Pole Pole, Mafia Island

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Hotel overview

Pole Pole is renowned for its great cuisine, unpretentious and laid-back atmosphere, and warm hospitality. Balancing luxury with respect for local culture and environment, it is the perfect place to relax after a safari, and the ideal base for exploring both the island and the underwater wonders of Mafia. The main areas are built with high thatched ceilings and natural fabrics with an open-plan lounge and dining room with comfortable furniture, simple but very pleasant.

The hotel has just 7 en-suite rooms, including 2 suites. These rooms are elegant and spacious and set among the coconut palms overlooking the beautiful Chole Bay. Because of the tides swimming in the sea is not always possible here but, in those instances, just retreat to the lovely swimming pool or make your way through the mangroves to a beach that you can swim at all day. The clock behind the bar here stopped working a long time ago, it doesnt matter, time doesnt matter here.

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Quirky excursions

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Walking tour of Stone Town

Stone Town is a fascinating place and is a real melting pot of architecture, culture and religion: a place of winding alleys, bazaars, grand Arab houses and impressive mosques. A half-day guided walking tour is the perfect way to explore and visit the key highlights, including the House of Wonders, the Anglican Church, Sultan Palace Museum and the Arab fort to name but a few. The guides have an impressive range of knowledge and bring the town to life! We suggest going in the afternoon, as this is when the bustling food market at the end of the tour is at its most vibrant, whilst you can also see the local children diving into the sea from the harbour wall.

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Diving the Pemba Channel

With its clear and warm Indian Ocean waters, the diving in Zanzibar is some of the best in both Africa and the Indian Ocean. There really is something for everyone, whether you are trying diving for the first time or are a seasoned veteran: with coral-gardens, wrecks, underwater Mountains and long plunging walls. With visibility often reaching 20+ meters, you are sure to see a true and vast variety of underwater life, with some highlights including turtles, seahorses, reef sharks, cuttlefish and many different varieties of shrimp. Our favourite operator for diving is the Rising Sun Dive Centre located at the Breezes Beach Club Hotel: the staff are incredibly friendly, the equipment superb and the range of dive sites is extensive and adaptable to suit all tastes.

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Kite Surfing in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is the perfect destination for water activities: whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned pro, kite surfing is a real highlight. The coral reef lies around one kilometre away from the shore and between that and the beaches sits plenty of flat water that is perfect for the sport. For the more experienced surfers, the reef offers some fantastic waves and is also easily reached. This is a sport that many pick up very quickly and thoroughly enjoy, although the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and powder white beaches definitely help!

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