Mafia Island Lodge

I ended up on Mafia Island Lodge at the end of a several-week-long (and partly rough-ish) Tanzania trip; the plan was to wind down, recover, relax, and treat myself to a diving course. What can I say: the minute I entered Mafia Island Lodge, I sensed that peace had arrived and all was well with the world.

Location: perfect. It's the only place on Mafia's east coast with direct beach access. Other than that: Tranquil, leafy surroundings, beautifully manicured gardens, gently swaying palm trees...

- Accommodation: very comfortable & cozy rooms in pretty thatched-roof buildings, atmospheric private verandas (most with some sort of sea view), good showers, everything very clean.

- Food/bar: outstanding seafood-based cuisine with a strong Italian touch. Very cozy and laid-back open-air bar/lounge area. You easily get stuck for hours...

- Staff/service: by far the friendliest, most attentive and most likeable hotel staff of the holiday. Service is impeccable, and the guys (and girl) are a very charming lot. I found it really hard to leave.

A few other things: The place is Italian-run, and many (most?) of the guests are Italian. Plus, solo travellers seem to be a bit of an exception - so you should feel comfortable with that before checking in (that said, I'm both a solo-traveller... and I really liked the place & vibe & felt comfortable and welcome at all times...). Proceedings at the attached dive center are sometimes mildly chaotic, but courses and dives are conducted in a professional manner (safety writ large), and the lady/guys/girls running the place are fun to be around - as good a place to learn diving as anywhere.

Last not least: the place is excellent value - I booked a h/b accommodation / diving package that was a real bargain. Drinks are cheap, and they even throw in transport to the airport (about 30 minutes by minibus) for free.
I could go on and on, but won't. Suffice to say: most pleasant resort,Hope it wasn't the last time.

It stands amidst tall palms on a sandy beach in Chole Bay, in the heart of the marine park near Utende village on South coast of Mafia Tanzania.

34 comfortable rooms are set among the coconut palms with their own veranda overlooking the bay. They are all self-contained with air conditioning. Twin and double beds are available. Among the 35 rooms there are 2 family rooms with a living room. Hot and cold water is available 24 hours a day. The main lodge has a relaxing atmosphere with a large open restaurant, bar and lounge area. Board games, table tennis and volleyball are also available.

Other facilities include a gift shop, laundry service, excursions, snorkelling, sailing and scuba diving.The cuisine is continental with an emphasis on seafood.Mafia Kinasi Lodge

Mafia Kinasi Lodge is located on the South East Coast of Mafia Island. This is a small and elegant choice for a luxurious stay on Mafia Island. The high standards of accommodation and service are reliably consistent at Kinasi, as it has been owner built and managed for many years, which validates the cost as being good value.

It has 14 palm-thatched en-suite bungalows, a good sized pool, a PADI diving centre, a small but well run spa and a activities rooms consisting of a snooker table, satellite TV, and a computer with internet connection