01
Chole Mjini
Mafia Island
A small treehouse lodge on Chole Island, run with the local community.
Island · No. 10 in Tanzania
Boutique hotels in Mafia Island
A quiet marine park island with whale sharks, reefs and a few simple, personal lodges.
Handpicked boutique hotels
Where to stay in Mafia Island
02
Mafia Island Lodge
Mafia Island · 30 rooms
Thirty rooms among the coconut palms on a sandy beach in Chole Bay, within the marine park.
Mafia Island lies off the Rufiji Delta and is known for its marine park, where reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves shelter turtles and a seasonal gathering of whale sharks. It has none of Zanzibar's crowds, and visits feel slow and unhurried.
Where to stay
Lodges here are small and informal, strung along the beaches of Chole Bay, with dhow trips, snorkeling and diving as the main activities. On nearby Chole Island, a small community-minded lodge occupies treehouse-style rooms.
Good to know
Whale sharks are most commonly seen between October and March. Flights from Dar es Salaam take around 45 minutes, and the island has few shops or restaurants beyond the lodges.
Good to know
Questions about Mafia Island
How many boutique hotels are there in Mafia Island?
We list 2 boutique hotels in Mafia Island, including Chole Mjini and Mafia Island Lodge.
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