• A leaning palm tree over the empty white beach at Ras Kisimani, with shallow turquoise water and wide sky, Mafia Island
    Ras Kisimani

Ras Kisimani, a Beach Day on Mafia’s Southern Tip

A leaning palm tree over the empty white beach at Ras Kisimani, with shallow turquoise water and wide sky, Mafia Island

On the southern tip of Mafia Island lies Ras Kisimani, “the place of the well” in Swahili. Today it has one of the longest and most secluded white sand beaches on Mafia, and our boatmen take you there by boat for a full day on the sand.

A long, quiet beach and a seafood barbecue

By road, Ras Kisimani can only be reached at low tide, over an old wooden bridge. Our boatmen take you at high tide, and prepare a seafood barbecue while you relax on the sand and swim in the clear water.

Centuries of history at the place of the well

From the mid-11th to the 14th century, Ras Kisimani was a thriving settlement with a grand palace. Nearby are the ruins of a hotel that never opened, with its rooms, restaurant and long-forgotten swimming pool. At the far southern end of the beach is a small fishermen’s village.

The trip runs for a minimum of two guests.

Our managers plan the next day’s activities with you each evening.

See prices for this and all our activities (PDF)

Details

Duration: Full day

Start Location: Chole Mjini

Departure Times: Planned each day around the tides

Highlights

  • One of the longest, most secluded beaches on Mafia
  • “The place of the well”, a settlement from the 11th to the 14th century
  • A seafood barbecue prepared by our boatmen
  • Swimming in clear water
  • The ruins of a hotel that never opened
  • A small fishermen’s village at the far end of the beach