Ilha Blue Island Safaris

Ilha Blue Island Safaris

Ilha Blue Island Safaris
4.5
Cultural ToursBike ToursBoat ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingKayaking & Canoeing
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
About
Ilha Blue Island Safaris operate tours and activities in and around Ilha de Mocambique, an African World Heritage island floating in the Indian ocean. This is your chance to be immersed in real Ilha life – an exotic mix of Makhuwa, Swahili, Arabic, Indian, and Portuguese cultures. We offer low impact, small group tours: bicycle, sea-kayak, Swahili sailing dhow, snorkelling, remote island camping. Each tour provides you with a unique and intimate Ilha experience.
Mozambique Island, Mozambique
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Ilha Blue Island Safaris
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show options
Travellers talk about

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles253 reviews
Excellent
202
Very good
41
Average
3
Poor
5
Terrible
2

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

mkl68
New York City, NY323 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
I had an amazing time on several tours with Ilha Blue (biking around Ilha, Whale watching and a snorkeling tour) while staying in Ilha. The staff were friendly and helpful. If you are in Ilha, I highly recommend going on a tour with this company which does a lot to empower the local community and build the tourist infrastructure in Ilha. Also their cafe is nice.
Written 8 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.
Hello, we are very appreciative for sharing your experience about us with other travelers. We cannot wait to have you once again shortly. Melhores Cumprimentos/ Best Regards
Written 2 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jasmine_zim
Maputo, Mozambique28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
A long awaited visit to Ilha de Mocambique was made even more special with Ilha Blue. Pete and Gail are lovely hosts and run this great company to help visitors to Ilha appreciate, learn and enjoy the tourism opportunities there are here.

Selmani took me on a great walking tour to explore the history and architecture of this part of Mozambique. Old buildings, interesting stories ending with a sunset on the pier by the museum - wonderful afternoon of learning and appreciating the beauty.
The following day we had arranged a boat trip to look for whales and have lunch on an island. Ilha Blue is an accredited whale watch operator that do trips to watch the humpback whales migrating in the Indian Ocean. We set sail on their motorized dhow with a great crew (very fit and strong!) and it was fascinating to enjoy a traditional sailboat and look for whales in quiet. Unfortunately it was slightly choppy and although we saw evidence of whales, there was no jumping out of the water for us! However, we stopped at beautiful Ilha de Goa with its white sand and ancient lighthouse from 1847 and the crew barbecued fresh garopa for us with coconut rice, accompanied by fresh, organic salad from Pete and Gail's garden, and the delicious matapa siri siri (local specialty). After that wonderful treat, we set sail again for Ilha de Mocambique and arrived back to the pier as the sun was setting after a super relaxing day out exploring the ocean!

If you visit Ilha de Mocambique, Ilha Blue have the best island safari options to help you enjoy your stay, I highly recommend them as great hosts!
Written 1 September 2020
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.
Hello Jasmine! Is with great enthusiasm that we received your satisfaction with the activities and experience you have had with Ilha Blue Island Safaris. We are very happy to know that you really liked and enjoyed a lot. Everything we do is to provide our customer with a unique experience, so you can keep in mind the Mozambique Island, as a destination to recommend always. And we do our best at Ilha Blue to make your stay an unforgettable. Best regards
Written 4 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Damon P
Paris, France4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
You won't regret this - I've been to almost 70 countries and this is really great value and a fun experience.
Pete was flexible in arranging a trip for me when his team usually has a day off. The boat, drinks, freshly cooked seafood, activities and conversation were all fantastic. Pete provided a lot of great background and information about the island and other activities you can do. He helped me hire some guys to take me across the water the following day.
I don't think any other boat companies speak much English so bear this in mind - I speak Portuguese but this is still the best option. The other boat companies I saw are run by nice people but don't understand the full customer service concept regarding guided explanations, activities, food, etc. They'll just taxi you somewhere. Pete and many others on the island are working hard to foster tourism in the region, educate the locals and ultimately help the economy. It's a stunning intersection of world history and trade with beautiful scenery, food and fun people.
Written 5 May 2020
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.
Hi Damon Thanks for your great review, apologies for not responding sooner but I only just saw it now. With everything in shutdown i'm not checking as often as I normally do. Its very quiet here but in a way thats ok, people are getting by. Hope you have the chance to come and visit us again one day. Cheers Pete
Written 29 June 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Croco voleur
6 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
Big disappointment!!! Owners monopolize information in accommodation. Sitting in front of their PC or behind their newspaper, they let the small staff manage. For comparison, favour Sea Island safaris, a small agency run by Ambasse. Enthusiastic, erudite on the history of the island, the surrounding islands, local flora and fauna.... his tour of the islands in dhow and the succulent meal he prepares with his team are a nugget and the best memory of our stay.
Automatically translated
Written 13 August 2024
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.
It’s great to hear that your best memory of Ilha is a dhow trip with delicious seafood. It is what Ilha does best! I am sorry if it was me sitting behind a computer- I would much rather be out sailing too. Thank you for your review, I passed it on to Ambasse and he was pleased to receive it.
Written 1 November 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rofiqul_Rana
Dhaka City, Bangladesh118 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
We were planning a trip to Ilha De Mozambique and looking for transport from Nampula to Ilha. That's when we found Ilha Blue and when we reached out to Peter, he agreed to arrange transportation for us and suggested we should consider some of their featured tours. We selected Sunset Sail and we did not regret it. The weather was very nice and lots of wind. They took us on a Dhow (local sail boat) and gave us a 2 hours tour in the harbour until we stopped at a place for sunset. It was spectacular! The best part of Ilha Blue is that they understand the sustainable tourism. They are using local resources, creating jobs for local people, supporting the community through their work and providing best environment friendly tours. Peter and Gail are amazing people and are making genuine effort to support the community. We are very happy that we reached out to them and end up making great friends in Ilha. We will highly recommend Ilha Blue if anyone is planning a trip to Ilha De Mozambique. Best wishes!
Written 29 February 2020
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.
Thanks Rana for your enthusiastic review. The Sunset Sail is perfect to get a feel for all that Ilha has to offer. I hope we see you both again on Ilha. Or maybe in Bangladesh!
Written 11 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Joana C
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
A great trip do Goa island, snorkeling over a sunk ship and a delicious lunch at the beach.
The were amazing, but we took to much to leave in the morning, which delayed the experience and made us lost our ride to Nampula.
And a guard on thw island asked us for money to “visit” the lighthouse. It went well, but was a little uncorfortable, ‘cause no one had warned us
Written 27 May 2021
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.
Hi Thank you very much, You right, it was difficult day even for us. and we are very sorry about all that. In Goa island, is one those things that you can not control, most the time is free to go to the lighthouse, it was right from that time that they started making our clients to pay some money to visity the lighthouse. so we are very sorry. Now we have controlled situation. thanks for sharing you experience, appreciated
Written 10 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

