Maps of Tanzania, game reserves & islands

Northern Tanzania Safaris

Southern & Western Tanzania Safaris

Mount Kilimanjaro

Other Indian Ocean Islands

>Mafia Island<

Pemba

Northern Mozambique

North Island Seychelles

mnemba

Mainland Indian Ocean locations

Dar and Arusha hotels

ALL LODGES - VIDEO, PRICES, PICTURES AND LINKS

Don't go without the 2nd Edition Cadogan Guide to Tanzania and Zanzibar - writen by Annie - one of our consultants

Mafia Island - the Mafia Archipelago and Where to Stay

Mafia Island and its surrounding archipelago has a great deal to offer as an unspoiled, little-visited alternative to other Indian Ocean locations around Zanzibar and along the coast.

Mafia provides excellent opportunities for diving and snorkelling, and for discovering deserted beaches and offshore islands with rich natural and historic interest.

Click here for Mafia Island Lodge Reviews

Mafia Marine Highlights

The deeper channels around the islands are renowned for world-class deep sea fishing, and home to at least two greatly endangered species; the docile dugong (manatee or sea cow), is still thought to cruise between Mafia and the Rufiji River Delta, and the small islands around the archipelago remain a popular breeding ground for giant and green turtles.

These islands are an idyllic natural haven for birds and wildlife, with over 120 different species of birds sighted and recorded, (including five types of sunbird), and the whole area is best explored from the comfort of the deck of a traditional sailing dhow.

Mafia - Historic Indian Ocean Islands

Mafia is an archipelago of islands at the mouth of the Rufiji River Delta, composed of Mafia Island, Jibondo, Juani and Chole. Their position as the most southerly islands on the Tanzanian coast has made them strategically covetable throughout the long game of historical wrangling for rule, but visitors today find essentially small, rural farming and fishing communities whose lives continue in much the same pattern as has been traditional for millennia.

Mafia Island Lodges

We have included all the lodges below ordered by our ranking, and by price. Clicking on any of the links will bring up more information; our detailed view of the lodge, video, photos, key facts etc. However, since we have been to all these lodges ourselves, we would recommend a phone call or an email to help you to decide where to go.

Ranking

- Outstanding

- Very good

- Good

- Average

- Poor

Kinasi
Kinasi Lodge is Mafia's most well-established and, in our view, best accommodation. The lodge has attractive rooms, a spa, good dive centre and the added bonus of Mafia's only swimming pool. The diversity of activities and adventures to be had from here makes Mafia worthy of a very good rating.

$320pp

More info & Video >

Pole Pole
Pole Pole is a nice little lodge on Mafia. The rooms and relaxed atmosphere are charming and unpretentious, yet we do not feel the lodge offers very good value for money. Coupled with the fact that Pole Pole has no beach at all, Pole Pole will only achieve our 3 palm rating.

$250pp

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Chole Mjini
Chole Mjini enjoys a private location and its tree house accommodation is a rarity, and well presented. However the eco-lodge of Chole is lacking in the finer details that we consider worthy of entertaining honeymooners or, for that matter, entertaining the price! Nice for a truly green, eco-lover!

$250pp

More info & Video >