Swim with dolphins in Mauritius

Tours usually depart for Tamarin Bay from Grande Riviere Noire on the southwest coast. If you’re staying in the north, e.g. Grand Baie, it’s a 1.5-hour drive. Some tours include hotel pick up, but if you’re further away, you’ll spend time in the van stopping at nearer hotels. Other ‘dolphin’ trips, where dolphin sightings and swimming are incidental, may depart from other ports; make sure you select one going to Tamarin Bay.

A basic dolphin tour lasts around 2 hours; if you add on the BBQ lunch and snorkelling, it’s a full day. There’s no minimum age, but any participant must be a competent swimmer.

Tamarin Bay tours have a 90% success rate at spotting dolphins, but if you’re unlucky and miss them, most operators offer a second outing free. So book this trip early in your vacation, so you have the opportunity to go again.

Tours operate in good weather all year round. Dolphin watching day excursions depart several times a day.

Swimming with dolphins has to be early in the morning. The water is clearest and calmest for viewing from October to December and March to April. Avoid the January to February cyclone season.