MAFIA ISLAND MARINE PARK
To protect an
internationally significant ecosystem, the Mafia Island Marine
Park (the first in Tanzania)
(map) was opened in July 1995. The project is backed
by the WWF
which contributes human and financial resources for its development
and maintenance. The village is equipped with a diving centre
awarding international PADI diving certificates.
The archipelago is formed of a number of very large islands
and small uninhabited coral atolls. Due to its position alongside
the barrier, the island is the meeting place of large oceanic
fish and the the vast variety of fish common to the Indian Ocean
coral reefs. There are over 400 species of fish in the park.
The Park is a paradise for both expert scuba divers as well
as those wishing to snorkel or sail in the native local boats
from island to island
The Mafia archipelago forms
part of the coral reef protecting the coast of Tanzania. It
is situated about 130 km south of Dar es-Salaam and about 25
km from the mainland, looking towards the huge Rufiji river
delta which shaped the island and influenced its ecosystem by
supplying nutritional substances at the base of a complex food-chain.
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On land, the rich variety of vegetation is dominated by large
palm groves. In some areas you will find baobab trees dotting
the typical African savannah. The mangroves play an extremely
important role by preventing coastal erosion. There are also
fruit trees in many areas, mainly mango and cashew trees.
The archipelago's wildlife is extremely
varied: monkeys, small antelopes, wild pigs, lemurs, as well
as a small colony of dwarf hippopotamuses. There are countless
types of birds undergoing significant seasonal variations
according to the passing migrants. Falcons and fish eagles
build their nests on both the small and larger islands.
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