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

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Mafia Island Lodge

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Kinasi Lodge
La Lua Cheia Castaway Beach Camp
Ras Mbisi
Shamba Kilole Eco-Lodge

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Chole Mjini
Pole Pole Lodge

Benu P. (USA)

July 3, 2025

“We are so happy we ultimately chose Access 2 Tanzania as our tour operator. I loved that the guides were all staff members and knew each other. The initiatives to give back to the local community was a big plus for us in choosing A2T. I also liked that it’s a smaller company so I felt the experience we got was completely customized to what we wanted. Everything from the initial sales call to the trip was just so easy and seamless. I will highly recommend A2T to anyone looking to do a trip and hopefully one day will be able to come back ourselves. Africa is a truly special place that we will never forget.”