Pole Pole Bungalows – Luxury Eco-Lodge on Mafia Island, Tanzania

About Pole Pole Bungalows

Pole Pole — meaning ‘slowly, slowly’ in Swahili — is a small, Italian-managed eco-lodge on the southeast coast of Mafia Island, perched on a gentle hillside overlooking Chole Bay within the Mafia Island Marine Park. The property is considered by many to be Africa’s most exclusive eco-resort, not for its size or glamour, but for the quality of the experience it delivers: utterly private, individually tailored days on one of the Indian Ocean’s most biodiverse marine environments, with extraordinary diving, snorkelling, whale shark encounters (October to March), and the unhurried pace of an island that has seen almost none of the commercial development that has transformed Zanzibar and the Kenyan coast. The lodge has barely nine bungalows and accepts only a handful of guests at a time.

Nine accommodations span five hillside Bahari Bungalows (twin or double, sea view), two Asali Family Bungalows (elevated, sleeping 4), the beachfront Alfajiri Suite (2 persons, private plunge pool), and the Alasiri Family Suite (4 persons, private plunge pool). All units are constructed from dark timber and thatch, furnished with Swahili carvings and Zanzibar antique pieces, and equipped with air conditioning, fans, hot water, and en-suite bathrooms. Full board is included, incorporating meals, tea and coffee, water, laundry, and one free excursion per day — from snorkelling in the Marine Park and sunset dhow cruises to Chole Island cultural visits. The lodge’s 5-Star PADI Dive Centre is next door.

• 9 bungalows: Bahari (hillside, sea view), Asali Family, Alfajiri Suite and Alasiri Suite (both private plunge pool)
• Pool; restaurant; bar (well-stocked); spa; WiFi; laundry; full-board; Italian-managed
• One free excursion/day; whale sharks Oct–Mar; 5-Star PADI centre adjacent; Chole Bay, Mafia Island Marine Park