Main Attractions
Mafia Island is a small, stunning island off the coast of Tanzania, the main attractions are:
- Snorkelling with the whale sharks
- Some of the best diving on the Tanzanian coast
- Snorkelling and swimming in the azure blue ocean
- Big game fishing
- Exploring the ruins
- Relaxing and sunbathing
Swimming with whale sharks
The ultimate water based adventure, snorkelling with whale sharks is something you will never forget. These gentle creatures are the biggest fish in the world (they are not sharks) and it is perfectly safe to swim with them. And Mafia Island provides the perfect base to snorkel with these giants.
Best diving in Tanzania
Mafia Island is well known for the breathtaking scuba diving in its marine park around Chole Bay to the south of the island. Apart from snorkelling with whale sharks, the excellent diving in the Mafia Island Marine Park is the main reason to visit Mafia for most people. The variety of species is huge and so are some of the individual animals.
Snorkelling and swimming
As well as diving, the snorkelling here is excellent. If you don’t have a diving certificate it is still very much worth having a look at the underwater world in the Mafia Island Marine Park with your mask and snorkel.
Swimming in the crystal clear, blue waters around Mafia Island can be a very relaxing way to cool off when sunbathing on the beaches of Mafia. Check which hotels offer swimming at all tides if this is the main reason of your stay as at some places you can only dip in at high tide.
Big game fishing
The deep sea fishing for big game fish here is excellent. Its proximity to the outlet of the Rufiji River results in the channel being particularly rich in nutrients that ensure an exceptional range of underwater landscapes and biodiversity. Fish to catch include sailfish, blue, black and striped marlin, barracuda, wahoo, kingfish, giant trevally, yellowfin and dogtooth tuna and dorado just to name a few.
Exploring the ruins on the various islands
There are various ruins on various islands that can be explored. In the south-west of the main island are the oldest ruins, where coins from China, Mongolia and India from before 1340 have been found. The biggest site can be found on Juani Island, it is spread over more than 12ha. It includes several mosques as well as a double-storey palace. They are worth exploring and a guide can really bring them alive.
Relaxing and sunbathing
It’s a beautiful tropical island, what better way to spend your days than relaxing on the beach, maybe reading a book or having a massage in between swims, dives or other activities. Mafia Island is a great spot for a beach holiday either before or after your safari in East Africa. And of course, if you just want to escape the winter in another part of the world than this is your spot too.