Overview
Between June and September hundreds of baby turtles make their instinctive scramble from the white sandy beaches to the warm Indian Ocean waters. In Mafia it’s fortunate enough to be able to witness this natural spectacle from the Eastern beach of Juani, an island bursting with nature from the tiniest of butterflies to giant cascading trees.
The turtle conservation programme of these amazing creatures, particularly the Hawksbill Turtle has been one of Mafia’s outstanding successes through the combined efforts of Sea Sense, local community and Mafia Island Marine Park since 2001.
The adventure starts with a lovely dhow trip across Chole Bay, landing on the shielded Western side of Juani Island. On arrival, a 45 minute walk across the island reveals the islands true beauty of the Island itself with towering trees and green foliage.
On the hatchling site we may experience the little hatchlings emerge from their sandy burrow, scrambling out of their nest, flapping their fins vivaciously, racing to reach the surf and start the next step of their incredible journey. It is a truly heart wrenching experience to watch these ancient reptiles fight for survival in their first moments among the living. After experiencing one of nature’s most harrowing hurdles, we make our way back.
Highlights
Turtle Hatchling, Mafia Island
Between June and September hundreds of baby turtles make their instinctive scramble from the white sandy beaches to the warm Indian Ocean waters.
Know Before You Go
Trip Snapshot
- Location Mafia Island, Pwani – Mafia Archipelago
- Turtle Hatchling, Mafia Island 3–4 hours · Beach Holiday · can be tailor-made
Things to Do
- Walking / Hiking
- Turtle Hatching
- Dhow Cruise
Good to Know
To reach mafia one no longer sails as the first option, but rather take a flight in light aircraft from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, or one of the game parks such as the Nyerere National Park. Coastal aviation and auric air both offer multiple daily flights, which take approximately 30-50 minutes. The experience is fantastic, with great views of the African bush and coastline.
The distance between Zanzibar City and Mafia Island is 198 km. It takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes flight from Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam respectively
Mafia Island enjoys two rainy seasons, similar to the mainland. In November and December and March to May. The first best time to visit is from October to February offering the best visibility The second-best time is June to September as it is the coolest time.
