Mafia Island Marine Park
Dugong and whale shark populations
Tanzania
About Mafia Island Marine Park
Mafia Island lies off Tanzania's coast south of Zanzibar, quieter and less visited, and its marine park protects some of the best coral reefs in East Africa in Chole Bay, with diving and snorkelling in warm, clear water. Its particular draw is whale sharks, which gather off the island's western coast between about October and March and can be snorkelled with under guidelines. Green turtles nest on the beaches, dugongs survive in small numbers, and the island's Swahili villages and ruins are the rest of it. Access is by small aircraft from Dar es Salaam, and it is a malaria area.
Things to do: Diving · Whale shark encounters
Where you can stay: Beach lodges
Stay in & near Mafia Island Marine Park
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
No stays are linked to Mafia Island Marine Park yet. These are the closest ones we have, by straight-line distance from the park, so check the drive before you book.
