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6 Days Itinerary for Mafia Island

6 Days Itinerary for Mafia Island

Safari - Overview

Discover the unspoiled beauty of Mafia Island with this 6-day adventure, perfect for nature lovers and underwater enthusiasts. Begin your journey with a scenic flight from Dar es Salaam to Mafia Island, where you will explore the island’s tranquil beaches, vibrant marine life, and rich cultural history. Enjoy snorkeling or diving in the renowned Mafia Island Marine Park, home to coral reefs, sea turtles, and whale sharks (seasonal). Visit local fishing villages, stroll through mangrove forests, and relax by the serene shores. This itinerary offers a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival on Mafia Island

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your accommodation. Check-in at a beachfront lodge. Relax and unwind on the pristine beaches, taking in the serene surroundings. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the lodge, featuring fresh seafood and local dishes.

Day 2: Snorkeling and Beach Exploration

After breakfast, embark on a snorkeling trip to Chole Bay. Explore the vibrant coral reefs and encounter diverse marine life including colorful fish, octopuses, and possibly sea turtles. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or taking a leisurely walk along the shore. Dinner at the lodge, with an option to dine under the stars.

Day 3: Whale Shark Tour

Early breakfast followed by a thrilling whale shark tour. Swim with these gentle giants and learn about their behavior and conservation efforts. Return to the lodge for lunch. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, enjoying the lodge’s amenities or exploring the local area. Dinner at the lodge, reflecting on the day’s adventures.

Day 4: Sunset Cruise

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Spend the day lounging on the beach, swimming, and taking in the beautiful surroundings. Relax and unwind before embarking on a sunset cruise. Enjoy the stunning views of the Indian Ocean as the sun sets. Return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening.

Day 5: Marine Reserve and Chole Island

After breakfast, take a guided tour of the Mafia Island Marine Reserve. Learn about the conservation efforts and the diverse ecosystems within the reserve. Visit Chole Island, known for its rich history and unique attractions such as the ancient ruins and bat sanctuary. Return to the lodge for a farewell dinner, enjoying your last evening on Mafia Island.

Day 6: Departure

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and some free time to relax or take a final stroll along the beach. Check-out from your accommodation and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Arusha, Dar es Salaam or another destination.

Accommodation

B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner

Rates

6 days at Kinasi Lodge:

Season 2024 - 2025
FB
1 Person sharing
from $888

6 days at Pole Pole Bungalows:

Season 2024 - 2025
FB
1 Person sharing
from $1001

Additionally:

Whale Shark Tour from 60$ per Person
Sunset Cruise from 20$ per Person
Marine Reserve Park Fees 20$ Adult, 10$ Children
Chole Island (village levy) 5$ per Person

What is Included

  • A professional driver/ guide.
  • All Taxes and VAT.
  • Meals as per itinerary.
  • Drinking water while on safari.
  • Accommodation
  • Transfers (Airport/Ferry, between activities)
  • Entrance Fees

What is not Included

  • International flights.
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
  • Tips 
  • Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
  • Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
  • Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.

