- Flight from Dar
- ≈ 30 min
- Marine park
- Mafia Island Marine Park
- Known for
- Whale sharks, diving
- Whale shark season
- ≈ Oct – Mar
- Vibe
- Quiet, low-key
- Best for
- Divers, nature lovers
About Mafia
Mafia Island lies off the Rufiji Delta, south of Zanzibar, and feels like the Zanzibar of decades ago. Most of its coast is protected inside the Mafia Island Marine Park, with healthy coral gardens, turtles and excellent diving.
From about October to March, gentle whale sharks feed close to shore near Kilindoni, and you can snorkel beside them.
Things to do
Whale shark snorkelling
Swim with the world's largest fish, in season.
Diving in Chole Bay
Calm, coral-rich dives suitable for all levels.
Chole Island ruins
Explore 19th-century ruins overgrown with baobabs and fig trees.
Turtle nesting
Green and hawksbill turtles nest on Juani Island beaches.
Mafia Island photo: Wikimedia Commons (source & licence).
Getting there
Short flights from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. It pairs naturally with a Nyerere boat safari.
When to go
October to March for whale sharks. June to October for diving visibility.
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