What is Mafia Island known for?
What is Mafia Island known for? Mafia Island is seen by many as a tropical remote island. Mafia Island was unspoiled even as Tanzania began to attract tourists, which is why it is still so stunning today. You must visit Mafia Island while on vacation if you like diving or snorkelling. There are a plethora of diverse fish species and coral gardens present. Ideal for someone who enjoys taking leisurely trips around the water. If you’re interested in going whale shark diving, Mafia Island is a perfect site to do it because it also hosts a whale shark season.
Beaches
On Mafia Island, Utende in the extreme southeast, is the most visited beach. At the southernmost point of Chole Bay is this palm-lined sliver of paradise on the ocean. It is separated from the smaller islands of Chole and Juani by a quiet, narrow channel. Mafia’s elite lodges are mostly located in Utende. This is due in part to the gorgeous beach as well as the location’s ideal conditions for diving and snorkelling in Chole Bay and trips to neighbouring Mafia Archipelago islands. Bweni and n the northwest coast, is an uncrowded and stunning alternative to Utende if beach time is your only priority rather than marine activities. But be advised that lodging options in Bweni are very limited and tend towards the rustic side of the mid-range. Butiama Beach, located on the southwest coast near Kilindoni, the small, low-rise village that acts as the island’s administrative hub, is an additional choice. Butiama is especially well-suited for independent tourists on a tight budget because it’s only 3km/2mi from Mafia Airport and features a queue of reasonably priced beach camps. What to see in Mafia Island Marine park
Most people agree that Mafia Island Marine Park is the greatest place to go diving in East Africa. Stretching 822 km²/317 mi² off the southern coast of the island, the park offers a superb introduction to the rich diversity of marine life found in the Indian Ocean. Among its many top-notch diving locations, Kinasi Pass in Chole Bay is the most well-known. Underwater giants including huge grouper, potato cod, eagle rays, moray eels, bull sharks, and guitarfish can be found on this pristine reef. There are shallower coral gardens in the park that are good for snorkelling and are well-known for their profusion of vibrant reef species.
The whale sharks that live in Mafia Island Marine Park are well-known for being enormous plankton-eating animals that may grow up to 18 metres (60 feet) in length from tip to snout. The best months to go whale shark hunting (and, if the weather permits, swim with them) are October through March, when the success rate is about 90%. Dolphins of all kinds and huge turtles are among the other marine animals that are commonly sighted in the area. Humpback whales also travel through the area between August and October.
What to do in Mafia Island
Mafia’s beaches and offshore reefs are its biggest draws, but many tourists also like taking day trips to explore the island. Highlights of this road trip include the vibrantly painted 19th-century lighthouse at Ras Mkumbi, a small freshwater lake home to hippos, and Kilindoni town’s thriving fresh produce market. Chole Mjini’s extensive ruins are located on Chole, a small palm-covered island across a short strait from Mafia. For the most of the 19th century, this town was the centre of the Mafia Archipelago. German customs house, Hindu temple, and numerous Omani houses may be found among the ruins. The Seychelles flying fox, a massive fruit bat found only in Chole, is well-known for its roosting colony.
Further out, the abandoned city of Kua is highly recommended. Spanning 6 hectares (15 acres), it was the capital of the Mafia Archipelago from the Middle Ages until the early 19th century.
Which is Best Zanzibar island or Mafia Island
The two islands’ degrees of tourism growth clearly differ from one another. There are hundreds of lodging ranging from luxurious all-inclusive resorts, midrange to budget-friendly hotels in Zanzibar . In contrast, Mafia has not experienced much mass tourism, and the majority of its lodges and resorts are intimate, tiny, and have a boutique-style atmosphere.
One other significant distinction between the two islands is that Mafia lacks an urban buzz and a historic community like to Zanzibar’s charming old Stone Town. That being said, when it comes to aquatic sports like diving and snorkelling, Mafia clearly has an advantage over Zanzibar. Compared to Zanzibar, where it sometimes seems like you can’t walk more than a few steps without someone attempting to sell you something, Mafia’s beaches are far more peaceful and hassle-free.
Which Tanzania safari destination to combine with Mafia Island
Indeed. Mafia Island’s location off the southern coast makes it a great addition to Tanzania’s two biggest national parks, Nyerere National Park (previously Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park, which make up the Southern Safari Circuit. On the more well-travelled Northern safari circuit, however, Mafia can also be coupled with the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and other locations. You should be able to fly to Mafia Island and your preferred safari spot in the same day with good planning. If that doesn’t work out, though, you might have to stay overnight in Dar es Salaam or, if you’re travelling from the north, Arusha while in transit.
The cost of Safari to Mafia Island
The price of a Mafia Island safari package will mostly rely on the lodging you select and the percentage of your time that you spend engaging in comparatively expensive marine activities like diving and boat safaris. Generally speaking, though, a mid-range package that includes airfare, lodging, meals, and some activities should start about US$300 to US$400 per person each day. Packages with more features or those with a dive component will cost extra. You can also save money by travelling alone to Mafia and lodging in inexpensive lodgings, but even in this case, you will still have to pay for your somewhat expensive flights.
The Best Time to Visit Mafia Island
You may have a great time visiting Mafia at any time of year. Because of the island’s location in the tropical Indian Ocean, it is always warm to hot, however the heat is typically moderated by a light sea breeze. The Dry season, which runs from June to October, is the best time to visit in terms of rainfall but is also the busiest travel period. The wettest months are March through May, therefore those are typically avoided. The shoulder season, which runs from November to February and is not part of the peak season but has less rain than March to May, is a suitable middle ground.
How to get to Mafia Island
Majority of safari tour visitors to Mafia Island arrive by air through Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport, served by a good network of domestic, regional, and international flights. The airlines that offer scheduled flights between Dar es Salaam and Mafia Island are Coastal Air and Auric Air, and also run connecting flights to most other major tourist hubs in Tanzania. The flight from Dar es Salaam to Mafia Island takes about 30 minutes, and the cost is around US$150 one-way. The only option for those who wish to avoid flying is the unreliable government ferry service from Dar es Salaam, which is recommended to independent travellers with plenty of free time.
