Tanzania : Mafia Island
The coastal areas and islands of Tanzania are still blissfully under developed and there are a few high quality lodges in remote and unspoilt areas. Mafia Island, south of Zanzibar and only 45 minutes flight from Dar es Salaam is an island retreat for adventure divers, game fishermen or simple feet up relaxation.
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Kinasi Lodge
Kinasi is a comfortable lodge situated on a hillside overlooking Chole Bay, which is part of a protected marine park. The diving and snorkelling here is some of the best on the east African coast and the warm clear protected waters of the bay are perfect for swimming and windsurfing. With mapped walks, picnics and daily trips to sandbars and reefs and delicious food, Kinasi is the perfect island destination.
"The diving and snorkelling was fantastic, and nothing was too much trouble. Our last morning was made by a last minute plan to swim with whale-sharks on the other side of the island."
Pamela and Guy, Cambridge
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Lua Cheia
Lua Cheia is a simple Robinson Crusoe-style camp set on a deserted 3km beach on the north-west tip of Mafia Island. The beauty of this camp is its isolation, as there are no other lodges or tourist facilities for miles so you can enjoy total solitude. It is a long-awaited project for the owners of Kinasi Lodge, who have kept the site as simple and undisturbed as possible but without sacrificing all the necessary comforts. There are six simple guest tents under thatch which are quite small but perfectly comfortable, all en-suite and have a fan. The public areas, the bar and the restaurant are set on a spit of land which separates two amazing beaches. They are simple with wooden floors and antique leather and dhow wood furniture. All meals are (weather permitting) cooked on the barbeque and feature fresh fish, meats and salads. The lodge faces north-west taking advantage of the sea breezes during the hot season and the amazing sunsets, and the other bonus is the beach is white with clear waters and no tidal changes, so you can swim at all times. Other than relaxing by the small pool or walking along the miles of deserted beaches, there are sea kayaks and windsurfers for pottering about and fishing, sailing, snorkelling and sailing in local dhows can be arranged. Lua Cheia is all about getting away from it all, and peace and quiet. It’s quite a journey to the diving and fishing sites, so if you want to do these activities, you are best to combine a few days here with a few days at the sister lodge, Kinasi.
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