Mafia
5-Day Mafia Island Whale Shark Escape
Swim with whale sharks and snorkel coral gardens in a quiet marine park.
5 days 4 nights
From $1,990 pp
Marine park · Coast & Islands
Mafia Island
Swimming with whale sharks in a protected marine park.
About Mafia
Mafia Island Marine Park protects coral gardens, mangroves and lagoons south of Zanzibar. It is one of the most reliable places in the world to swim with whale sharks, usually from October to March.
With few hotels and no crowds, it is a peaceful and unspoiled beach escape after a southern safari.
Highlights
- Whale shark swims (Oct–Mar)
- Turtle nesting on Juani island
- Coral reef snorkelling and diving
- Dhow sailing
What you might see
- Whale shark
- Green turtle
- Hawksbill turtle
- Dolphins
- Reef fish
When to go
Best Good Quieter / wet
October to March for whale sharks; June to October for calm diving.
Getting there
Short flight from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.
How long
3–4 nights
Where to stay
- BudgetMafia guesthouse
- Mid-rangePole Pole Bungalows
- LuxuryKinasi Lodge
Examples of properties we use. We choose the right camp for your month and budget.
1 trip visit Mafia
Mafia safaris & tours
Plan your Mafia trip
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and a rough budget. A real person in Arusha will reply within 24 hours with a route and an honest price — no obligation.