Taking its name from the Arabic word “morfiyeh,” which means “group of islands,” Mafia is the third biggest of the isles that dot the Tanzanian coast. 

It lies to the south of Zanzibar and was once an important stop over for the trading vessels — from Egypt, Rome, Portugal, and Greece — that plied these waters centuries ago. 

Although many assume it’s part of the Zanzibar archipelago, Mafia is governed from the mainland and forms part of another small cluster of islands and atolls in the region.

Like Pemba, Mafia is far less busy than Zanzibar and has some of the best diving in the world.

The waters around the island are — on account of mainland rivers that tip into the sea here — extraordinarily fertile, meaning they host an astonishing population of whale sharks and are a popular breeding ground for humpbacks which return every year to breed. 

There are several places to stay, on the southern end of the island and on west coast with easy access to the marine conservation areas.

Mafia Diving is an exceptional little operation, just accommodate your underwater adventures such as swimming with whale sharks and reef diving.

Enjoy sunset cruises through the Mafia archipelago, to watch turtles hatching on Juani island and visit what is East Africa’s only fruit bat sanctuary — for Comoros lesser fruit bat — on little Chole Island.