Pole Pole
7 nights Accommodation in a Bungalow with All meals
NOTE: $24 per Adult per day marine park fee to be paid by credit card on arrival at the Park
With just 9 stylish bungalows this wonderfully intimate beach lodge on the charmingly time-warped island of Mafia is the perfect place to escape for a romantic break or for world class scuba diving!
Delightfully small and private and very stylish in an understated way - we particularly like the use of the natural dark wood finishes, both in the original Bungalow rooms but particularly in the lodge's public areas
Fantastic scuba-diving and snorkelling is available on the famous reefs of Chole Bay - reached Mafia Island-style by traditional dhow (which is somehow just way more special than a modern speed-boat!)
During the summer months, head off to the other side of the island to look for (and if you're lucky enough) swim with the whale sharks that feed off Mafia's west coast - an unforgettable experience!
Gorgeous private balconies with day beds which just invite you to laze - or why not head for a relaxing massage at the duara just above the beach
Excellent Italian-accented food gets the consistent thumbs-up from guests - not to mention the friendly, personal service
Relax with the sundowner hand-delivered to your bungalow as you watch the nightly arrival of the giant fruit bats from nearby Chole Island as they fly overhead the lodge on their way to feed on the fruit plantations on Mafia!
The beach in front of the lodge isn't the greatest swimming beach - but you can always take a dip in the lodge's swimming pool or better yet head off by dhow to one of the pristine sandbanks in the bay
Mafia isn't the easiest place to get to - then again that's half the fun!
Being located in the Marine Park you have to pay a daily park fee in Dollars to the authorities there on arrival
the perfect place to retreat when you really want to get away from it all and relax in an atmosphere of blissful seclusion
In an increasingly over-commercialized and exploited world, the rural backwater of Mafia Island is just about as far as it is possible to get away from the beaten tourist track! In fact, we often describe it as being like Zanzibar was 50 years ago, with just a handful of intrepid travellers there to share its varied charms with you (despite being roughly a quarter of the size of Zanzibar, the tiny number of hotels on Mafia literally can be counted on the fingers of your hands - and with a couple of fingers still spare!) So it really is the perfect place to retreat to when you really want to get away from it all and relax in an atmosphere of blissful seclusion – and if that’s your aim then it’s hard to imagine a better place than Pole Pole!
Located on the island's east coast in the Chole Bay Marine Park, this tiny little lodge consists of just 9 simple but stylish bungalows overlooking a small beach area, a lovely little duara (a little thatched shelter just above the beach perfect for quietly contemplating the view), a small massage deck where we enjoyed a full body massage, an unobtrusive swimming pool located on top of the hill as well as a wonderfully intimate bar and lounge area. And that’s it – no games room, TV room or even music in the bar! And funnily enough, after the very ornate furnishings and stylizing of many of the other lodges these days, it was this very simplicity - in a superbly stylish way mind you - that made Pole Pole so appealing to us.
The lodge caters for both couples and families, with the 5 original Bungalows (sleeping a couple) located at the top of the hill enjoying gorgeous views down over Chole Bay. They're all sumptuous dark wooden floors and deck, with carved and antique furniture pieces and window shutters – offset beautifully by crisp whites and creams - and the overall effect is low-key yet classy. Then for families there are a couple of 2-bedroomed Asali Suites which have a double room and twin room separated by a corridor and so perfect for 2 adults and 2 kids. Probably the most desirable rooms are the 2 newer Luxury Bungalows (named Alasiri and Alfajiri) which are located just above the beach and which also boast plunge pools - again one of them sleeps 4 whilst the other caters for a couple) Unlike the original bungalows, the floors here are of slate rather than the dark wood of the original rooms. Finally the latest additions are the 3 Jua Seaview Suites located on the ridge with superb views out over the channel towards Chole island and which also feature their own private plunge pools!
Whichever room you choose to stay in, you'll find the lodge staff are wonderfully friendly and the service outstanding. Before dinner have a chat at the bar with fellow guests or the friendly lodge management - or perhaps play a game of bao (a traditional board game) with the friendly bar man! It’s also the perfect opportunity to plan your next day’s scuba diving or snorkelling (Chole Bay is home to some of the finest unbleached coral reefs in the Indian Ocean!), an excursion to the ruins and fascinating village on Chole Island, or perhaps a picnic (with fresh fish cooked over an open fire!) on a blindingly white sandbank or deserted beach - perfect for sun tanning and swimming in the crystal clear and warm cobalt blue waters. And the good news is that a daily dhow cruise into Chole Bay to go swimming or snorkelling is included in the rates! Venture across to the other side of Mafia Island during the summer months and you're likely to get the chance to swim with the whale sharks that feed off the west coast of Mafia - yet another unforgettable experience!
One of the things we loved about Pole Pole was the way a waiter arrived at 6PM every evening to take your drinks order – 5 minutes later you’re enjoying sundowners on your deck and watching the nightly flyover of the giant fruit bats from Chole Island across the bay as they come across to Mafia to feed - passing low overhead your vantage point, they make for an absolutely spectacular sight!