Mafia Island

Welcome to Mafia Island liveaboard charters, your private gateway to one of the most untouched, biodiverse, and authentic marine environments in Tanzania. Far from the crowds of Zanzibar, Mafia offers tailored yacht experiences for diving, big game fishing, and seasonal whale shark encounters. Whether you’re an experienced angler, a passionate diver, or a wildlife enthusiast looking for something truly wild — Mafia Island liveaboards are designed to take you deep into the heart of this marine paradise.

Deep Sea Fishing

Mafia Island’s remote southern waters offer serious anglers uncrowded fishing grounds and record-sized species. Our fully rigged liveaboards target giant trevally, barracuda, yellowfin tuna, dogtooth tuna, wahoo, and seasonal sailfish. Trips can be pure sport fishing or combined with island cruising for a relaxed, family-friendly experience. Due to the Marine Park around Chole Bay, we fish mainly the north, northeast, and southeast of Mafia Island—renowned as one of East Africa’s top fishing spots. The deep offshore waters near Okuza Island offer prime pelagic action, especially from September to March. Use our catamaran as a mothership and team up with Fishing Zanzibar Co Ltd for a sport fishing charter. While anglers chase lunch, others can relax, swim, or snorkel—perfect holiday balance! Please Note: Marine Park Fees Apply

Diving Mafia Island

Mafia Island, part of Tanzania’s first marine national park, is a dream destination for divers seeking an extraordinary underwater experience. Unlike other popular spots, Mafia’s reefs are vibrant, healthy, and largely untouched by mass tourism. The Mafia Archipelago, including Mafia and Chole islands, is home to over 400 species of fish. Dive highlights include the calm coral gardens of Chole Bay, the thrilling drift dives at Kinasi Pass, and seasonal sightings of whale sharks. You may also encounter southern stingrays, whitetip reef sharks, and hawksbill turtles. For added adventure, explore the possibilities of night dives and wreck explorations.

Giant sea turtles also come ashore to lay their eggs, offering a unique attraction both on land and in the water. For an unforgettable dive trip, our charters can include a dedicated dive master, full equipment setup, and detailed briefings.

Explore, Relax & Disconnect

Mafia Island liveaboard charters offer more than just activities—they’re about freedom, nature, and discovery. Anchor near deserted beaches, enjoy sunset BBQs on remote sandbanks, stargaze in silence from the deck, or opt for village visits and kayaking through mangroves. Each itinerary is tailored to your pace and preferences.

Experience the most authentic side of Tanzania’s coast—whether fishing, diving, or swimming with whale sharks, liveaboards provide an exclusive way to explore this wild, magical region.

Available October–March for whale sharks and year-round for diving and fishing, with 5–7 night minimum stays. Private bookings only, for up to 6 guests per yacht.

Tailored Liveaboard Itineraries – 5 to 7 Nights or More

All our Mafia Island liveaboard charters are custom-built to match your interests—whether it’s sport fishing, diving expeditions, or whale shark encounters. Each trip includes a private yacht with crew and chef, full board with drinks, comfortable cabins, and expert guides. Itineraries are flexible, typically lasting 5 to 7+ nights, with departures from Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, or Mafia Island upon request. The best time to travel is from October to March, especially for whale shark sightings.

Swim With Whale Sharks

Mafia Island in Tanzania is the top destination for swimming with whale sharks from October to March. These gentle giants gather off the coast to feed in warm, plankton-rich waters. Enjoy morning excursions by tender, snorkeling with licensed guides, and a respectful, ethical experience with no feeding or chasing—plus great visibility and no crowds.

What Our Clients Say

    
 
 
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   Trail63141426330 
 
 
 
 Verified Very flexible price with Phenomenon Tours Dear Sabina! Thank you indeed for making our clients have an incredible moment. It really everyone was over joy, again big thanks to your team, Captain Mohammed, Chef sheha and Juma they were all very helpful, charming and so kindness, and the food was 100% delicious, it's absolutely appreciated. Definitely, it will be continuously working together, working together between you and us. With pleasure
  
 
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   Devora H 
 
 
 
 Verified Mnemba tour Beautiful experience with a great crew. Captain Chantal, Chef Sheha and Deckhand Mwalimu made it a great experience. Mnemba was gorgeous and we got to swim with dolphins.
  
 
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   97jacksonj 
 
 
 
 Verified Was amazing Trips we enjoyed a lot We had an amazing experience with Zanzibar Yacht Everything was well-organized, and our staff made the trip so much fun while showing us incredible experiences . You can see they truly care about creating great memories for their guests. Highly recommend for anvone visiting Tanzania Zanzibar this amazing trip for Diving and fishing game Zanzibar Island
  
 
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   Mama C 
 
 
 
 Verified TOP of the Things to do in nungwi. Was an amazing experience. The sea was a bit choppy at first but they did brief us before we started the journey. Finally stopped and all went well. Some friends went snorkeling on the reef and the rest of us rested and swam in the clear zanzibar waters. The catamaran had Bluetooth access so we could play music. The crew were also very informative and professional.
  
 
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   Frances012 
 
 
 
 Verified Zanzibar day cruise on a catamaran These guys were really professional and the boat was in good working order and very clean The lunch that chef Pepsi cooked was apsolutly delicious with fresh seafood and chicken and authentic curry sauceIt’s a great pity that when we got to the area to snorkel there were numerous other boats on cheap day trips to the reef.The snorkel guide was excellent but there wasn’t a vast amount to see as tourism seems to have all but killed the coralIt was however a memorable day with beautiful swimming and very relaxing A great experience and we felt very well cared for by Captain Ali
  
 
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   Keith H 
 
 
 
 Verified One of the highlights of our holiday. We had an amazing family & friends day out to mbemba. Staff were amazing, super friendly, food & drinks were amazing. Boat was in great condition. It was just a wonderful well organised day out. Highly recommend it.
  
 
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   Theduchessofw 
 
 
 
 Verified Absolutely wonderful ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Phenomenal day with the best crew ! We had the most wonderful experience with our friends and family. The staff could not have done enough, and the food and drinks flowed. Of course the natural beauty is a given in that area, so jumping into that blue sea is so special!Huge Thankyou to the staff on that fabulous boat! We all had the best time ever! A trip to remember ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  
 
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   Jason W 
 
 
 
 Verified Perfect way to spend my 30th birthday Really lovely boat, great service (from the booking team to the team on board) and we were well taken care of. The team took us to a place we could swim during the cruise, which was awesome. Highly recommend this experience with Zanzibar Yacht Charter if you’re in Zanzibar.
  
 
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   US P 
 
 
 
 Verified Fun Day Boating activity Zanzibar yacht charter was very nice. The Captain and crew were very attentive ...we went fishing and snorkling. It was an experiance to remeber ...Getting picked up on the beach and cruise to tumbaktu at sunset ....Try to go when the winds are light to fully enjoy the experiance ....
  
 
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   Mark 
 
 
 
 Verified Best ever yachting experience in Africa! Super easy to book and the boats were clean and well looked after. Had an absolutely fab time and were looked after really well. The food was excellent and the overall experience was amazing. This was our third time and we loved it… gets better every time. Thank you team, we’ll be back soon ..hopefully.
  
 
  
  
 
 
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