Reviews

Volkhard B
Volkhard B
2024-04-09
My experiences with equatortoarcticsafaris have been consistently positive. Kornelia gave us an unforgettable holiday My review is a little longer, but an "everything is great" certainly helps the travel company in the rankings, but the reader is just as smart as before. I booked directly in Africa-Arusha with equatortoarcticsafaris. My contact was Kornelia. Kornelia put together an individual travel route for me and my grandson that met my wishes to see, observe and photograph as many animals and birds as possible. Kornelia also looked for beautiful accommodations in the middle of nature so that I had the opportunity to observe animals in the lodge or in the camps. Kornelia is not only an experienced travel expert, but is also enthusiastic about safari tours and accompanied us to Arusha National Park on the first day and showed us the beauty of the park and the animals in the park. I always had something to talk about with Isi, our guide and driver, an absolute bird expert. Isi is also a football fan and so my grandson always had something to talk about with Isi. On the 5th day of our safari, our off-road vehicle had a transmission problem. Isi drove us to the accommodation in a rental car, then back to the car, the mechanics came from Arusha (7 hours drive) and our off-road vehicle was repaired during the night GREAT RESPECT for the action. The next morning we were able to continue our trip as planned. Overall we had a wonderful trip, we saw and photographed many birds and animals. We had warm encounters and experiences with the local people. My grandson played football with them, we ate and drank together, it was just lovely. I can recommend a safari trip with equatortoarcticsafaris to everyone, contact Kornelia and let her put together a trip tailored to your wishes and needs.
Travel-Jelly581
Travel-Jelly581
2024-03-03
Besser geht's nicht Was für eine wunderbare Erfahrung. Was für eine professionelle Firma. Was für ein begeisternder, kluger, zugewandter und fröhlicher Guide. Christopher (spricht Deutsch) begleitete uns 7 Tage lange und hat uns seine Heimat wirklich nahe gebracht. Mit so vielen Einblicken in die Flora, Fauna und Kultur von Tansania. Unvergesslich! Und so eindeutig, dass wir als Europäer viel von Afrika lernen können, was Gastfreundschaft, Humor, Gelassenheit und Hilfsbereitschaft angeht. Alles, auch die anschließenden Tage auf Sansibar, waren perfekt organisiert. Die Safari selbst war eine no-waste Tour, mit wunderbaren Stationen in den Zeltcamps, großartigem Essen und viel Insider-Erfahrungen, vor allem dank Christopher. Besser geht es nicht. **** What a wonderful experience. What a professional company. What an enthusiastic, smart, approachable and cheerful guide. Christopher (speaks German) accompanied us for 7 days and really brought us close to his homeland. With so many insights into the flora, fauna and culture of Tanzania. Unforgettable! And so clear that we as Europeans can learn a lot from Africa in terms of hospitality, humor, serenity and helpfulness. Everything, including the following days in Zanzibar, was perfectly organized. The safari itself was a no-waste tour, with wonderful stops in the tented camps, great food and lots of insider experiences, especially thanks to Christopher. It doesn't get any better than this.
Max
Max
2024-01-05
Unforgettable safari with Chris We were on the road with Chris for 6 days just before Christmas and couldn't have imagined a better guide for the safari. Our travel stops: Tarangire National Park, North and Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park. From the pick-up at Kilimanjaro Airport to the departure at Arusha Airport, the entire trip was perfectly organized and left nothing to be desired. Chris always says "Today just beautiful nature again, no animals ;-)", but he delivered every day and surprised us with ever more spectacular animal sightings. Be it the large herds, tree lions or elephant calves playing in the mud. We even saw all of the Big 5 in the Ngorongoro Crater in one day. We can also particularly recommend the Tanzania Bush Camps in the Serengeti. Here you are really completely in the middle of the action and in the middle of nature. Many, many thanks to Chris and the entire Equator to Arctic team for this unforgettable experience! Sarah, Marek, Nils, Stephan, Annabel, Max
Annette T
Annette T
2023-10-03
