Pole Pole is a luxury bungalow resort on Mafia Island with tropical gardens and spectacular coastal views of Chole Bay.
Ten elegant and spacious, en-suite bungalows are raised on stilts, with a private verandah overlooking a stretch of white sand beach. Each bungalow has its own unique style and charm. The Bahari Bungalows are set among the coconut palms overlooking Chole Bay, offering a simple and stylish space, each with a personal terrace area. The Asali Suite Bungalows feature two separate bedrooms, perfect for families and groups of friends, one of these suites also features its own private swimming pool. The Alfajiri Suite Bungalow is elegant and discreet, perfect for couples, with a four-poster bed and its own private swimming pool overlooking the Chole Bay.
Gourmet meals are served in the dining/bar lounge and combine traditional cuisine with a touch of Italian class. Pole Pole source all they can from local farms and the island’s fisherman, the restaurant takes pride in what it serves and maximised freshness and flavour. Special dinners can be organised on private sandbanks, on the beach, or among the palm trees to make any evening extra special. Pole Pole offers daily excursions, including trips in traditional sailing dhows, sunset cruises, snorkelling tours, humpback whale watching (Aug-Sept), Emerald Channel and more! The resort also has an indulgent spa overlooking the beach, where a number of treatments can be arranged.
Diving takes place from nearby, a short transfer away.
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}
