3-Day Mafia Island Adventure

Day 1: Fly to Mafia Island from Dar Es Salaam

Fly to Mafia Island in the afternoon after taking off from JK Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. You will be taken to the Lodge upon arrival, where you can check in and begin your Chole Island Tour.

Chole Island is arguably the only fruit bat sanctuary in East Africa. It’s also a terrific spot to meet locals, learn more about the slave trade, and enjoy sunset sailing.

You will return to the lodge for a leisurely dinner and overnight after this brief excursion.

Day 2: Whale Shark Watching

Leave the lodge after breakfast to go whale shark viewing! Seasonally, these stunning behemoths can be observed a few hundred meters offshore in the vicinity of Kilindoni Harbour. After a brief boat ride to the west, we arrive at a shark feeding area where fins and black shapes are soon visible.

There are up to 24 of them visible at once, including juveniles, and females, and beautifully patterned with spots and stripes. The biggest sharks, which are thought to be over 8 meters long, are quite beautiful underwater and make an amazing sight adjacent to the boat.

You can swim and snorkel to get a closer, underwater look at these amazing, peaceful creatures, and the boat can glide among them silently. The sharks stay in a specific area and follow a pattern for them.

You will eat lunch at the Sand Bank later on before returning to the resort for an evening of relaxation and an overnight stay.

Day 3: Mafia Island – Dar Es Salaam

Since this is your final day on Mafia Island, you will spend it doing other things before returning to Dar Es Salaam by plane. These activities include snorkeling, fishing (at an additional cost), and visiting nearby beaches and communities including Mchangani, Mvinje, and Miewe. You will be taken to the Mafia Air strip later in the afternoon to catch your flight to Dar Es Salaam.