There’s nowhere like it on the planet for wildlife, wild lands and rich traditions that endure. Prepare to fall in love.
After our full day sightseeing of the island, we ended up in Utende, a village on the southeast coast of Mafia Island, situated within the boundaries of the Marine Park (🎟️59,372 TZS). It is East Africa’s premier diving and marine life destination, offering diverse habitats and...
The Ras Mkumbi Lighthouse, built around 1894, is a functioning landmark (🎟️10,000 TZS) at the northern tip of Mafia Island, offering panoramic views of the island and ocean. It’s located in a historically significant area of the island, which has been a crucial stop for traders and...
We hired a local tuk-tuk for 80,000 TZS for the whole day to go around the island (166 km). Our first stop was Kabanga Beach in a northern section of the island known for its pristine, white sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, and a tranquil atmosphere, offering a secluded and simple...
The ferry to Mafia Island should depart daily around 9 AM from Nyamisati, the mainland port, offering a comfortable, modern vessel with air-conditioning and seating. The journey takes approximately five hours and costs 16,000 TZS. It has been chaotic and time-consuming to reserve the...
Lesser known than the more famous Zanzibar, Mafia Island is a little hard to reach, and if you do not choose the hard way, then it can get rather expensive with a flight from Dar Es Salaam. Of course, we chose the hard way and took a 40-kilometre-long, dirty, and narrow road to reach the...
Kilwa Kivinje was a prominent maritime city-state that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries, dominating the Swahili Coast and becoming a centre for trade in gold, ivory, and slaves. In the 19th century, the town was a terminus of the southern slave caravan route and served as a...