4 DAYS SWIMMING WITH WHALE SHARKS OFF THE COAST OF MAFIA ISLAND, TANZANIA

QUICK FACTS

Length of trip: 4 days

Locations: Mafia Island, Tanzania

Season: October - December is Whale Shark Season

Price: $

Day 1: Fly from Dar es Salaam to Mafia Island

Depart from Dar es Salaam’s domestic airport on Coastal Aviation to arrive at Mafia Island. Arrange for the lodge to pick you up from the airport and bring you to the beach. We stayed in the marine reserve, which means you have to stop and pay a fee at the tourist office.

Enjoy sundowners overlooking the water and fresh fish for dinner.

Stay: Mafia Beach Bungalows is a great budget option! The restaurant is down on the beach and the bungalows are simple, but spacious and clean. The staff were friendly and they had fair prices for all of the activities.

Day 2: Swim with the Whale Sharks

Mafia Beach Bungalows can arrange the trip to swim with whale sharks for you. They’ll drive you out to the harbor where a boat will be waiting to begin tracking the whale sharks. We had an amazing trip with Juma, their dive master. Don’t forget to bring or rent a GoPro for some amazing shots of these creatures.

Depending on how quickly you spot the whale sharks, this can be a morning or full day activity.

Stay: Mafia Beach Bungalows

Day 3: Snorkeling Trip to Chole Island

We spent the next day on a snorkeling trip to see more of Mafia Marine Reserve. After a morning out on the water, we stopped for lunch on the sandbank where the guides cooked fresh fish and lobster. Following lunch, we took the boat over to Chole Island and took a tour of the small community, capped off with drinks at the beautiful Chole Mjini lodge. If you have the budget, try one of their treehouse rooms for the night.

Stay: Mafia Beach Bungalows

Day 4: Depart for Dar es Salaam