Dream safari in Tanzania Four of us went on safari for 12 days: 2 days in Arusha National Park, 3 days in Tarangire, 1 day in Manyara, 4 days in Serengeti, 1 day in Ngorongoro and finally 1 day in Karuto Elephant Cave. The whole trip was very well organised from the first to the last moment and it was wonderful to spend so much time in the magnificent nature. Our driver Israel was always there and looked after us every day. He has a lot of experience and we saw an incredible number of animals - including the Big Five, of course ;) The accommodation was also very well chosen, especially the camps, which offered every comfort in a unique environment. The staff was lovely every time. We can recommend Equator to Arctic without reservation. Thanks again to Chris, Israel and the whole team!
Gemma Z
Gemma Z
2023-06-23
Todo inmejorable, recomendable 100% 3 personas, Ruta Machame, con nuestros guías Richard y Adam. Ellos y todo su equipo consiguieron que fuera una experiencia inolvidable y maravillosa, y nos llevaron a la cumbre. La comida de 10, la amabilidad y la calidad humana de todas las personas que nos acompañaron, además de su fortaleza, ha sido toda una lección de vida. Totalmente recomendable.
Peter Heinz
Peter Heinz
2023-03-29
Toller Safari-Anbieter Tolle Safari (bereits Oktober 2020), mit Christopher als Guide und Benjamin als Koch. Christopher spricht sogar gut deutsch und hat uns mit Benjamin eine wundervolle Safari geboren. Danke!
Norbert Tiffels
Norbert Tiffels
2023-02-19
Jambo...Jambo... 7-tägige Tanzania Privat Safari (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ndutu) im Februar 2023. Ein ganz großes Dankeschön geht an unseren Guide Chris von "Equator To Arctic" vor Ort. Er hat uns soviel gezeigt und zu jeder Zeit mit seinem Fachwissen die richtigen Antworten gegeben. Wir haben sogar die "Big Five" mehrmals gesehen!!! Wir haben uns zu jeder Zeit rundum wohl und sicher gefühlt und jede Sekunde genossen!!! Chris und "Equator To Arctic" ist uneingeschränkt weiter zu empfehlen. Hakuna Matata...es war ein Traum!!!
Cordula W
Cordula W
2022-12-30
Safari Tanzania Wir haben wieder Heimatboden unter den Füssen, aber Herz und Kopf sind noch voll Bilder und Erlebnissen unserer Tour. An der Stelle mag ich mich nochmal bei unserem Guide Israel (Isy) bedanken - dank seiner Erfahrung, seinem Gespür und den besten Augen ever haben wir grandiose Begegnungen erleben dürfen - THANK YOU ???????????? und dann seine besondere Spezialität auf den Wellblechpisten in den Parks - From driving to flying ???????????????? Es war eine phantastische Zeit mit dir ????
Outdoorfever.de
Outdoorfever.de
2022-11-09
The best Team you can get for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and Safari The best Team you can get ????????????????????????. It’s pure joy and happiness to climb the Roof of Africa and go for safari with a big family. The local guides have a huge knowlodge and do always their best to make your stay unforgettable and to provide you a great experience. The communication with Chris and Zulfi and the whole Team is always trouble-free and absolutely reliable. Go and explore Tanzania with Equator to Arctic!
Dirk0207
Dirk0207
2022-10-16
Unvergessliche Tage auf Safari und dann Erholung pur in Sansibar Es war von Anfang an ein sehr guter Kontakt und eine sehr gute Kommunikation zur Gestaltung unserer Privatreise mit 4 Personen. Wir, dass sind ein Paar 57/55, die Schwester 55 und die Mutter, noch 83 Jahre alt. Es sollte und wurde ein unvergessliches Erlebnis für die ganze Familie und speziell für die Mutter. Also keine Angst, es ist alles super organisiert und auch für ältere Menschen sehr gut machbar. Christopher hat eine Safari in den nördlichen NP organisiert. Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti und Ngorongoro. Die Auswahl der Unterkünfte war sehr schön, sehr gepflegt und sauber, gutes Essen und freundliches Personal. Zeltcamps sind ob der besonderen Atmosphäre besonders zu empfehlen. Chris ist ein sicherer Fahrer, allzeit freundlicher und lachender Mann, dem das Wohl der Gäste am Herzen liegt. Er spricht gut Deutsch und kennt sich mit Flora und Fauna super aus. Der Flug nach Sansibar, der Transfer und die Auswahl der traumhaften Unterkunft lagen auch in der Hand der Agentur. Es verlief alles völlig geräuschlos und es war ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Wir kennen Chris schon sehr lange und wir sind begeistert, wie sich in sein eigenes Business entwickelt hat. Er ist ein wirklicher Freund geworden und wir danken für tiefe Einblicke in die tansanische Welt. Es ist besonders hervorzuheben, dass er als Agentur social tourism unterstützt und lokale Projekte in der Nähe auswählt, in denen Gäste auch Unterstützung zukommen lassen können. Bildung ist für die Zukunft des Landes wichtig und mit vielen mitgebrachten Materialien läßt sich viel Freude machen. Insgesamt waren wir 14 Tage unterwegs und werden definitiv wieder kommen. Dann der Süden mit Selous und Lake Tanganijka.

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