Mafia Island Getaway

6 days from £625pp plus international flights

Mafia has a tinge of adventure about it, a more off-the-beaten-track appeal than Zanzibar. It’s 435 sq kilometres with a population of about 47,000. The Mafia Island Marine Park is the major draw card, and it is teeming with exceptional biodiversity – over 400 species of fish and 48 types of coral in an underwater paradise ripe for exploration.  From October to March you can swim with whale sharks, a magical experience*.

Whilst there are some lovely beaches here, they are often swallowed up at high tide, and at low tide they often go out so far as to make swimming difficult. So if you are specifically looking for a beach getaway, there are other places that might be more suitable.

You can make your time on Mafia as active or as relaxing as you wish – take it all at your own pace.

Diving

There are some superb world-class dive sites around Mafia. One of the best sites is Chole Bay where diving is possible all year round at depths from 5-27 metres. The reefs of the archipelago are simply beautiful.

If you haven’t learned to dive yet you can do it on Mafia, there’s a 5 star PADI dive centre on the island and it’s the perfect place to learn. If you prefer to keep it simple then snorkelling is the way forward in the warm calm waters of the sheltered bays and lagoons.

*We recommend using a company that operates responsible and ethical marine encounters, just ask us for our advice and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Highlights

• Small island, away from the crowds
• Choice of four small beach lodges
• Excellent for snorkelling and diving
• Sunset cruise on a dhow
• BBQ lunch on a tidal sandbar
• Swim with whale sharks*