Mafia Island Itinerary: How to Spend 3, 4 or 5 Days

How many days do you need on Mafia Island? Three is enough for the whale sharks. Four gives you the reefs at an easy pace. Five lets you do everything the island is known for. Below is a day-by-day plan for each, matched to a package you can book at one fixed price. The order of the days is a guide: we arrange it around the tides, the weather and your flights.

3 Days: the Whale Shark Trip

The shortest trip that makes sense, built around the reason most people come. It runs in whale shark season, October to March.

• Day 1: We meet you at the airport, 5 minutes from the hotel. Settle in, swim in the pool, and have dinner at our restaurant.


• Day 2: An early start for the whale shark excursion off Kilindoni. You are back by early afternoon, with the rest of the day free.


• Day 3: Breakfast, then your transfer to the airport.

This is our 3-Day Whale Shark Escape: 2 nights, breakfast, return airport transfers and the whale shark excursion, from $255 for one guest or $415 for two sharing a double room. With only one morning on the water, a rough sea can cost you the trip, so add a night if you can. More on the excursion in our whale shark guide.

4 Days: Reefs at an Easy Pace

For travellers who want the marine park without rushing. It works at any time of year.

• Day 1: Airport pickup and a relaxed afternoon by the pool.


• Day 2: A guided scuba dive on the reefs of the Mafia Island Marine Park.


• Day 3: A reef snorkeling trip over shallow coral, then a free afternoon. A sunset dhow cruise or a walk through Kilindoni village fits well here.


• Day 4: Breakfast and your airport transfer.

This is our 4-Day Reef & Relax: 3 nights, breakfast, return airport transfers, one guided dive and one snorkeling trip, from $340 for one guest or $540 for two. Tell us your diving certification level when you book. The sites are described in our diving guide.

5 Days: the Whole Island

Everything Mafia Island is known for, with a spare half-day in hand.

• Day 1: Airport pickup and time to settle in.


• Day 2: The whale shark excursion, first thing, so there is a day in reserve if the sea is rough.


• Day 3: A guided scuba dive on the marine park reefs.


• Day 4: A reef snorkeling trip in the morning and the sandbank trip in the afternoon, to a strip of sand that appears at low tide and is gone again by evening.


• Day 5: Breakfast and your airport transfer.

This is our 5-Day Ultimate Mafia Island: 4 nights, breakfast, return airport transfers and all four experiences, from $605 for one guest or $1,025 for two. Whale sharks are most reliable from October to March, so that is the best time for this one.

Which One Should You Choose?

• You have a long weekend and want whale sharks: 3 days.


• You are coming outside whale shark season, or diving matters most: 4 days.


• It is your one trip to Mafia Island: 5 days.

Adding Extra Days

Any plan can be made longer. We also arrange dolphin watching, turtle watching, sunset dhow cruises, fishing trips, village walks and a 4x4 tour of the island, and a spare day by the pool is never wasted. Extra nights start at $65 with breakfast.

What the Prices Cover

Package prices are the total for the room, breakfast, return airport transfers and the listed activities, with the marine park fee included. The price for two guests is for both together. Travel to the island, lunches and dinners are extra: see what a trip really costs and how to get here.

Current prices and full details are on the Packages page. To check your dates, book online and pay on arrival, or message us on WhatsApp at +255 787 579 033.