Name: Chole Mjini
Address: Chole Island, Mafia Island, Mafia Island, Mafia Island, 0617, Tanzania
Rating: 10

Smoke-free property

Garden

Reception desk

General

Room service

Rooms

Ironing

Laundry

Safe-deposit box

Dry-cleaning

Services and amenities

Diet menu (on request)

Breakfast

Restaurant

Packed Lunches

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Airport transportation

Transfer

Library

Hiking

Fishing

Recreation

No parking

Parking

Next to the beach

Pool and beach

Conference Hall

Business

Diving

Cycling

Snorkelling

Sports

Beauty and wellness

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Mafia Airport

Chole Mjini

Mafia Island

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

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limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

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not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

MAGICAL! The word to describe our experience at Chloe Minji Treehouse Lodge is magical. My wife and I chose Chloe Minji as the final stop of our trip to Tanzania. From the moment of our first interaction via email, the staff was responsive to our questions and made sure we had all the necessary information to make our stay memorable. We were greeted at the Mafia Island airport by a driver in a Chloe Minji staff shirt. After a 20 minute drive to the dock with a stop to pay the marine park fees, we were taken by boat for the short ride to Chloe Minji. During our briefing on the property, we enjoyed fresh coconut. We stayed in the Moja treehouse which is built around an ancient baobab tree using locally sourced materials. The 180 degree uninterrupted view of Chloe Bay over the mangroves was incredible. The newly refurbished room with 2 sinks and toilet was an added bonus. The private outdoor shower, set among bamboo trees was awesome! The lodge is set among pre colonial and colonial ruins. The staff take great care of the property. We enjoyed watching the sunrise from our bed and daily coffee service on our deck. We were able to watch the sunset each evening from the Red Herring Bar where you can access free Wi-Fi.  The meals were delicious and varied each day. Meals times are flexible around activities that you may do during your stay. We spent an afternoon on the sandbank where lunch was provided and my wife did a cooking class with the lovely chefs where she cooked a shrimp curry and chipati with the help of translation provided by Hassan. Staff was attentive and even offered to teach us some Swahili. Roger and Jay checked in with us daily to ensure we had what we needed. We  enjoyed talking with Hassan about the history of the island and surrounding area. We met some fellow guests and arranged to eat some meals together. A true magical, relaxing stay at this incredibly special lodge.

Magical memories!

Thanks so much Flore and Kevin for the great time at your lodge. I stayed 3 days and had a wonderful time. The tree house number Saba is fantastic. My first time in life swimming in a pool right in the tree. Living now already 20 years in Tanzania and having visited many hotels I have to say that Chole Mjini is the top! Your staff is so friendly and takes really care. I enjoyed much the visits in the village exchanging with the villagers and learning their island life. The highlight was the turtle hatching at the neighbouring island. 
It is great to see how your lodge is interacting with the village, creating employment and income for many young people, enabling several youth to go for studies on the mainland and to support community based projects. 
I will certainly come back to this heaven on earth! Asante sana. Merci beaucoup.

Heaven on Earth

I have traveled extensively and this is definitely the most authentic hotel I have ever stayed at. Everything was perfect and all the staff is brilliant. The managers Kevin and Flore make such a great job making people feel like home and helping you to plan your activities. I will definitely come back. Asante Sana!

Best Experience Ever

Chole Mjini Lodge, nestled on a little island in the Mafia island Marine park, is a slice of paradise where nature and comfort blend seamlessly. The tree houses, especially the Nne room, offered a unique experience, perched close to the water. Each morning, we were greeted by the soothing sound of waves and the melody of birds, as the sun broke the horizon - a perfect start to any day.

Throughout our week-long stay, we engaged with fascinating fellow guests, adding a rich social dimension to our retreat. My teenage daughters embarked on a journey to earn their open water dive licences, opening up a world of underwater wonder. We were mesmerised by the vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life in the area.

The lodge's friendly staff and activities, including unforgettable memories of swimming with whale sharks and chilling on a beautiful beach that appeared at low tide, were superbly organised, ensuring we enjoyed every moment. We will definitely visit Chole again.

This tranquil and activity-rich haven stands out for its commitment to inclusivity and sustainability. It's more than just a holiday destination; it's an immersive experience where relaxation, adventure, and eco-friendly practices coexist beautifully. Can highly recommend this lodge. For a few days, a week or even months. :-)

A tranquil, activity-rich haven!

A truly unique place worth staying at if one is traveling in the area. Highly recommended. Among our best experiences during our stay was a morning stand up paddle-trip alone around Chole. They also have all the other activities you could desire in terms of diving, whale shark trip etc. I also want to underline the uniqueness of this place at night - candles, stars and the sound of waves.

A MUST if one is traveling in the area

Wow wow WOW!! Where to begin- I truly cannot express how much of a GEM this place and the island where it is located is!! 5 stars just does not do it justice! From the company’s ethos (I try to travel as sustainably as possible and I was blown away by all of the work they do for the environment, wildlife, and the local village), to the accommodations themselves (I stayed in Nne, which included a private pool, en suite with flushing toilet, and electricity- little luxuries!), everything was over the top wonderful. The staff was so kind, welcoming, and attentive- I was by myself at the hotel for a night, and they made sure I was not dining alone, yet still managed to give me enough space to relax and unwind on my own. Additionally, I am vegetarian and the food was incredible! I never felt hungry or like I was missing out. The tours were EXCELLENT- some of the best I’ve ever experienced at a hotel, and so affordable! They took me off the typical tourist path to swim, watch the sunset, and have a beach picnic. They also were incredibly patient and accommodating when I expressed my fear of the open water, and even held my hand (literally and figuratively) until I felt comfortable. I truly feel like I was able to experience personal growth and soul reawakening at this amazing property on the tiny island of Chole. I was so blown away that I was holding back tears upon leaving. I plan to return again and again, and cannot wait to tell others about it! Thank you, Chole Mjini, for making my trip more memorable than I ever thought possible. <3

A hidden gem of East Africa!!

