Mafia Island

Once a year VSO arrange a volunteers conference in Dar and so we took the opportunity to spend the preceding weekend on Mafia Island. It is about 30 minutes flight south of Dar and has a large National Marine Park.
The photos speak for themselves. It was lovely.

The Mafia Lodge had a superb open sitting and dining area with a field leading down to a lovely beach and a beach bar. We went snorkelling out on a reef twice and saw a truely amazing collection of coral and fish. It is difficult to describe the intensity but both time we returned overawed by the experience. It was one of the best sites we have been, the water was a little cloudy but we were so close to the coral and fish it did not matter.

We managed a sunset sail in a small dhow with just us, our host Ali and the skipper. Sparkling South African wine, the quiet rustling of the sea and an interesting chat with Ali about the seperation he feels having an Arab mother and how South Africa made him feel very uncomfortable with the racial tensions. The sunset as always was beautiful and the sail back in the gloaming just so perfect!

(Double click on the R picture and you may see a full moon rising between the palm trees)
It was all over too soon ( not helped by missing our flight the first day due to Precision Air changing their schedule at 24 hour notice).
This is Mafia Airport Fire Service, pressed into action (!) twice a day.
We did not see many Tanzanians (apart from the hotel staff) though one can take a ferry to the local village across the water and wander round the small island. certainly worth it for 3 or 4 days but not more if you are interested in what Tanzania has to offer.