Kinasi Lodge Hotel is a small private lodge situated in a coconut and cashew plantation facing Chole Bay on Mafia Island. The intention behind the design and existence of Kinasi was to create a luxury resort that was relaxing and stylish, and with a very personal feel; this vision was achieved. Kinasi Hotel Lodge is beautifully furnished with antiques and handcrafted furniture, made especially for the lodge to their own specifications.

Mafia Island is approximately 30 miles off the Tanzanian coast, about 45 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam and one hour from the Selous Game Reserve and Zanzibar Island. The island was a regular stop for two thousand years for Arab and Persian dhows plying the coastal waters from the Gulf to Madagascar and Mozambique. Chole Bay, Mafia's protected deep-water anchorage and the original harbor, is studded with islands, sandbanks and beaches. The clear, protected waters offer wonderful snorkeling, sailing and swimming.  Most of all there is tranquility and privacy in beautiful, natural surroundings and the friendly staff will do their best to look after you with service to your rooms, morning tea and coffee with fresh biscuits and cakes, sundowners and cocktails, delicious food and attention to any requests you may have.

Kinasi Lodge Hotel started as a private home, and that is how the guests to feel - as if they are in their own home. So enjoy Mafia and this little retreat we have created with all its activities. To add refinement there is a wine cellar with a signature wine list and an outdoor pergola cocktail bar, a spa with expert Thai personnel providing aromatherapy, Thai massage and hydrotherapy and a host of leisure time options for those after-work periods. Everything about this elegant hotel - from design and furnishing to our food & beverage and staff service - is done with a passion for perfection.

Kinasi Hotel opened its doors in 1996 onto a beach that is still quiet, on Mafia Island, within the Mafia Island Marine Park. Its main lounge, bar and dining area, as well as the cottages for it guests, all sit on a steep hillside over looking the sea. Meandering sandy paths lead between the different parts of the lodge, through immaculately-maintained gardens, and steps eventually take you down to the pool and the beach.

Kinasi Lodge Hotel feels like a combination of a small lodge with a resort. It only has 14 rooms and strives to maintain a personal feel, yet it has a very large pool, a serious spa.  Kinasi hotel owners are very family-friendly and there is a large family here. The swimming pool makes Kinasi the obvious choice on Mafia for families with active, younger children.

Kinasi Lodge Hotel Accomodation
Kinasi has grown out of the goal of creating a lodge-home on Mafia that offers all the freedom of a personal holiday residence with the needs of paying guests. The room designs, furnishings and finishes are eclectic, combining elements of coastal Tanzania, African, Indian and Arab cultures into a historically accurate "Shirazi" style that is unique to Kinasi. For example we have borrowed from the 12th Century style of embedding fine ceramic bowls and dishes in the walls of houses and mosques, first seen in Kilwa. They have also collected on Mafia old furniture and bric a brac and restored these items to furnish Kinasi, to prevent these leaving the island, as they are part of its mixed historical heritage.  Stunning materials from Spain (of Moroccon origin and design) have been used to refurbish the rooms and we have made all our own furniture and fittings to suit the needs and practicalities of being on the seashore - the damage of salt air, rain, wind and sun and the casualness of the lifestyle.
 
Cottages: Accommodation at Kinasi is provided in separate cottages that are widely spaced for total privacy.
 
Accommodate 28 guests as follows:
a suite with upstairs bedroom, air conditioning, stereo, mini-bar and lounge, verandahs and terraces
a family bungalow with two bedrooms sharing a bathroom (also suitable for triple or two singles)
eight cottages with very large double beds
ten cottages with large single beds (twin/double, as beds can be moved together)
All cottages are ensuite with hot water and have ample hanging space, a desk and chair, verandah chairs and table, double chaise (for full relaxation), full-length mirror, ceiling fan for cool air and power outlets in the bathroom for hair dryers and electric shavers. The cottages have walk-in mosquito nets that cover the beds completely, and have been designed for through-ventilation and coolness in all seasons.
 
Rooms: This is a short description of what you will also find in your room:
 
Safe drinking water is provided in the thermos on your table; do not drink the tap water although it is from our own wells. All the water and ice in the bar and dining room is safe to drink as it has been treated by chlorination and Katadyne filters.  The main switch for the shower hot water heater is to the right side of your mirror; put it on when you want to have a shower and please switch it off afterwards. The hot water comes on automatically when you switch on the single tap in the shower, and temperature is regulated by the dial on the top of the shower heater.
 
The fan switch is conveniently placed behind your bed and can be controlled from within the net.  The room staff will remove the bed cover and set your mosquito net in the early evening, and put on your bedside light. They may also light a mosquito coil which we ask you not to put anywhere near your net. When retiring to bed make sure the velcro tabs on your net are in place, to hold it securely closed.
 
There is a laundry bag in the bathroom for your clothes. In the bathroom you will also find two beach towels for your use on boats, beach or at the swimming pool (rather than the room towels). Just hang wet clothes, beach towels, etc. over the verandah railing to dry in the evening. Hang wetsuits under the side eaves to avoid direct sunlight.  Next to the toilet there is a small bucket receptacle for sanitary towels and similar non-biodegradable disposables. Please use it as our septic system is designed to pump all sewage to soakaways (for environmental reasons) and will be blocked by these items if flushed down the toilet.  

