Just let our reception know (well in advance) which activities you want to book, and we will take care of you. We have our own diving club and a wide range of other exciting experiences.

For diving enthusiasts, we offer two packages. Discover them here.

While you can enjoy the beauty of Mafia over a weekend, we recommend a 5- or 10-day stay to fully experience all the diving and adventure activities. For those intending to take a scuba diving course, a dedicated 5 or 6-day stay at our diving resort is ideal.

Mafia Island enjoys warm year-round temperatures, ranging from 25 to 30°C, and a laid-back atmosphere perfect for unwinding. Considered one of Tanzania’s safer regions, it does have some connotations regarding climate throughout the year:

Key Seasonal Highlights
Best Overall Weather (Dry Season): June to October is ideal, offering sunny, breezy, and dry conditions, perfect for beach relaxation.

Whale Shark Season: October to March is the best time to see and swim with whale sharks, with peak sightings in October/November and February.

Diving & Snorkelling: Best visibility occurs from October to February, though June to October offers great conditions with less wind.

Humpback Whales: Best seen breaching offshore from August to September.

Turtle Hatching: Occurs between December and March.

Times to better avoid (long rains): April and May are notorious for heavy, consistent, and frequent rainfall, with many lodges closing for maintenance.

In summary, for the best balance of weather and marine life, October is considered a top month, as it marks the beginning of the whale shark season while still offering dry, sunny weather. 

Our resort accepts credit cards.

While visiting Mafia Island, it is advisable to carry sufficient cash, preferably in Tanzanian Shillings (TZS), as many small shops, local restaurants, and services only accept cash. 

The island has only one ATM in Kilindoni, which can be unreliable. It is recommended to withdraw cash in Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar before travelling. US dollars are also widely accepted for tourism-related expenses.

That depends on the location you are reading this FAQ from :-).

Generally speaking, the island follows East Africa Time (EAT), which is UTC+3. There is no switch to Daylight Saving Time.

First of all, our staff speaks English. However, master these Swahili phrases to win over the locals:

• Jambo! (Hello!) …*
• Habari yako? (How are you?) …*
• Asante (Thank you) …*
• Karibu (Welcome) …*
• Nimefurahi kukutana nawe (Nice to meet you) …*
• Ndiyo (Yes) …*
• Hapana (No) …*
• Tafadhali (Please)

Our local staff gladly helps you with the right pronunciation once you enter our resort. Or refuse, and become the talk of the town :-).

What is elementary in our culture?

• Respectful humor: Crack a joke and the conversation starts. Use some of the above Swahili words.
• Don’t be shy: Join in a dance with locals – if a spontaneous happening takes place,  join in. You’ll be rewarded.
• Playfulness: Shoot some pool with the Masaai.
• Share your experience: As in any culture, sharing is caring. But in our culture, it is more than that. Its a token of appreciation. A conversation starter.