A diver’s Paradise:
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.
Location
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.
Favourite beach lodges on Mafia Island
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.
The name "Mafia" derives from the Arabic morfiyeh, meaning "group" or "archipelago", or from the Swahili mahali pa afya, meaning "a healthy dwelling-place". The Mafia Island ("Chole Shamba") is part of the Tanzanian Zanzibar Archipelago, together with Unguja, Pemba and Latham Island. The Mafia archipelago consists of one large island (394 km²) and several smaller ones. Some of these are inhabited, such as Chole Island (2 km²). The stretch of water between the deltas of the Rufiji River and the island is called Mafia Channel.
On arriving at Mafia's tiny airport (a grass runway, a windsock and a hut) it is clear that the pace of life is slow here. Sandy roads lead through the one-street capital of Kilindoni, then friendly farming and fishing villages. Chole Bay, Mafia's protected deep-water anchorage and original harbor, is studded with islands, sandbanks and beaches. The clear, protected waters offer wonderful snorkeling, sailing and swimming opportunities. Outside the Bay unbroken reef runs the length of the island, from Tutia in the south to Ras Mkumbi at the northern tip. At the coast you'll find mangrove forests, a few short stretches of golden beach and a brilliant turquoise sea. Sleepy dhows float between the islands.
All five islands of the Mafia archipelago – Mafia, Jibondo, Juani, Chole and Bwejuu – have lush vegetation and wildlife, with coconut palms, baobabs, and cashew, mango and papaya trees in the interior. These are home to bushbabies, wild pigs, blue duikers, genets, vervet monkeys and Pteropus fruit bats (flying foxes). On the Mafia Island coast, mangrove forests and tidal flats that attract endless sea birds exist. There are popular rumors of pygmy hippo on the island but there are no confirmed sightings.
This is one of Tanzania's best areas for diving and deep sea fishing. You'll always see something exciting, from abundant Aquatic life - rainbow-colored clownfish to octopus, rays and the odd gigantic grouper or large potato cod to the pristine the coral gardens protected by the Mafia Island Marine Park. Sharks and dolphins are found in the deeper waters, and at night turtles crawl onto remote beaches to nest. (Note that due to local winds and currents, dive sites outside the bay are often only safely accessible from about mid-September to the end of February.)
The dual influences of the river Rufiji and the Indian Ocean Sea have combined to create a rich and exceptional biodiversity with unique landscapes under the sea and on dry land. Mafia Island is a unique and perfect destination as part of a safari package or simply a place to unwind and get away from the daily, modern and busy world.
The resident population is mainly fishermen or smallholder farmers that grow coconut, paw-paw, rice and cassava. The islanders are friendly and welcoming and the atmosphere relaxed and laid-back. Mafia is little changed from ancient times and retains a traditional, friendly culture; the community tourism association works hard to preserve this individually.
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