We had the most wonderful 3 nights at Chole Mjini Lodge and filled our days with the many activities offered through the lodge. The hospitality and service from Kevin and his team was unmatched, and we really enjoyed our community table dinners (and the amazing food!). Mafia island and Chole are such stunning, unique corners of the world and we feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit. The treehouses are pure magic - we watched many sunrises and sunsets from our "tea house" on the top floor of the Nne treehouse. Highly recommend staying here for the perfect mix of unwinding and enjoying all the water adventures!

A truly unique place

An astonishing experience. Chole Mjini is  basically a lovely stretch of land, next to the mangroves, built around a lot of 19th century ruins, with five wonderful treehouses which are marvels of engineering. Each is different and wonderful in its own way. (No.4 has a jawdropping view; no.3 has a room down in the mangroves where you can see fireflies at night, and a paradise flycatcher flew by my face while I was reading.) The houses are spectacular and have to be seen to be believed. The sides are open so you can wake up to the dawn, or sit in your room without feeling you're missing out on time in the island because of the view. (The treehouses are set well apart from one another so you aren't seen.)

There's no electricity except solar. Solar lights are provided at night if you want them, though the paths are lit by paraffin lamps. Wifi/charging is available. Once you see the stars, with the Milky Way clearly visible, you won't regret the low lighting. 

The bed is mosquito netted and sprayed for you, but we gave an additional spray before bed anyway. 

Toilets are on the ground. The loos are drop toilets, which is very eco and perfectly fine, though the enclosed space is necessarily dark and may have geckos. The showers are outside, and work brilliantly: you have to use a paraffin heater to warm the water, which is incredibly quick, but frankly a cold shower was fine in the heat anyway. A bucket is provided in the treehouse in case you need to go in the night but don't fancy the stairs/walk to the loo. Washing facilities in your room are a bucket of water and a basin. Chole Mjini is luxurious in a lot of ways but if you demand bathroom luxury, it won't be for you. There is, however, value in getting over yourself. Also, my 14yo son was immensely taken with the whole piss bucket concept and may possibly want one for his room now. 

The food is if anything a bit fancier than I felt necessary, with formally plated sit down meals which are three-course in the evening. It was absolutely delicious throughout. The staff are lovely. There's filtered drinking water available throughout the lodge and in your treehouse.

It is really expensive, no question, with cocktails at $10 (though if you sit with a cocktail watching the sunset and the fruitbats coming flying in from Mafia as the light fades, it's hard not to feel it's worth every penny). But considering the engineering, the beauty, the admirable commitment to eco tourism (you are encouraged to take your plastic waste home and told clearly about the problems of disposal) and the support of local people, plus the super helpful and charming staff, it was absolutely worth the splurge. I mean, I asked about the game bao, and one of the staff (Jay) sat down and took an hour to teach and play with me. Experience of a lifetime. 


Experience of a lifetime

All good experiences comes to an end but the magic is that many of them lasts and can bring back wonderful memories in everyday life. Chole is such a magic place! To wake up to birds singing, sun warming, greenery and flowers when you glance out from your bed is impossible to get bored with. I tried my best to memorize every moment and even record the best parts. It will be like vitamins on a rainy and dull day back in Stockholm, Sweden.

Chole beats Zanzibar by far!

We arrived fresh from 36 hours of travel ex Melbourne. I'd been worried about pushing on with the small plane to Mafia and boat trip at the end of the long trip but I am SO GLAD we didn't waste a night at a hotel in Dar because waking up here was SOMETHING ELSE!! It was the best way to get over jet lag! We had 4 days here and enjoyed relaxing days sprinkled with activities: snorkelling was lovely on day one, Whale Shark tour on day 2 was great- please use these guys and don't book any other operator, they are pioneers and REALLY know what they are doing, not everyone out there did. We had a rough day with sea sickness so be prepared for that (we didn't take any precautions and wish we had)  but well worth it! We did the sunset cruise which was breathtaking- sunsets from anywhere are to die for at Chole, especially from the bar! If you do the cruise, they might not tell you to pack your wading shoes for the return so make sure you are prepared for wet legs! All part of the fun. The vibe here is just awesome, you have complete privacy and we loved the outdoor shower, but equally, loved meeting other travellers and having shared meals in awesome locations on the island- old temple ruins for example, or right over the ocean. The owners- we were fortunate to meet Jean and Anne and new owner Kevin- joined for dinner and are all such interesting well travelled people! We also loved that Chole supports a community and has done for 25 years, establishing schools and health care. We would far rather be supporting a locally owned business! We did a tour of the old Arabic ruins on Juani island (you walk/wade there) and that was fascinating! Wifi is available for limited hours in the bar at reception, but it was enough to keep the teenager at bay and we loved the forced disconnect, it was the absolute best way to start our big Tanzanian adventure. We would absolutely go back here!!!!! 

Chole Mjini

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General

Rooms

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Meals

Internet

Transfer

Recreation

Parking

Pool and beach

Business

Sports

Beauty and wellness

Pets

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Paid on the spot

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