Chole Bay
Mafia Island, Tanzania
About
The sheltered, coral-rich bay at the heart of the marine park, the base for most diving and snorkelling.
Where it is
Getting to & around Mafia Island
From other cities: Coastal, Auric and other operators fly light aircraft from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar into Mafia Airport (MFA); there is also a slow local ferry and dhow service from Nyamisati on the mainland.
Getting around: Taxis and a few vehicles connect Kilindoni with the Chole Bay lodges; boats and dhows handle transfers within the marine park, to Chole and Juani islands, and to the whale-shark grounds.
Full getting-there guideMore in Mafia Island
Park
Mafia Island Marine Park
Tanzania's first marine park, protecting reefs, mangroves and seagrass around Chole Bay and its islands.
Lodging
Chole Mjini
A tiny mangrove-fringed island of atmospheric 19th-century ruins, a baobab-shaded village and a famous eco-lodge.
Historical Landmark
Kua Ruins, Juani Island
The overgrown remains of a Shirazi Swahili town of mosques and tombs, reached by dhow across the bay.
Kilindoni
The island's capital and main port, with a lively fish market and the airport gateway to Mafia.