Mafia Island
Description: Secluded and seductive Mafia – a green wedge of land surrounded by turquoise waters, pristine islets and glinting white sandbanks – remained off the beaten track for years, undiscovered by all except deep-sea fishing aficionados and a trickle of visitors. That’s changing fast – the island’s tourist accommodation has grown from one hotel to over half a dozen in just a few years. For now, though, Mafia remains free of the mass tourism that threatens to overwhelm Zanzibar.
Among Mafia’s attractions are its tranquil pace, stuning underwater life, upmarket lodges, a strong traditional culture and a long and fascinating history. Whale sharks visit mafia between November and February.
Accommodations
$$$
Kinasi Lodge
La Lua Cheia Castaway Beach Camp
Ras Mbisi
Shamba Kilole Eco-Lodge
“Five star! Eleven out of ten! Simply a flawless, stress free and fabulous experience from beginning to end!! Our beginning was pre-COVID 2019 and we embarked on our safari in 2023 so our relationship lasted for 4 years. During that long uncertain time, not once did we feel like our safari experience was at risk. From the first time I spoke with Casey to plan our trip, it was smooth sailing. Karen was amazing at keeping us on track with the payments and the daunting visa process and I simply can’t put into words how incredible both Maningo was at intuitively giving us the best safari experiences I could have ever imagined!”