The reason for this designation is because of the huge variety and quality of coral and small fish species that are to be found here. Not only that, but the enclosed nature of the bay means that the coral here was protected from the bleaching effects of El Nino and remains in perfect condition.
On the tiny island of Chole in the Mafia archipelago, within Tanzania's first Marine Park, you will find Chole Mjini, set amongst lush jungle, overgrown orchards and mangrove forest. Named after the ruins of a once thriving trading center between the Sultanates of Kilwa and Zanzibar.
Mafia Island is part of an incredibly important protected eco-system here in Southern Tanzania, which encompasses the Selous Game Reserve (the largest game reserve in Africa) and the vast mangrove swamps of the Rufiji River Delta (one of the most important fish spawning locations on the East Coast of Africa) and the lagoons of the offshore islands (which have some of the best preserved coral structures in the Indian Ocean).
Chole Island itself is at the heart of Africa's largest marine park here on Mafia. This park was established because of the amazing diversity of marine and terrestrial wildlife that it contains and these days people travel from around the world to dive here.
