Tanzania's Mafia Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean, includes Mafia Island. Large portions of the Mafia Island Marine Park's southern coastline and surrounding waters are protected. There are several coral reefs in the park, which are home to animals like sea turtles and whale sharks.
Mafia Island is very small. If you are staying in Kilindoni, everything is within walking distance. In the center are the main road and a market. From here, the airport is 5 minutes (walk), the port 5 minutes, and a swimmable beach 15 minutes, with all restaurants and bars (there aren’t many!) sitting in between.
Despite 3 Days 2 Nights Mafia Island, it’s possible for a One-day trip safari from Zanzibar Island by Flight, this departs from Zanzibar to Mafia from 07:00 at Zanzibar Airport.
Depart by flight from Zanzibar around 14:00 or 16:00 from Dar es Salaam to Mafia in the evening flight. On arrival, you will be met by your lodge driver who will transfer to the lodge. Relax at your accommodation or choose from one of the many extra optional activities available on this unique island. Overnight at your selected accommodation.
Enjoy your whale shark excursion after breakfast. Mafia Island is home to whale sharks all year round, but November through February are the best times of year to see them and go swimming with them. Every day, check the tides and the activities your lodge has to offer. If you're extremely fortunate, you may also witness the hatching of a turtle nest! You will have the opportunity to take a city tour of Mafia Island in the evening to discover more about the island's history and how its residents live. Enjoy your stay at the lodging of your choice.
Following a final leisurely breakfast, you will spend your final day on Mafia Island snorkeling for five hours at Chole Island before being driven back to the airport (across the island). If you are from Zanzibar, we will take the flight back to Zanzibar at 17:00. Otherwise, catch your flight back to Dar es Salaam between 17:35 and 18:10.
In Mafia, scuba diving is the most popular pastime. Aquatic life is abundant, and the Mafia Island Marine Park protects nearly half of the coastline. More than 460 tropical fish species, five turtle species, the elusive dugong, and an abundance of hard and soft corals are among the highlights. Whale sharks make their yearly journey to Mafia's waters from September to March, when they are frequently spotted consuming large quantities of plankton upwellings. The opportunity to swim with the biggest fish in the world is provided by responsible operators.
At Mafia, we take pride in running our own whale shark excursions for our visitors to guarantee that the best practices for swimming with whale sharks sustainably are followed with the least possible negative influence on their behavior.
This is not always simple, as boat captains want to please the enthusiastic tourists who are taking this incredible adventure for the first time. Historically, this has resulted in instances where an excessive number of swimmers are present in the water simultaneously, particularly when there aren't many sharks present and multiple boatloads of people from various operators are present.
A very unique location to witness small green and hawksbill turtles making a run for the sea is Juani Island, which is located off the coast of Mafia. Between June and September, environmentally conscious tours can be scheduled through a passionate non-governmental organization that is actively involved in turtle conservation in the area.
Remaining settlements throughout the archipelago provide evidence of the Mafia's trading history. Once a bustling medieval trading post on Juani Island, Kua Ruins included a sultan's palace, mosques, and Swahili homes. It feels like you've discovered a lost civilization because fig roots now cover many of the ruins. In addition, there are German ruins from colonial occupation during World War I and Arabic ruins from the 12th century on Chole Island.
