly enjoyable day thanks to the Pilli Pipa team. Highly recommended when in Diani!
Written 14 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diana T
2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Great experience! The people are kindly and have a lot off experience. They also use good stuff and take care off you when you not that abel to swim.
The lunch was delicious and you can enjoy off the great views.
Thanks for this great day!’
Diana
The lunch was delicious and you can enjoy off the great views.
Thanks for this great day!’
Diana
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie P
Hello Diana. That's great that you enjoyed the day and the lunch. Thank you so much for your comments Thank you for taking the time to write a review.
Written 19 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jennifer
London, UK16 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
A great day out for all the family. We loved the dhow sail (we saw dolphins!); the crew were great and so helpful that we were able to snorkel with 3 young kids. And lunch was a real highlight - so delicious and a beautiful location. Thank you!
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie P
Hello Jennifer. Nice to know that you were happy snorkelling with 3 young children. This helps other parents to know that it is safe to take their children out to Kisite My own grandsons have been going on the Dhow since they were three weeks old with their mother, Selina. They are now studying overseas but can't wait to get back to Shimoni when it's school holidays! Thanks for coming.
Written 25 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie M
Paris14 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The tour is nice but it not for young children and in retrospect I should have done more research in advance. We went as a family with our 2 kids (4 and 8yo). The tour asked for my children age before booking, charged me and didn’t mention a thing about the tour not being suited for children. The snorkeling is in deep sea, with strong current. You need to be a good swimmer. As such we had to leave our youngest on the boat the whole time and my husband and I were only able to do 1 out of the 2 dive so that one of us could stay on board with our youngest. They only have a couple of floaters and it was challenging (albeit dangerous) to snorkel with our 8 year old. I was quite frustrated that the tour charged us for our youngest and failed to mention anything. With a bit more preparation, it could have been a much nicer experience. There were other kids aboard, and one of them burst into tears due to fear after the snorkeling experience. Parents were all stressed out, as I was… simple fixes and more honesty would greatly improve this tour.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie P
Our tour is perfectly safe for chldren, we have life vests for everybody on board including children. I do not agree with your damaging allegation that we are dishonest. If you look at any map you can see that the Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park is in the sea. We never said that we are not in the sea. We are not in a lake or river where the water is calm. Kisite is managed by Kenya Wildlife Services who monitor dhow trips like ours. They charge US$ 17 per adult and US$ 13 per child per day and have a small rescue boat on site. We have many children who enjoy the day. 4 years is not too young to learn to swim and our crew are all qualified and certified PADI or NAUI Open Water scuba divers who are used to assisting children and adults who can't swim well. I am sorry you did not ask a crew member to look after the 4 year old whilst you dived. Our own grandchildren have been going on the boat regularly since less than a year old. For information KWS charge US$ 13 for a non resident child of 3 years old. Maybe you could complain to them, it may help them to lower this charge. It's always better to complain on the day, we did have the owners there in Shimoni and a manager on Wasini Island at lunch time.
Written 19 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Presheen G
29 contributions
A wonderful day out and good experience despite the rainy weather in the morning. Spotted a few dolphins, saw quite a few fish on the reef, lucky to see a turtle while snorkeling as well. Weather picked up in the afternoon which made for gorgeous views from Wasini Island. Lunch was good. Staff and crew were super friendly and helpful. We also stopped at the Shimoni caves,it's an approx 15 min tour and good to see.
Written 6 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie P
That's great to hear. The weather is not perfect at the moment, we are still in the rainy season, but it's still possible to have a good day out. Thanks for the good comments.
Written 7 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jose Carlos A
1 contribution
Hello¡ Is it possible do the tour in Spanish ? Thanks in advance
what time will it return to Diani Beach
Valerie P
Diani Beach, Kenya8 contributions
5.30p.m
It's rough the journey on the bought Can we booked the trip just in 2-3 day before?
tahirab2018
Burlington, Canada31 contributions
The boat ride isn’t particularly rough. Generally the sea is calm. Depends on weather. And yes you can book it 2 or 3 days in advance. I would highly recommend it - it is definitely an experience of a lifetime.
Titi3010
Paris, France
Bonsoir,
Avec ma femme, nous serons à l’hôtel Baobab en août et sommes intéressés par le snorkeling avec pilli pipa. Cela étant, nous n’avons pas encore les dates de notre safari. Est-ce possible de réserver depuis l’hôtel ? Faut-il réserver longtemps à l’avance ou une réservations quelques jours est possible ?
Je vous remercie par avance pour votre retour.
Valerie P
Diani Beach, Kenya8 contributions
Bonjour Titi. Vous pouvez réserver par email. Regardez notre website pour le email addresse.
Une réservation quelques jours avant est possible.
Shann5
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK13 contributions
Hi, do you know if it's best to book this on viator before I go or when I get to the hotel?
jeffandrenate
Mönchengladbach, Germany7 contributions
I e-mailed them before I traveled then met them at their offices. couldn't have gone easier. Hope you have a great time - we did!
Silviaa1010
Matadepera, Spain1,062 contributions
Pueden decirme el precio de la excursión de 1 día y lo que incluye dicha tarifa?
Gracias!!
Valerie P
Diani Beach, Kenya8 contributions
Hi Silvia, The price for a full day excursion to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park is US$135 per person. This includes Kenya WIldlife Services park fees of US$17, VAT & Tourism Fund included. Transport from hotel to Shimoni and back. Dhow trip with snorkelling at two sites with use of equipment and experienced guides. Mineral water, tea/coffee/biscuits on the dhow and lunch with drinks served on Wasini Island.
martismith
Province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica1 contribution
Hi, do you pick up from Diani Sea Lodge on Diani beach? And how would I book a trip? I'll be arriving in 2 weeks. Thanks.
Valerie P
Diani Beach, Kenya8 contributions
We do pick up from Diani Sea Lodge at about 7.15 a.m and you would get back at about 6p.m You can book a trip by email. We are not allowed to put our email address here so maybe you could give me your email address or look up our website. Don't forget there are two l's in Pilli Pipa. Or you can call +254 723 840377. Payment can be made when you arrive at Diani Beach.
Thanks
Valerie
Wanjiru M
Nairobi Region, Kenya19 contributions
was just wondering how much Pilli Pipa Dhow Safari?
Valerie P
Diani Beach, Kenya8 contributions
K.Shs 7,300/- per adult if you bring your Kenya ID or Rwandan/Ugandan citizens ID, or a foreigner certificate. Half price for children between the ages of 3 years and 12. Free for 2 years and under. Includes an excellent lunch of fish and crab although you can order in advance a vegetarian or chicken if you prefer. White wine and beer/sodas included with lunch. Use of up to date equipment and expert marine guides to assist. Includes transport and dhow trip.