Pole Pole

Pole Pole, considered one of the most exclusive eco-resorts in the world, is renowned for its great cuisine, unpretentious and laid-back atmosphere, and warm but discrete hospitality. Balancing luxury with respect for local culture and environment, it is the perfect place to relax after a safari, and the ideal base for exploring the underwater wonders of Mafia Island.

Pole Pole is located in the Chole Bay area, near Utende village on the southeast coast of the Mafia Island Marine Park. It lies on the beach, within a tropical garden, overlooking a spectacular view of the Mafia Archipelago and the Indian Ocean.

You can enjoy a relaxing body massage using essential oils in Pole Pole’s peaceful massage center overlooking the beach. In the marine park you can enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing and visiting the local villages. Pole Pole Resort organizes boat excursions and picnics to isolated islets, sandbanks or islands every day, according to the tide.

Seven Luxury Bungalow Suites, elegant and spacious, are set among the coconut palms overlooking the bay. The rooms are furnished with carved and antique pieces. Twin and double beds are available and an extra bed can be provided. Two bungalows are ‘family’ type with two rooms separated by the bathroom and a small corridor for privacy. The large private verandahs are furnished with a Zanzibari bed, chairs, table and an armchair. Each bungalow is self-contained, the bathroom is spacious and comfortable. There are two ceiling fans, one on the verandah and one in the bedroom above the bed.

The most outstanding dive site in Mafia Island is Chole Bay. It is a vast circular bay where the depth goes from 15 to 90 feet. The continuous replacement of waters due to the tide offers an excellent environment, which has brilliantly defended itself from the calamity El Nino.

The reefs of the archipelago offer a staggeringly beautiful and varied display of marine life. The excellent condition and high diversity of the reefs stimulated the creation of Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania's first marine park.

Examples of most kinds of tropical marine habitat occur here, including exposed fringing reefs, rock walls, soft coral and algae-dominated reefs. The diversity of animal and plant life is hard to match, with over 48 genera of coral and 400 species of fish so far identified. There are excellent examples of giant table coral, delicate seafans, whip coral, and huge stands of blue-tipped staghorn coral.

Last but not least, it is possible to swim with whale sharks, one of the most exciting encounters sea lovers can dream of. The Dive Center offers great diving for advanced and novice divers in safety under professional PADI instruction.