Luxurious overnight catamaran cruise to Mafia Island from Nungwi, Kendwa, or Mkokotoni

Highlights

• Explore the beautiful unspoilt island
• Spectacular coral reefs and lagoons
• Ruins from the first settlements from the 12th century
• Chance to spot whale sharks, stingrays, whitetip reef sharks, and even hawksbill turtles

All about the trip

Join us onboard our Mafia Island catamaran yacht cruise! This beautiful island is quieter and less visited than neighbouring Zanzibar, but also a “Spice Island”! Lying on these historic trade routes, it is the largest of a small archipelago of unspoilt islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean. It lies south of Dar es Salaam. Like its better-known neighbour Zanzibar, Mafia is a spice island. Similarly, it offered a safe harbour for the ships and dhows plying the historic trade routes from the gulf. Furthermore, there are atmospheric ruins from early trading settlements which date back to the 12th century.

Mafia is far quieter and more peaceful than Zanzibar, with only a few small beach hotels and lodges. It caters to people who value coral reefs, lagoons, and beaches more than large beach resorts with lots of facilities. The Mafia Archipelago, including Mafia and Chole, lies south of Zanzibar. Mafia forms part of the Mafia Island Marine Park – Tanzania’s first marine national park. This spectacular, pristine area offers coral gardens of hard and soft corals and diverse marine life. This area is excellent for diving with sightings of whale sharks, southern stingray, whitetip reef sharks and even hawksbill turtles. Mafia diving offers the meeting point between coral reef fish species and the larger oceanic fish with over 400 fish species on offer. The best diving is usually at less than 30 metres. On the beaches, giant sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs – an additional attraction both in and off the water.

Because of the Marine Park in and around the Chole Bay area, we fish mostly in the north and northeast areas as well as the south-east areas of Mafia Island. The fishing in these areas and down to Okuza Island is widely regarded as some of the best fishing opportunities in East Africa! The virtually unfished expanses of water offshore in this deep-sea crescent of Mafia offer all the pelagic species with best times from September through to March. Use one of our catamaran yachts as a “mothership” and charter a sportfishing boat. This way the fishermen all get to go out and catch lunch whilst the rest of the family and friends chill onboard or go swimming and snorkelling! Isn’t that what holidays are for?

What is included in the price

• Accommodation onboard the catamaran yacht Walkabout in your own private cabin
• Trolling equipment (fishing dods and reels)
• Terminal tackle
• Skipper
• Experienced professional tour guide
• A selection of artificial lures
• All meals for the duration of the charter
• Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in a private car to and from the yacht
• Deckhand/chef
• Marine park fees
• Freshly prepared snacks
• Freshly prepared seafood lunch
• Fruits and soft drinks
• Yacht charter
• Mineral water
• Selected beers and wine
• Marine conservation fees
• Diving (certified divers only)
• The use of our two kayaks onboard (upon request)
• Snorkeling gears
• Transport waiting charge
• All taxes, fuel surcharges, and service fees

What is not included in the price

• Domestic and international flights
• Gratuities for safari guide and safari chef (please tip separately)
• Visa fee (50 USD /100 USD for American or Irish Passport holders – to be paid upon arrival)
• Airport taxes
• Personal expenses

Instructions

In the event of the yacht being unavailable on the charter start date, the organizer of the tour will endeavor to replace the yacht with one of a similar type and specification as possible, to a value up to the total amount of the charter fee paid for the original yacht. Any discrepancy in the charter fees to be met by the charterer. If a replacement yacht is not available, the organizer will refund the charter fee. The organizer accepts no liability for any expenses incurred by or inconvenience caused to the charterer as a result of such cancellation.

Should the skipper determine the weather to be unsuitable or dangerous for sailing, he may take the decision not to sail the yacht in these conditions. The charterer and crew must respect his decision, even if this may lead to postponement or, in extreme cases, cancellation of the charter.

This activity is organised by Safanta Tours and Travel comp., Chukwani street, P.O.BOX 3651, Urban/West Region, Zanzibar, Tanzania, +255 778 856 362, info@safantatours.co.tz.