Why Whale Shark Day matters.

What makes Mafia Island the best place in the world to see whale sharks?

Ask any AI platform to deep-dive into Africa’s finest diving spots, and guess what? Mafia Island takes the number 1 spot on every list.

Why Mafia is the winner that takes it all

A diving variety that keeps you on your toes

The magnificent whale shark wow-factor

The best of the rest

The resident population of 70,000 is mainly composed of fishermen and smallholder farmers who cultivate coconut, paw-paw, and cassava.

The islanders are friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back. The dominant religion is moderate Islam, and Christians and Muslims live in peace and harmony.

The island lies near the equator, and the air and sea temperatures remain warm year-round. The hottest months are from October to March, followed by a rainy season from April to June. The coolest months are from July to September.

The name Mafia probably derives from the Arabic morfiyeh, meaning ‘group’ or ‘archipelago’, or from the Swahili mahali pa afya, meaning ‘a healthy dwelling place’. Mafia has a rich history dating back over 2,000 years. It was the most important trading post of Shirazi influence between the 12th and 15th centuries. It has occupied a key position on the East African trading routes between Kilwa and Zanzibar for centuries, and ruins from these times can be visited on the islands of Chole and Juani.

In more modern times, the Mafia served as the base for British forces during World War I. In 1915, they assembled their aerial forces to scout for the German battleship Königsberg, which was hiding in the nearby Rufiji Delta amid thick foliage.

Today, Mafia is known as a beautiful Indian Ocean tropical resort famous for deep-sea fishing and scuba diving. Aquatic life is abundant, and the coral gardens are pristine thanks to the protection of the Mafia Island Marine Park. The park lies between the Rufiji River delta to the west and the open Indian Ocean to the east. The combined influences of the river and the sea have created exceptional biodiversity, with unique underwater and on-land landscapes.

The underwater life is diverse and spectacular, with over 400 species of fish and 48 genera of hard coral – a scuba diver’s paradise! The wealth of flora and fauna is not only found underwater, but also includes over 160 species of birds, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as the rare Comoros Flying Fox, or fruit bat, found only on Mafia and the Comoro Islands. The vegetation ranges from bush and baobabs to palms, fruit trees, and mangroves.

Mafia Island is one of them. And a great example of Basecamp Eco-resorts’ mission.

Jeroen Metselaar, locally known as J’roen.

Jeroen Metselaar, Project Developer at Basecamp Eco-Resorts Africa, vividly recalls how it all started on Mafia Island. While searching for a private escape in Africa, he purchased this plot without seeing it first. Mafia Island, which means “place of health,” has traditionally attracted traders and businessmen looking for rest and renewal. A place that felt right. A gut feeling.

Since then, he has transformed the property: twenty small rooms have been converted into ten spacious ones, a new water filter and generator have been installed, an impressive freshwater pool, a tranquil spa, and a vibrant beach bar has been created to capture the Basecamp vibe. All done without harming the environment in any way. A challenge gladly accepted by Jeroen.

Back then

“At the time, the resort was completely run down; the rooms were essentially ruins.”

What it is now

Our standard is to offer organic, plant-based, farm-to-table food. We mainly work with seasonal fruit and vegetables. We source locally and grow our own food. Step by step, more natural circular concepts are researched and developed at Basecamp Mafia Island. Also read this article.

Our definition of circularity does not end with care for nature; it also concerns people. We sell sustainable products of local artisans and artists. Examples are Mama Sabuni, Sea Sense, Mabinti and Mutu Kwao.

Basecamp Mafia Island lives in harmony with nature. One way we do this is by growing our own food.

We incorporate the harvest into our menus whenever possible. Food and garden waste are rarely thrown away; instead, they are turned into nutritious compost for our nursery and food garden.

On our plot, we have a designated area where we store all the food and green waste. Over 7 stages, these remains turn into high-quality compost.

