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KENYA I ZANZIBAR I
MAFIA I
KILWA I MOMBASA
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Mafia Island
Marine Park (MIMP)
Mafia is a
world-class paradise island of divers, fisherman and water
sport lovers.
Mafia
Island is the site of Tanzania's first Marine Park which was
gazetted in 1995. The Park covers the southern half of the
island and part of the north-east. This is no other island than
Mafia, an island at the far reaches of the ever-busy world.
While on this island, time seems to come to a stop. Its warm
waters are incredibly transparent with its rich variety of the
coral permitting unimaginable quantity of fishes.
Mafia is a large island lying off the southern coast of
Tanzania, near to the Rufiji Delta. It is 30 miles from north to
south, and up to ten miles in width. It is thus about half the
size of Unguja (Zanzibar) Island to the north, and, like
Zanzibar, is a raised portion of the continental shelf, not a
coral island. The soil of Mafia is mostly sandy and the terrain
very flat.
There is a ridge
forming a backbone to the northern end but at its highest point
it does not exceed 200 feet above sea level. Along this ridge
there is firm and fertile clay soil and cultivation of annual
crops is possible. On the eastern shores there is some coral
rock, making cultivation impossible. The area included within
the boundaries of MIMP is one of the most important marine
habitats in the world. It has mangroves, sea-grass beds, coral
reefs, inter-tidal reef flats, lagoons and coastal forest.
T
here
are a number of foreign universities which send students to
Mafia as part of their courses on coastal ecology such as
Study abroad Program - Field Work
Worldwide. The decision to set up a Marine Park was
taken by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and
MIMP now falls under its Marine Parks and Reserves Unit . MIMP
is supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Activities:
Mafia is - in the
truest sense - a perfect island retreat for adventure divers,
game fishermen and those seeking simple feet-up relaxation.
Other activities include; Forest walks, picnics to inlets and
secluded beaches, swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing
bird watching and of course relaxation by the pool
Getting there:
Mafia is accessible by road and air from Dar es Salaam and
Arusha
When to visit:
Mafia Island is accessible all year round
I TANZANIA I
KENYA I ZANZIBAR I
MAFIA I
KILWA I MOMBASA
l DAR l
ARUSHA l
For more details
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