pmawer2021
Palma, Mozambique1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021
We(3 friends) took a snorkeling trip to the sunken wreck by the fort and loved the entire experience. Going by traditional sail boat under full sail just added to fun and memories. The wreck itself didn't disappoint and was interesting for so many reasons (the marine life, nature reclaiming the wreck, the size of the wreck and the shallowness and clarity of the water). Pete's informative chats about every aspect added wonderfully to the experience and we came away not just happy but really feeling we'd learnt something. We'll definitely be back for the whale watching. Ilha Blue Cafe is also a must visit location for their shakes, smoothies, homemade cakes and again the friendly and informative chats with Gail and Pete.
Written 10 February 2021
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.
Great to hear all went fabolous... Thank You very Much for sharing your lovely experience with us and others travelers. Whale Watching will be our next Big Thing on Ilha, so looking forward to see you then. And we will make sure you have wonderful experience and time with Whales .
Written 4 March 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Steve C
Canton of Vaud, Switzerland331 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Solo
.After receiving an early morning briefing on what we might expect from the day we walked to the jetty and climbed aboard the 11m sailing dhow. The water was very calm and so we headed out under the power of the motor to see what we could find. As it turned out, no whales! But, and it’s a very significant but, we did find ourselves amongst one of the largest pods of dolphins I’ve ever seen. After following them very carefully for a while we continued searching for whale. We then came to the beautiful uninhabited Ilha de Goa, where we disembarked from the boat and waded ashore to the most beautiful beach you can imagine, where a lunch of barbecued fish, rice, salad, beans and Siri-Siri (I spell it like I heard it, it’s a very local delicacy of sea vegetables) was served. We then walked to the abandoned lighthouse which we climbed to the top of and, to our delight and surprise, we saw in the very distance a majestic humpback breaching. That was our queue, we walked back to the beach and got back aboard the dhow in the hopes of finding the whale. Alas, our search was once again unsuccessful. But, our disappointment was assuaged by the amazing experience of sailing back to Ilha de Mozambique by sail.

This was a whale watching tour and I didn’t have the experience I hoped for, but this is the nature of things. Whale are wild things and part of the delight in a day like this is the hope and anticipation and, as with us, if you don’t see a whale close up, that’s ok. I took joy in the experience, of having an amazing full day sailing the Indian Ocean n a traditional dhow, having adventures and amazing food on a desert island and enjoying the company of guests and crew.

I would repeat this day in a heart beat, and who knows what I will see when I sail again with Ilha Blue.
Written 27 September 2024
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.
Hi Noisui, thanks for your review. I wish you could have seen the whales with all their performance and spectacular acrobatics - but as you say thats nature - and maybe you will come back again, I hope so. Great that you got in amongst a large pod of dolphins which is special and one of my favourite events when they swim alongside the boat. And thanks for being so appreciative of the food and everything else. Thanks Pete
Written 1 November 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Danny921
Lynchburg, VA8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2023 • Family
Ilha Blue took our group out to watch the humpback whale migration happening during this season. Amazing experience! Their staff was knowledgeable and helpful. We stopped at a smaller island for lunch. We toured the lighthouse and swam. Beautiful views from the lighthouse! Their staff cooked amazing seafood! Some of the best I’ve had.
Written 29 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.
Thank you for your review. Everyone at Ilha Blue really appreciate hearing your feedback. Hope you get a chance to come back again!
Written 7 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Hervé C
Brussels, Belgium16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021 • Couples
We made a 2 hours tour by bike, passing to the most important point of interest. Our guide provided a lot of historical information and it was very interactive. The contact with Ilha Blue was so good that we came back to it for a snorkeling activity and also just to discuss with the members.
Written 12 July 2021
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.
Thank for sharing your experience with other travelers... Hope to have you again.
Written 30 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Showing results 1-10 of 226
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Ilha Blue Island Safaris - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2025)

All things to do in Mozambique Island
RestaurantsFlightsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars