Located on the south coast, Mafia Island Lodge stands amidst tall palms on a sandy beach in Chole Bay, in the heart of the marine park.
The lodge sits amongst tropical gardens and stretches towards Utende beach on the south coast of Mafia island. Accommodation options include ten simply furnished standard rooms, three inter-connecting family rooms, 14 superior and three suites. All have a verandah and en-suite bathroom. The rooms are fan cooled with air-conditioning units in all but the family rooms. Most overlook the gardens and the suites are on the seafront.
The main lodge has a relaxing atmosphere with a large open restaurant with a pool table and lounge bar area. Activities and facilities include table tennis, volleyball, snorkelling, sailing, nature trails and small gift shop. The open air restaurant serves a buffet breakfast and regular international dishes, whilst specialising in Italian and Indian fusion as well as local cuisine. Relax on the beach on the locally built sunbeds and umbrellas. Here you can enjoy snacks and drinks from the popular beach bar throughout the day. The dive centre is located on the beach. WiFi internet access is available in hotspot areas.
The hottest time to travel is from October to March and the coolest, from July to September. The lodge is closed annually in May during the rainy season. This is a great choice for those looking to unwind and get away from the world. It's possible to twin centre a stay here with a few days on safari in the Selous Game Reserve.
Travel to the lodge is a 35 minute light aircraft flight from the mainland and a 20 minute drive on arrival to Mafia island.
Client Debra Woolley explains why she keeps returning to Mafia Island in her blog.
Located on the beachfront, this PADI 5-star dive centre offers shore and boat diving as well as a wide range of courses, available in several languages.
Daily boat dives, from a traditional Dhow, operate to the sheltered, shallow waters of Chole Bay. Here, divers can enjoy some of the richest reefs in the world with a fascinating variety of hard and soft corals and diversity of tropical fish. It's a photographer's dream at the nearby shore sites of Nudi City and Frogfish Town where you can expect to see seahorse, ghost pipefish, rays, octopus, gunards and all kinds of critters living on the bommies, soft corals and sandy seabed. Larger marine life can be found at Kinasi Pass with its resident grouper, rays and schools of colourful fish found by its pinnacle, which resembles a chicken.
Outside the Bay, there are diving opportunities along Dindini and Juani walls where experienced divers can observe sharks and turtles cruising by. If conditions allow, it's possible to take a day trip to Southern Sandbanks where plenty of fish and rays can be seen on its gentle sloping reefs.
The average water temperature is 26C, visibility up to 30m and the best months for diving are September through to March. This is a fantastic choice for groups. Snorkellers are welcome.
A week exploring the vibrant reefs of Chole Bay in the heart of a marine park. The marine highlight is undoubtedly the annual whale shark aggregation where small males can be seen feeding in the channel. Find Out More about Dive Mafia Island
A sleepy backwater and remnant of the old Swahili coast, Mafia Island is reminiscent of the Zanzibar of thirty years ago. Chole Bay’s clear waters offer wonderful snorkelling, sailing and swimming, while outside the bay are some of the richest reefs in the world. Find Out More about {acc:title}
