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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Kinasi Lodge
La Lua Cheia Castaway Beach Camp
Ras Mbisi
Shamba Kilole Eco-Lodge
“Karen was very good at listening to our interests and putting together an itinerary that would meet our budget and needs, Our guides, Maningo and Nasibu were outstanding! They were very aware of maintaining the appropriate distance from the animals while still giving us views of everything we wanted to see. Nasibu, who was the guide in my vehicle, was extremely knowledgeable of animals, birds and vegetation and had an eagle eye for finding all the animals we wanted to see.”