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MAFIA



Mafia Islands, locally was named as "Chole Shamba" before the foreign influence. The island comprises of large and a number of inhabited and uninhabited off-shore islands around it. Mafia Island, Jibondo, Juani and Chole are major islands. Mafia Island's history goes back to 8th century. The island once played a major role in ancient trade, between the people of Far East and mainland Tanzania.

The most important centre is Kilindoni, with its airport and sea port. The most developed site with respect to tourist facilities is Utende, with its extremely favourable location on the inland bay of Chole. There is a number of historical sights that worth seeing like the ruins of the ancient Arab town of Kua, the remains of First World War German headquarters, a number of areas of virgin forest, and a lighthouse on the northern point of the island of Mafia.

Location: located near the delta of the River Rufiji. It is about 120 kilometers south of Dar es Salaam.

TOURIST ATTRACTION:

Mafia Marine life Park:

The park was established under the Marine Park and Reserves Act, 1994, is the first of its kind in Tanzania. It covers an area of 822 square kilometers around the south end of Mafia Island and Chole Bay. Moreover, the park comprises of the Rufiji Delta estuarine further west. This estuarine is rich in Mangrove trees and the Coral Reefs which provide home for more than 400 species of fishes.

Marine Life: Ranges from big and colorful fishes, shells, sea sponges, to sea cucumbers. Coral bommies in the sand, stag-horn corals and other colorful hard and soft corals. The park has also a variety of tropical fishes. Among them are Barracuda, Flying fish, Triggerfish, Red mullet and Parrotfish. It is this wide variety of fish and coral marine life that has kept tourists flocking to the area.

Scuba diving: The major tourist activities are Scuba diving, snorkeling, Light Sport fishing, beach and off-shore island excursions. Places for scuba diving: Chole Bay, Kinasi Pass Islets, Mange Reef, Kitutia, and Jibondo Pass.

Aquarium: About 1 kilometer off the western shoreline of the island, there is a 200 meter deep contour along the seabed which acts as an aquarium. It hosts a large number of marine species, and it has excellent scuba diving ground.


WHERE TO STAY:

Pole-Pole Bungalow Resort-Mafi-+255 22 2601530(DAR)Satellite phone: +873761931865 www.polepole.com/bungalow.html

Mafia Island Lodge- Utende, Mafia island,  info@mafialodge.com

KINASI LIMITED –Mafia- +255 24 2238220 / 0741 324463 / 0747
474911

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