Major city · Tanzania
Mafia IslandMafia
Go for 4 nights minimum: fly Kilindoni (MFA) from Dar es Salaam in about 30 min, sleep in Utende or Kilindoni, dive Chole Bay, skip if you want shops or nightlife.
Mafia is a small island and marine park off the Tanzanian coast, reached by a 30-minute flight from Dar es Salaam. There is no tarmac road, no ATM and no mainstream resort strip: six lodges cluster around Chole Bay and a handful of guesthouses sit in Kilindoni, the port town. Diving, snorkelling, dhow sailing and whale sharks are the reasons to come. Three nights is the practical minimum; four to five lets you add a full-day boat trip and still rest.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- TZS
- Best months
- Jun–Oct (dry, calm) and Dec–Feb (hot, clear water)
- avoid Mar–May (long rains, rough seas, some lodges close)
- Airport
- MFA
- Nights
- 4
Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
- East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
- East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
- Tanzania ↗Apply for the Tanzania e-visa only on the official immigration portal; Zanzibar and, from 1 October 2026, mainland Tanzania each require their own US$44 inbound insurance bought from the state insurer's site.
- Tanzania ↗Carry a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from or connect through a risk country such as Kenya or Ethiopia; see a travel clinic about malaria several weeks ahead.
- Tanzania ↗Plastic carrier bags are banned; leave shop and duty-free plastic bags behind before you arrive.
- Tanzania ↗Light aircraft between parks and to Zanzibar have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Mafia Island112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mafia Island, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS).Tanzania-wide
- SIM or eSIMVodacom, Airtel, Yas (Tigo) and Halotel sell SIMs at airports; registration takes fingerprints and a passport.Tanzania-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; lodges provide filtered water.Tanzania-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% where no service charge.Tanzania-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets D/G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Tanzania-wide
- SafetyLow-crime and relaxed, but the real risks are the sea, the sun and the lack of medical care: use reef-safe sunscreen, never snorkel alone…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern in hotels and lodges; long-drops at some gates and picnic sites; squat toilets at bus stops.Tanzania-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police, fire, ambulance · 114 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysGovernment offices close public holidays; on Zanzibar many local restaurants close by day in Ramadan.Tanzania-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckMFA Kilindoni Airport (About 30 min from Dar es Salaam; small aircraft, strict baggage limits — check with the operator.).
- Getting aroundNo tarmac roads.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealLodge lunch / dinnerabout US$20 (check)
- BeerBeer at a local barTZS 3,000–6,000
- Budget bedKilindoni guesthouse room, a night, per roomTZS 60,000
- Mid-range bedKilindoni guesthouse room, a night, per roomTZS 90,000
- High-end bedKilindoni guesthouse room, a night, per roomTZS 140,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget TZS 120,000 · Mid TZS 250,000 · High TZS 500,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MFA Kilindoni Airport (About 30 min from Dar es Salaam; small aircraft, strict baggage limits — check with the operator.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Apr
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
May
Avoid
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Aug
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Sep
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Oct
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Nov
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Dec
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb. Avoid: Mar–May. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C) low), wettest Apr (17 rain days), driest Jul (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Mafia Island: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
6 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
5 rd
Mar
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Apr
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
17 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
14 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5 rd
Jul
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Aug
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
4 rd
Oct
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
7 rd
Nov
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No tarmac roads. Lodges run 4x4 transfers; you can hire a Land Rover with driver in Kilindoni, or a bicycle from your lodge. Dhows work as the local bus between villages and are the usual way to reach dive sites and islands. Distances are short but slow: allow 30–60 min for cross-island runs.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Chole and Juani islands
goDoor to door: Half to full day
Dhow from Utende or Kilindoni with a lodge or dive centre
Ruins on Chole; turtle hatchlings on Juani in Jun–Aug — check the season with Sea Sense.
Jibondo village
goDoor to door: Half day
About 30 min by boat from the Chole Bay side
Boat-building village on coral rock; agree the boat price before you leave.
Ras Kisimani and Bwejuu
goDoor to door: Full day
Full-day boat from Kilindoni
Ruins of a drowned medieval town plus sand bars and reefs; weather-dependent.
Mange atoll
cautionDoor to door: Full day
Full-day dhow with picnic lunch
Sand cay appears at low tide; only in calm seas, and only with a reputable operator.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Utende / Chole Bay
Dive lodges and the marine park gate; most stays are full board. Best for diving and snorkelling.
Kilindoni
Port town with the airstrip and simple guesthouses; cheapest beds, no beach resort feel.
Bweni (north)
Quiet beaches and sunsets over the Rufiji Delta; far from the dive sites, so you need boat transfers.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- TZS 120,000–200,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- TZS 200,000–400,000 excl. bed
- High
- TZS 400,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chole Bay lodge, full board2 × 4 nights × TZS 400,000 | TZS 3,200,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 4 days × TZS 250,000 | TZS 2,000,000 |
| Two-tank dive with equipment2 × TZS 250,000 | TZS 500,000 |
| Snorkelling trip by dhow2 × TZS 100,000 | TZS 200,000 |
| Marine park entry fee2 × TZS 45,000 | TZS 90,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × TZS 30,000 | TZS 60,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | TZS 605,000 |
| Trip total≈ TZS 832,000 per person per day, bed included | TZS 6,655,000 |
2026 estimate in Tanzanian shillings; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Beer at a local bar | TZS 3,000–6,000 |
| Lodge lunch / dinner | about US$20 (check) |
| Bicycle hire, per day | US$8–15 |
| Sea turtle hatchout walk, Juani | about US$45 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No ATMs on the island: bring enough cash in TZS, and check whether your lodge takes cards.
- Limited medical facilities; serious cases are flown to Dar es Salaam. Check your insurance covers light-aircraft evacuation.
- Malaria is present: take prophylaxis and use nets and repellent.
- Baggage on light aircraft is capped by weight, often 15 kg (33 lb) in soft bags — check before you fly.Baggage on light aircraft is capped by weight, often 33 lb (15 kg) in soft bags — check before you fly.
- Some lodges close in the long rains (Mar–May): confirm dates before booking.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 112
- Fire
- 114
Pocket card
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Mafia IslandMafia
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Nipeleke kwenye anwani hii, tafadhaliTake me to this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance112
- Fire114
Embassy
No embassies on the island; most are in Dar es Salaam. Check your country's embassy in Dar es Salaam before you fly.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Dar es Salaam → Kilindoni, light aircraft: about 30 min; fares vary by operator — check
- Dhow, Utende → Chole: short hop; agree the price first
- Kilindoni → Utende by road: about 45 min; lodge transfer or hired 4x4
Say or show
- Jambo — Hello (JAM-bo)
- Asante — Thank you (a-SAN-te)
- Bei gani? — How much is it? (BEI GA-ni)
- Mashua iko wapi? — Where is the boat? (ma-SHU-a EE-ko WA-pi)
- Nahitaji msaada — I need help (na-hi-TA-ji m-SA-a-da)
Carry cash: there are no ATMs on Mafia.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mafia Island. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Oct (dry, calm) and Dec–Feb (hot, clear water) · avoid Mar–May (long rains, rough seas, some lodges close) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares