A guided whale shark snorkel trip in the season, roughly October to March.
Healthy coral reefs, turtles and a very quiet island.
Sunset dhow trips and time at a beach lodge.
Overview
Mafia Island is a small island off the Rufiji delta and one of the few places where whale sharks gather in numbers. From about October to March, guided boat trips look for them, and snorkellers can swim beside them at a respectful distance.
Sightings cannot be guaranteed, but the reefs and the quiet make the trip worthwhile anyway. See Mafia Island.
Tour facts
Difficulty
Easy
Group sizes
Private, Joining safari
Great for
12+
Languages
English, Swahili
Start point
Dar es Salaam
Guest rating
4.8 / 5
Best months to travel
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1Fly Dar es Salaam to MafiaMafia Island
A short flight to Mafia and a transfer to your beach lodge.
Day2Whale shark tripMafia Island
A morning boat trip to look for whale sharks, and an afternoon swim or nap on the beach.
Day3Reef snorkelling and sandbankMafia Island
A day on the water snorkelling the reefs, with lunch on a sandbank, and a sunset on the dhow.
Day4Fly back to Dar es SalaamMafia Island
A last swim and a flight back to Dar es Salaam.
Photos from the trip
What’s included
Return airport and hotel transfers on Zanzibar
Accommodation on the board basis named in your quote
Guided excursions on the itinerary, with entrance fees
Boat and dhow transport for the trips listed
Drinking water on excursions
Not included
International flights and Tanzania visa
Meals and drinks outside the board basis stated
Optional excursions and water sports not on the itinerary
Tips, personal expenses and travel insurance
Prices by season
Per person in USD, 2026 rates, based on 2 travellers sharing.
Festive season
16 Dec – 31 Dec
$1,355
High season
1 Jun – 31 Oct
$1,180
Shoulder season
1 Jan – 31 Mar
$1,085
Shoulder season
1 Nov – 15 Dec
$1,085
Green season
Best value
1 Apr – 31 May
$945
Travelling in a group? You save
Per-person price for the Green season rate.
1 traveller
$1,436
--52%
2 travellers
$945
-0%
3 travellers
$917
-3%
4 travellers
$898
-5%
5 travellers
$879
-7%
6 travellers
$860
-9%
7 travellers
$851
-10%
8 travellers
$841
-11%
Frequently asked questions
When is the whale shark season?
Sightings are most frequent from about October to March. Outside those months trips are still possible, but sharks are less common.
When is the best time for the beach?
The drier months, roughly June to October and December to March, are the most popular. April and May bring heavy rains and lower prices.
Can we add a safari?
Yes. Safari and beach is our most popular combination. Ask us to add three to six days on the mainland before or after your beach stay.
