Kua Ruins & Hidden Lagoon

The ruins cover a large area of the South western side of Juani Island and are located close to the shore. As you wander between crumbling walls smothered by the roots of strangler figs, you will pass several mosques, a cemetery, a palace with large storeroom, a dispensary and a school, all which were funded by the then-lucrative trade in cowrie shells. From these one can tell that Kua was once a place of considerable local importance.

The city of Kua was established by settlers from Kilwa, and was heavily involved in trade. All over the ruins you can readily dig up pottery sherds, some dating several hundreds of years to Chinese and Persian origins. Vervet monkeys scamper among the fallen buildings and plenty of haunting cries from surrounding birds will add to the mysterious atmosphere, letting your imagination run wild. This is a wonderful excursion to plan for the late afternoon, when the afternoon light illuminates the ruins in a beautiful yet spooky ambience.

Visit to Hidden Lagoon, Mafia Island

Also Known as Kua Lagoon or Blue Lagoon hiding in a marine park, a beautiful lake, this is the best secret of the Mafia Island. The blue lagoon is a long channel linking the huge inland bay with the open sea that bisects the southern point of Juani. At the end of the channel is an enormous natural infinity pool whose level varies according to the tides. This excursion is the perfect late afternoon adventure suitable for everyone. The journey to the channel itself takes 30 minutes from the beach and boasts stunning views of the southern section of the archipelago. As you seem to sail endlessly with no channel in sight, all of a sudden a crack in the island comes into view. Bordered on either side with lush mangrove forests, the journey down the amazon-esque channel is filled with hues of green and blue and highlighted by the many bird species huddling on the banks of the water.

After a short journey, winding around azure corners, you end up at the end of the channel, flanked by small islets and the mainland of Juani on either side and a spectacular view of the fierce Indian Ocean in front. The blue lagoon has a welcoming, sandy bottom and shallow water making it the perfect place for a refreshing swim with unimaginable views. For the more adventurous among us, there is the possibility to take a short trek through Juani and come to just one of many natural pool’s that can be found. Here one can jump in the water with a mask and admire the dramatic underwater, algae-dominated landscape and quirky upside-down jellyfish.