Dar es Salaam · Tanzania
Mafia Island
Tanzania's diving island - a marine park, whale sharks in season, and almost no crowds.
Overview
Mafia lies about 120 kilometres south of Zanzibar and could hardly be more different from it: no Stone Town, no beach clubs, a handful of lodges and a population that still makes its living from fishing and coconuts. What it has is the sea. Mafia Island Marine Park was Tanzania's first, protecting Chole Bay and a reef system in remarkably good condition - over 400 fish species, healthy hard coral, and a sheltered lagoon that makes it a forgiving place to learn to dive. From roughly October to March whale sharks feed in the shallow water off Kilindoni, and Mafia is one of the few places in the world where they are reliably present rather than a matter of luck. Green turtles nest on the beaches at Juani and Jibondo, and the mangrove channels and ruined Shirazi settlements at Chole and Kua are worth a day out of the water. It is a place for divers, snorkellers and people who actively want less to do.
Browse by category in Mafia Island
Photos of Mafia Island
Things to do in Mafia Island
Places and experiences rather than companies. Each one carries the thing you would otherwise find out by turning up.
Swimming with whale sharks
WaterKilindoni bay, roughly October to March.
These are feeding animals in open water, not a penned attraction. Boats find them by spotting, so an early start and a calm day matter more than the operator you pick.
4 hoursPaid
Where these are, around Mafia Island
60 listings with a mapped location.
Map of 60 listings
- Listed
What Mafia Island costs
All-in on the ground, per person per day, excluding international flights. Ranges rather than a single figure, because accommodation and group size move the total more than anything else.
| Style | Per person, per day |
|---|---|
| Camping or budget lodge, shared vehicle | $80 – $130 |
| Mid-range lodge | $130 – $300 |
| Luxury camp, private vehicle | $320 – $800 |
Of that, $23 – $30 a day is government fees set by Mafia Island Marine Park. Every operator pays the same, so a quote below this floor is not a better deal — it is a different trip.
Add this to a whole-trip estimate
Indicative figures checked for 2026. Park fees are revised annually and some are quoted before VAT — confirm current rates with your operator or the park authority before you book.
When to visit Mafia Island
Month by month: wildlife, weather and how busy it gets.
October
Whale sharks arrive in Kilindoni bay.
- Wildlife
- Wildlife: 5 / 5
- Weather
- Weather: 4 / 5
- Crowds
- Crowds: 2 / 5
- Rainfall
- 90 mm
- Temperature
- 23–31 °C
Show all twelve monthsHide the full table
| Best time to visit | Wildlife | Weather | Crowds | Rainfall | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryPeak seasonPeak whale shark season — near-daily sightings. | Wildlife: 5 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 70 mm | 24–32 °C |
| FebruaryPeak seasonShort rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors. | Wildlife: 5 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 60 mm | 24–33 °C |
| MarchWet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 3 / 5 | Crowds: 1 / 5 | 140 mm | 24–32 °C |
| AprilLong rains — some tracks impassable and some camps closed. Lowest prices. | Wildlife: 2 / 5 | Weather: 1 / 5 | Crowds: 1 / 5 | 320 mm | 23–31 °C |
| MayLong rains — some tracks impassable and some camps closed. Lowest prices. | Wildlife: 2 / 5 | Weather: 2 / 5 | Crowds: 1 / 5 | 240 mm | 22–30 °C |
| JuneDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 50 mm | 21–29 °C |
| JulyPeak dry season — the best game viewing and the highest prices. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 5 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 40 mm | 21–29 °C |
| AugustPeak dry season — the best game viewing and the highest prices. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 5 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 45 mm | 21–29 °C |
| SeptemberPeak dry season — the best game viewing and the highest prices. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 5 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 50 mm | 22–30 °C |
| OctoberWhale sharks arrive in Kilindoni bay. | Wildlife: 5 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 90 mm | 23–31 °C |
| NovemberLong rains — some tracks impassable and some camps closed. Lowest prices. | Wildlife: 5 / 5 | Weather: 2 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 200 mm | 24–32 °C |
| DecemberPeak seasonWet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country. | Wildlife: 5 / 5 | Weather: 3 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 140 mm | 24–32 °C |