Mafia Island

Mafia Island

Introduction: Mafia Island is located 10 miles off the coast of Tanzania in Africa and 80 miles south of Zanzibar. Mafia Island may not have as many white sandy beaches as Zanzibar, but it also lacks Zanzibar’s scorching sun and volatile political climate. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, and about the size of England’s Isle of Wight, it is part of the Swahili Coast that quickly disappears on the horizon. The island has three guesthouses, and its main road is also buried under thin sand, resembling a wagon track.

Compared to the scenery above water, the underwater world of Mafia Island is even more captivating. Chole Bay boasts abundant marine resources, especially a rich variety of tropical fish and high-quality coral.

Accommodation: Pole Pole Resort is the best hotel on Mafia Island (double room at $160 per day, including three meals). Pole Pole Resort consists of nine cottages with verandas, thatched roofs, and interiors furnished with red teak wood, fine cotton curtains, and linens.

Dining: There are several Italian-Swahili style restaurants located by the beach, each offering views of the ocean. Don’t expect to find any other types of cuisine here.

Tips: Chole Bay is undoubtedly the highlight of Mafia Island, so be sure not to forget your diving gear.

Transportation: Take a Kenya Airways flight from London Heathrow, with a layover in Nairobi, to Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania (lowest fare: £378); then take a ZanAir flight from Dar es Salaam to Mafia Island (round-trip lowest fare: £70).

■ Dar es Salaam, Tanzania