Mafia Island's appeal is almost entirely marine. The 822-square-kilometre Mafia Island Marine Park established in 1995 protects one of East Africa's least-disturbed reef systems, and the combination of whale sharks in Chole Bay (October to March), excellent diving on relatively undisturbed coral, and a slow, quiet pace on land is what makes the island special. This is not a place for nightlife or resort lounging — it is a place for the water.