We use that compost in the ‘nursery’, where we grow all kinds of plants. It’s the primary stage for seeds, most of which come from the Netherlands. We grow food plants and some of the flowers you see at the resort. When the plants are ‘grown-ups’, we move them to the food garden. There, we cultivate food like carrots, onions and tomatoes. From some plants in the nursery, we create a food forest. The plants have time to mature there. The food forest consists of different plants. Most are food crops, while others provide shade. We produce food on-site and use it in our own kitchen. No impact on the environment, and no transport is needed.

Meet Husna, better known as Mama Sabuni (Mama Soap), the talented artisan behind handmade seaweed soap.

Inspired by a course on using local ingredients such as seaweed and coconut oil, she began experimenting at home and eventually started her own soap-making business, sourcing materials directly from Mafia Island.

Each bar is scented with eucalyptus or cinnamon and carefully crafted by hand, with her husband and children helping in production and distribution.

Mama Sabuni’s soaps are featured in local businesses such as Big Blu and Mafia Lodge, and after Basecamp took over Mafia Lodge, the collaboration continued, with her soaps still delighting guests in the resort’s bathrooms.

Both Mama Sabuni and Basecamp are proud of this partnership, which ensures that the soap is always of the highest quality. The collaboration also aligns with Basecamp’s commitment to sustainability and community.

The soaps are locally made, reducing transport and environmental impact, creating jobs for the Husna family, and supporting seaweed cultivation in the Marine Park, helping protect the marine ecosystem.

Make your evening unforgettable with Mutu Kwao, a traditional dance and music group from Mafia Island.

“Mutu Kwao” means “the one who is at home”, and every dancer and drummer is a proud local, keeping the island’s heritage alive. It starts with the small drums—ti-ri-ri-ri-ri—calling everyone to the dance.

Then the big drum joins, and the women move gracefully, singing songs in the Mozambican tradition. These songs tell stories about life, values, and milestones, from becoming a teenager to stepping into adulthood.

Feel the Beat

You won’t just watch. The dancers invite guests to join, moving from side to side, to the beach bar and back. The drummers, who make both modern and traditional drums themselves, encourage you to try the rhythm. It’s impossible not to feel the energy!

A Living Tradition

Mutu Kwao’s performances are about more than entertainment—they are about keeping culture alive. Songs and dances are passed down from grandparents to parents to children, and the youngest learn by watching. The oldest performers, almost 80, sing in the language of the  Mugambiga people, sometimes wearing masks to bring the stories to life.

We proudly support the Mabinti Centre, an initiative dedicated to empowering women affected by obstetric fistula.

Every year, approximately 3,000 women in Tanzania suffer from obstetric fistula as a result of prolonged or obstructed labour without adequate medical care. This devastating condition causes chronic incontinence, and tragically, around 80% of these women lose their babies.

Comprehensive Community-Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) provides free fistula treatment, including surgery, accommodation, and meals, with over 90% of women healing physically.

To support long-term recovery, the Mabinti Centre offers business training, starter kits, and a safe space for psychological healing. Since 2009, more than 200 women have been trained, producing handcrafted goods whose sales help sustain the Centre and CCBRT’s fistula programs.

Mabinti works with hotels and NGOs to produce uniforms and beach bags, creating sustainable income through ongoing orders.

“You go for two months… and end up building something lasting.”

What started as a short green mission turned into a full-blown adventure.

Isis, part of our Green Team in IJmuiden, the Netherlands, travelled to Basecamp Mafia Island to support the local crew and only returned months later, just in time for spring in the Netherlands.

In just a few months, she helped set up a compost system, redesigned the food garden, launched a plant nursery, and planted the first trees of our new food forest. Every day she was out in the field: planning, planting, guiding—and building not just systems, but collaboration and vision.

“We didn’t just want a garden,” she says. “We wanted a place that produces food, knowledge, and inspiration. That takes patience, teamwork, and getting your hands dirty.”