• Two whale sharks swimming in deep blue water off Mafia Island, with a shoal of small yellow fish beneath one of them
    Whale Sharks

Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mafia Island

A snorkeller with a camera swims alongside a whale shark in clear blue water, sunlight on its white spots, off Mafia Island.

It is one of life’s great privileges to swim alongside one of these gentle giants, and the season when these magnificent animals aggregate here is longer than anywhere else on the East African coast. Whale sharks are in Mafia's waters all year round, but they gather in the greatest numbers to feed at the surface from September to February, which makes them easier to find. Climate change is making the season harder and harder to predict, and in some years it starts as early as August.

How a whale shark swim works

Every trip begins with a safety briefing at Kitu Kiblu, our sister lodge on Mafia, before we set out by dhow. We take no more than eight guests per boat, for your comfort and to keep our impact on the whale sharks as small as possible. Our guides, trained by marine biologists, share what years of behavioural research have taught us about these gentle giants, and show you how to recognise avoidance behaviour, so you can swim alongside them without disturbing them. Travelling with small children? Please bring a life jacket that fits them.

Responsible encounters with whale sharks

In line with our commitment to conservation, we helped found the Mafia Island Whale Shark Conservation Society (WHASCOS). Every whale shark swim we run follows its codes of conduct for responsible encounters.

Book your whale shark swim

Our whale shark trips are run by Kitu Kiblu, Chole Mjini’s sister lodge on the beach at Kilindoni, just minutes from Mafia Airport, where every trip sets out. Book your whale shark swim with Kitu Kiblu.

Discover our other activities on Chole and Mafia Island

Two guides in blue shirts watch from the bow of a wooden dhow as snorkellers swim in the water below A snorkeller floats at the surface above a whale shark swimming through deep blue water Guests in masks and snorkels sit on the edge of a wooden dhow, ready to slip into the water Half above, half below the water: a whale shark’s dorsal fin breaks the surface under a cloudy sky Two guides in blue whale shark shirts stand on the bow of a wooden dhow, one pointing out to sea A whale shark feeds with its mouth open in turquoise water, surrounded by a shoal of yellow fish, a snorkeller above A whale shark feeds at the surface with its mouth wide open, reflected in the water above, a shoal of yellow fish below Two traditional wooden dhows wait on a calm, glassy sea off Mafia Island under a pale blue sky A whale shark swims just below the surface beside two snorkellers off Mafia Island Two whale sharks swim one behind the other just below the surface, among a shoal of small fish
Book with Kitu Kiblu

Details

From: $100 per adult with hotel pick-up and drop-off · $80 if you make your own way to the launch site · $75 if you’re staying at Kitu Kiblu

Duration: Usually about 6 hours

Start Location: Kitu Kiblu, on the beach at Kilindoni

End Location: Your hotel if you booked pick-up; otherwise Kitu Kiblu

Departure Times: 06.00 pick-up · 06.30 breakfast and safety briefing · 07.30 launch

Dropoff Time: Between 10.30 and 13.30, depending on the whale sharks

Dress: Swimwear and sun protection (hat and sunglasses)

Fitness Level: All ages and fitness levels

Pack: Equipment provided for adults. Life jackets for small children are not provided

Highlights

  • No experience needed, a swim with mask and snorkel
  • Swim alongside the largest fish in the ocean
  • Guides trained by marine biologists
  • No more than eight guests per boat
  • Learn to recognise avoidance behaviour, so the sharks are never disturbed
  • Sail out on a traditional wooden dhow from Kitu Kiblu, our sister lodge
  • A safety briefing before every trip