Mafia Island Travel Guide

Mafia Island is a quiet island off the coast of Tanzania, south of Dar es Salaam and opposite the Rufiji Delta. It is part of the Mafia Archipelago, a group of islands surrounded by coral reefs, mangroves and sandbanks.

Compared with Zanzibar, Mafia is calm and uncrowded. Most visitors come for the ocean: swimming with whale sharks, snorkelling and diving in Mafia Island Marine Park, and island hopping to Chole and Juani.

Where is Mafia Island?

Mafia lies in the Indian Ocean off southern Tanzania. Kilindoni, on the west coast, is the main town, with the airstrip and the port. Utende, on the east side facing Chole Bay, is where many lodges are and where most boat trips start.

Top things to do

• Swim with whale sharks off Kilindoni (around October to March)
• Snorkel or dive the reefs of Chole Bay and Kinasi Pass
• Picnic on a white sandbank at low tide
• Explore the ruins and fruit bats of Chole Island
• Visit the Kua ruins and lagoon on Juani Island
• Watch turtles hatch or humpback whales pass (seasonal)
• Sail a traditional dhow at sunset

Getting there

Fly from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar to Kilindoni, or take the road-and-boat route via Nyamisati. See our full guide on how to get to Mafia Island.

Getting around

Cars, bajaji and boda for the main island; boats for the smaller islands and sandbanks. We arrange airport pickups, island transfers and boats.

Where to stay

Choose Kilindoni for town life and easy access to whale shark trips, or Utende for beach lodges on Chole Bay close to the marine park.

When to go

The ocean is calmest from October to March, which is also whale shark season. The long rains usually fall around April and May. See our month-by-month calendar for details.

Local tips

• Dress modestly in villages and in Kilindoni
• Carry some cash — not everywhere takes cards
• Book whale shark trips early in high season