Pole Pole; a holiday guide to Pole Pole, Mafia Island

Pole Pole- meaning ‘slowly slowly’ is a good little Italian Run beach lodge in the Chole Bay. It has been around for a while and now with its own decent swimming pool its one of the better places to stay on the island. The lodge is very chilled out, peaceful and a good spot to base yourself for diving in the Mafia Marine Park nearby.

Pole Pole - The Facts

Pole Pole is on the Indian Ocean Island of Mafia which is a short flight from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. The island is much more remote than Zanzibar and most of the coastline is covered in Mangroves with a few small sandy beaches peeking out. People come to Mafia to get away from the crowds and enjoy fairly basic accommodation as well as great diving. It's a real alternative Tanzania beach holiday.

The dining area is a wooden raised platform raised on stilts near the waters edge and the cuisine, being Italian is naturally very good.

They have boats for trips, snorkelling and fishing, but no diving facilities. Diving however can be arranged from the next door lodge.