In bad weather the blinds on your verandah will be let down by the staff; this may happen at night so do not be alarmed if you hear them at work..The rooms at Kinasi are mostly very similar in build and style: all are brightly painted detached cottages, with stone floors and high thatch roofs. There are variations in layout and design; however this has little impact on the feel of the rooms. It simply means that some are better than others for converting into triples; ask us for details. In all of them, expect both Africa and Moroccan influences – with bright colours, Swahili furniture and high thatched roofs.  One key difference between the cottages at Kinasi is that not all have a view of the sea: the 'Garden view suites' are set slightly back, and look out onto the short, green lawns and gardens – whilst the 'Sea-front rooms' have a direct view of the sea, and are usually slightly nearer to the water. There is a small differential in the cost between these rooms.

Kinasi Lodge Hotel Restaurant
The dining room is appointed with crockery and hand-blown glassware made especially for Kinasi Lodge along with original works of art by East African artisans. Kinasi's catering is based upon locally caught seafood: fresh fish, prawns, crab, lobster, octopus and calamari, with fresh vegetables and fruit flown from the mainland. The breads, rolls, pizzas and variety of yogurts, preserves and sauces are all home made from traditional recipes. Seafood barbecues and Swahili cuisine are established Kinasi customs.

Breakfast is a relaxed affair – and timings are flexible. Though generally breakfast is served between 7.30 and 10am. There is usually a buffet with fresh bread, cereals and fruit – as well as a cooked breakfast on request.

Lunch is then served between midday and 2.30pm – often down by the swimming pool, although if it is windy it will probably be in the main restaurant. You will usually find a number of international style dishes on offer to chose from, ranging from lighter salads to a heavier main dish.

Dinner is usually at 7.30 in the evening – though timings for this are flexible. It's a slightly more formal affair than lunch, and usually in the main restaurant, consisting of three courses, followed by coffee or tea.

Kinasi Lodge Hotel Activities & Information
Honeymoons: Kinasi Lodge always organizes something special for honeymooners – you will be greeted with sparkling wine and be treated to a private seafood dinner. The happy couples also get one complimentary spa treatment!

Beach holidays: Kinasi has a great small beach in front of it – and many more can be reached by taking one of their activities in Chole Bay. It's a good lodge to relax by the beach – and also has a beautiful, large swimming pool.

Diving & snorkelling: Within the Mafia Island Marine Park – Kinasi offers great diving and snorkelling. Snorkelling trips inside Chole Bay usually cost $25, and take you out to a quiet and sheltered reef with an abundance of coral and fish. Diving can either be inside or outside of the bay, and is some of the best in East Africa.
Kinasi can organize babysitting on request – though they will need a bit of notice to provide this

Electricity : Lighting is mains electricity with 24-hour service, 220-240V, 50 cycle (three-pin square plugs)
 
Water : Water is provided from our own wells and is chlorinated and filtered automatically; safe drinking water is provided in all rooms in cold thermos jugs Lounge, Bar and Dining The Cocktail Bar will open at 1630 hrs when afternoon tea is served. There is an excellent selection of classic alcoholic cocktails and our own refreshing fruit cocktails.

Swimming Pool : Kinasi has a 12.5 metre swimming pool that is a focal point of the gardens, which are landsacepd around the natural slopes and valley in which the pool is situated. We dug the entire site by hand and poured all the concrete manually - a massive undertaking without a concrete mixer!

The Pavilion : The pavilion is the reception area of Kinasi and has leather furniture, our activities desk, books and games. We are also able to provide mini-conference facilities here. Flip charts, large-screen video, overhead and slide projectors are available. The pavilion also houses antique wood billiard table and is the main games area for those who wish to while away some time with chess, drafts, monopoly, bao, etc.
* Snorkelling and swimming around the islets and beautiful coral shelves of Chole Bay
* Scuba diving on reefs in Chole Bay, on walls outside the Bay and along the south-eastern reefs
* Scuba training to all levels from beginning to advanced and specialised courses
* Light sport fishing (trolling), bottom fishing and beach casting
* Sailing wind-surfers or traditional outrigger ngalawas with local fishermen (there are two windsurfs)
* Kayaking in our single person action kayaks or double touring kayaks (we have four kayaks)
* Daily boat excursions and picnics (combined with snorkelling) to isolated islets and beaches such as Kitutia, Ras Kisimani, Miewe, Mvinje, Marimbani Sand Bar
* Guided excursions to villages on the islands to see traditional village community life and economic activity, such as boat building and farming
* Boat and walking excursion to the ancient ruins of Kua on Juani Island and the water nature trail
* Road excursions to other parts of Mafia Island, such as Kilindoni, Ras Mbizi Plantation, Baleni Village
* Cycling (we have bikes for our guests to use)
* Nature walks and bird-watching through mangrove, inter-tidal flats and woodland, and on the reef flats
* Slide shows, are held in the evenings to complement the music centre, novels, magazines and the extensive library of books and articles on marine life, nature, history, archaeology, plants and gardening, design and decoration.
* Outdoor games available.