Mafia Island Holidays
Mafia Island is a sleepy island located south of Zanzibar, where days are spent exploring exposed sand bars, fishing and diving. Scuba is seriously good here, especially in whale shark season.
When to go to Mafia Island
Best Time to Go
Visit Mafia Island between January and February and July and December for the best beach holiday experience.
30-minutes south of Zanzibar
An activity destination
Exceptional diving and snorkelling
Best beaches are on islands off the coast
An Activity-Filled Destination
Mafia is a 30-minute flight from Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. It is home to the largest marine park in Africa and is a very good destination for spotting whale sharks. The diving here is even better than off Pemba – in fact, we think it is the best to be found in Tanzania.
Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.
Good to Know
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What are the best accommodation options?
There are more hotels here than in Pemba but, true to the island atmosphere, they are more rustic-chic than luxurious. We think this is a good destination for adventurous travellers who enjoy the outdoor life. It is particularly suitable for advanced divers. For a facility and activity heavy lodge, consider Kinasi, which is the first major lodge on the island. However, if you’d prefer a characterful and quirky base, try either the fabulous treehouses at Chole Mjini or the scenic raised bungalows at Pole Pole.
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