Unwind and relax on the shores of Mafia Island. Mafia has various beaches and overnight options – each with their own personality located either inside or outside the Marine Reserve. While planning, we will find the ideal spot to meet your needs! Depending on your location, you might option to explore the Indian Ocean on a snorkel or dive adventure off-the-shore; head out on a cultural excursion to ancient ruins; or simply relax and enjoy life on the beach.

Diving takes place in the Chole Bay with various dive sites – within the bay the depths rang between 5 to 30 m – ideal conditions for diving beginngers. Experienced divers will leave the sheltered waters of the bay and find 20 m+ deep walls in a unspoiled underwater environment outside. There are more than 270 species of corals; a spectacular variety of reef fish including large predatory fish such as Barracuda, Grouper and Trevally; as well as Eagle rays; occasionally black-tip and white-tip reef sharks and turtles.

One of our favorite excursions is a day out on a private sandbank. Depending on the tides, you will head out with a boat in the morning and can option to do some snorkeling along the way. Once you reach the sandbank (or alternativley a desert beach), you can relax soaking in the natural beauty of the Indian Ocean. Take a swim in the crystal clear waters while the crew prepares a delicious seafood BBQ – a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

If you are travelling between September to March, an excursion to encounter the mighty whale shark is definitley a must on your bucket travel list. The beach around Butiama Beach Lodge is the starting point for this unique excursion. Your guides will take you out on a boat ride – they a very experienced to spot the big shadows moving slowly under water and how to swim with them in a way that doesn’t disturb them.

Transfer to the airport for your light aircraft plane back to Dar es Salaam. Short road transfer from the domestic terminal to the international terminal for your outbound flight.