26 March 2024
The District Commissioner of Mafia Island, Mrs. Aziza Mangosongo and Alain St. Ange, the former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine of the Seychelles have had a meeting on a pristine beach setting of the island, where they both discussed cooperation on tourism as an industry.
A part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, Mafia is and surrounded by some of the richest coral reefs in the world. Almost half of Mafia’s coastline is part of the Mafia Island Marine Park, a park full of coral reefs, mangrove forests and lagoons. This is the largest protected area in the Indian Ocean. The barrier reef is a dream to divers and snorkelers.
It has 50 different corals and more than 460 species of fish! Mafia’s incredible and pure dive spots have remained a well-kept secret. Mangrove forests surround most of the island; therefore the deserted beaches are not as wide as the ones in Zanzibar, yet still beautiful. The dazzling marine life is the main feature of the island. This is the place to spot humpback whales, turtles and the biggest fish on earth – the whale shark.
It is undoubtedly the best dive location in Tanzania. It’s a small haven that has a lot to offer and, quite exquisitely, is also suitable for less experienced divers. The reefs of the archipelago offer a staggeringly beautiful and varied display of marine life. The diversity of animal and plant life is hard to match, with over 50 types of corals and 400 species of fish so far identified. On top of that, the island offers one of the world’s best opportunities for snorkeling with whale sharks!
District Commisioner Mangosongo is pushing a tourism industry vision and is seeking professional expertise and support in order to increase the visibility of her island, to attract investors and to put forward the USPs of Mafia Island which includes whale shark viewing excursions that remains close enough to shore.
In a press meeting that followed the official meeting both Mrs. Mangosongo and Mr. Alain St. Ange expressed their commitment to explore further possible cooperation avenues including organising for press to visit the Mafia Island.
The DC of Mafia Island will be discussing further the points raised with her island administration and is set to communicate with Mr Alain St. Ange in writing on the island’s chosen approach for cooperation.
Mr. St. Ange who currently heads his “Saint Ange Tourism Consultancy,” had landed on Mafia Island as part of a shore excursion for passengers of a luxury cruiser that had entered Tanzanian waters.
