Tailor made holidays and honeymoons to Mafia Island 

Mafia Island, 30 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam is a world away from the bustle of the city or the tourist beaches of Zanzibar!   As you land on the 'bush strip' you immediately get the feeling that this is somewhere that time has stood still.    Rustic chic is the order of the day...

Mangroves at Kanga Beach, Mafia Island

Mafia Island

The archipelago of Mafia is governed by the Tanzanian mainland and considers itself to be separate to Zanzibar.  Chole Bay is home to a protected Marine Park and is studded with islands, beaches and sandbanks.  The stretch of water that separates Mafia from the mainland where the Rufiji River empties itself from the Southern Safari Parks is called the Mafia Channel.  The many tiny islands provide fabulous places to take a boat trip and picnic, exploring old ruins and tiny fishing villages.  Many islands are uninhabited so you are often enjoying your own company.

Mafia sandbank

Rustic Chic on Mafia Island

If you are looking for just a 'beach holiday' then Mafia may not be right for you, as it's mainly mangroves along the narrow beaches.  Having said that, there are gorgeous pristine sand banks that rise out of the water at low tide.  Here you can set up a shade cloth and while away a few hours!  There is also a lack of night life so if you want beach bars and parties, head to Zanzibar.

If you head to Ras Mbisi Lodge on the other side of the main island to Chole Bay, there is a much longer sandy beach with few people.  If you are looking for an eco-lodge with fantastic food, friendly people and great community and conservation ties, then this is ideal.  Around Chole Bay itself, you will find the well established Pole Pole Lodge with lovely chalets along the side of a small hill looking out over the palms to the water.  The Italian influenced food here is great and you can get a traditional Swahili style massage too.  Next door is Kinasi Lodge, the most 'hotel-like' accommodation on Mafia.  It is decorated in a Moroccan style and the gorgeous rooms are spread out up the hillside surrounded by palms and cashews.  There is a small beach here, a swimming pool, a good wine cellar and a dive school. My own favourite place to stay on Mafia is Chole Mjini.  This unique eco-lodge has individually designed rooms wrapped around ancient baobab trees, giving you views over the tree canopy to the water from your romantic perch high up in the branches!

Mafia Island Pole Pole

Diving and Snorkelling on Mafia Island

The main attraction for Mafia Island is the world class diving and snorkelling.  Mafia Island Marine Park protects an amazing numbers of species and it's also a great place to swim and dive with Whale Sharks as they pass through and visit the bay on their migration between December and March each year.

Chole Island

The tiny island of Chole once had a settlement that was one of the major towns controlling trade from the silver mines of Zimbabwe.  There are many ruins and old buildings dotted around the archipelago to this day that you can explore and listen to the tales of history on Mafia.  These days, tourism is the main income and diving the main attraction.

Utende Beach Chole Island

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