HOW TO REACH MAFIA ISLAND LODGE
Mafia Island is approximately 25 kilometers off the Tanzanian coast, 130 kilometers from Dar es Salaam which takes approximately 35 minutes by air and 45 minutes from the Selous Game Reserve and Zanzibar Island. Mafia is reachable by light aircraft only. The resort is a 20 minute drive from Kilindoni, the main village and the airstrip.
The magic of Mafia Island Lodge
Mafia Island is the largest of a small archipelago of islands and atolls and is truly a paradise in the Indian Ocean. The resident population of 46,000 are 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. The dominant religion is moderate Islam and both christians and muslims live in peace and harmony. The air and sea temperatures remain warm all year round with the rainy season between April to June. It 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.
One can enjoy the beauty of Mafia even in the space of a weekend but generally 4 to 5 days is best. If you would like to enjoy all the aquatic activities and inland excursions, we recommend you to stay between 5 and 10 days. If you intend to do a scuba diving course for beginners or advanced, 5 dedicated days are required.
THE MARINE PARK
Mafia Island is part of an archipelago formed by a number of larger Islands and smaller uninhabited atolls. The Mafia Island Marine Park, covering an area of 821 km2 is a real paradise with over 400 species of fish,amazing coral, endangered marine turtles, dolphins and the rare dugong. The rich landscape combines bush with baobabs, mangrove, palms, fruit trees and stunning sandbanks. The wild life is equally diverse; monkeys, wild pigs, small antelopes, dwarf hippo, bush babies, fruit bats and many, many birds. The warm safe waters are an ideal place for scuba divers and snorkellers alike. Mafia Island Marine Park was established as a Marine Reserve in Tanzania in 1975 (and declared the first Marine Park in 1994) which has saved it from destructive dynamite fishing of the past, the coral gardens are pristine and unspoiled.
The Dive Centre at Mafia Island Lodge
An entrance fee is required for entering Marine Park area. The lodge is located in the Marine Park and the fee has to be considered as extra charge.(Fee as at Sept 2009 is US$ 20.00 per person per day for adult and US$ 10.00 per child, 5-16 yrs, free of charge under 5 yrs).
Mafia Island lodge is not responsible for Marine Park fee payments / collection. Fee must be paid by guests personally at the gate of the park in cash (US$). Proper receipt is issued.
EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Exciting activities in the Marine Park are diving, snorkelling and sailing. The Dive Center provides PADI Federations’ certifications.Mafia Island Lodge organises boat excursions and picnics to isolated islets almost every day, according to the tide, as well as road safaris, nature trails, bird watching and treking. Other activities at the lodge include beach volley and pool table.
CHILDREN
Children of all ages are welcome at Mafia Lodge. Family rooms can accommodate up to 2 adults and 3 children. Baby cots available on request.
DIVING IN MAFIA
Dive sites inside Chole Bay
• KINASI WALL: depth 8 - 21m 800m in width
• CHOLE WALL: depth up to 15m, joins Kinasi wall
• CORAL GARDENS: shallow water dive, excellent for snorkelling
• CORAL PATCHES: depth 9 - 17m
• THE PINNACLE: depth up to 24m
• KINASI PASS: depth 6 - 26m Dive sites outside Chole bay
• DINDINI WALL: depth 8 - 28m
• JINA PASS: depth 8 - 20m
• JINA REEF: depth up to 26m
• KITUTIA REEF: depth up to 21m
• MANGE REEF: depth up to 20m
Mafia Island and it’s reefs are renowned as an excellent, world class diving destination. Scientists confirmed that Mafia has some of the richest reefs in the World, with unparalleled variety of hard and soft corals and diversity of tropical fish. We have identified a number of fabulous dive sites from Mafia to Kilwa offering shallow reefs of immense beauty and richness, bommies, channels, walls and caves. The Dive Centers offer great diving for advanced and novice divers in safety under professional instruction (PADI certificate). The snorkeling on the shallow reefs surrounding the many islands in and around Chole Bay is a great attraction for non-divers and divers alike.
Trained diving assistants handle all equipment, help divers and check their equipment, so that you are free to enjoy the dives and all other activities during each day. Chole Bay has a number of excellent dives within the protected bay, ensuring diving in almost any weather, as well as easy access. Diving and the visibility is tide dependent. Diving outside Chole Bay is subject to weather conditions and tides. Almost all Mafia’s best diving is at depths of less than 30m so it is a sport diver’s paradise. The excellent condition and high diversity of the reefs, stimulated the creation of Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania’s first Marine Park.
Hotels in Mafia Island
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