Mafia Island Whale Shark Conservation

Itinerary

You can join this project for 2 to 12 weeks, and we recommend a minimum of 3 weeks to ensure you have the best opportunity to see whale sharks and get involved in a variety of activities. Below is an example of a 3-week itinerary, but please be aware itineraries are subject to change.

Dates, Availability & Price

To secure a place on this project a deposit of $245 is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due any time up to 60 days prior to your start date.

Select a duration below to see the project start dates. Please note that this project does run every day of the week; so if your preferred date is not shown, please feel free to get in touch with our travel team and they will be more than happy to assist you. It is possible to add extra nights to the durations shown if necessary!

Updates & Outcomes

This project supports important ongoing marine conservation efforts and hosts research projects in an effort to learn more about whale sharks. Recently, the project hosted a team of researchers affiliated with the King Abdul University (KAUST) and the University of Queensland, funded by the WWF, who were looking at oceanographic factors influencing the occurrence and distribution of whale sharks in the Mafia channel. In previous years, the project has supported other integral WWF-funded whale shark research around Mafia Island.

Through the volunteer programme, the project continues to contribute to the global spot-pattern photo identification project which seeks to map the migration of whale sharks. Their location can be added to a worldwide database, which can then be extrapolated and utilised to assess the health of the species within the area.

The project is also designed to help research aspects related to tourist behaviour surrounding these magnificent sharks, such as adherence to codes of conduct and understanding the behaviour of whale sharks during encounters with tourists and fishermen.

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• posted on 04/12/2018
• by Michael Starbuck

This Christmas, why not try a bit of spontaneity? Take a look at our last-minute volunteering trips and aid the conservation of endangered species!

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International Whale Shark Day - A Majestic Species At Risk...Due To Tourism?

• posted on 22/08/2018
• by Leanne Sturrock

The 30th of August is International Whale Shark Day - but did you know that this majestic species is now endangered? From unsustainable tourism practices to the ever-looming threat of bycatch, read on to learn about the greatest risks facing this beautiful marine mammoth - and find out how you can help to protect it.

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• posted on 05/07/2018
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The 14th of July marks Shark Awareness Day - read on to discover why this incredible yet misunderstood animal is so vital to our world, and see how you can make a difference to its protection. From volunteering to education, tourism to recycling, we can all work to save one of the most famously maligned creatures on earth.

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Is this trip for you?

Accommodation

Whilst on the project you will be staying at the Magemani Camp which is situated right on the beach amongst the trees of an old coconut, mango and cashew nut plantation. Traditional thatched houses of different sizes make up the camp, which are shared, same-sex dorms that house two people per room. All dorms are equipped with beds, pillows, bed linen, mosquito nets and fans. In true 'bush style', the camp features dry, composting toilets and outside showers. Free Wi-Fi is also available for volunteers to use.

Accommodation Upgrade

If you would like your own room in the dorms, then you can do so for an additional fee of £20 per night. It is also possible to upgrade your accommodation whilst at the project to a private stilt house which is pictured here (subject to availability). The cost of this is $45 per night for solo travellers and $28 per person per night for couples. These prices are valid for the whole season except between December 20th and January 6th where the upgrade to stilt houses costs $90 per night for a solo traveller and $56 per person per night for a couple.

Meals & Beverages

Three meals of fresh local food are prepared here daily by local chefs, including a lot of fruit and seafood such as fish, octopus, and squid. Chicken and beef are also often served, and for vegetarians, there is plenty on offer. You will also be provided with tea, coffee and according to your preference, bottled or filtered water. Any extra snacks or drinks, other than what is mentioned, are not provided but can be purchased for an additional cost from the beach bar.

Fitness & Skills

To join this project, it is important that you are fit and healthy and are also a better than average swimmer. Before booking, you should understand that the in-water activities are physically demanding and, if you are deemed medically unfit, you may not be able to fully participate in the in-water activities and your time in the water may be restricted or, if necessary, totally curtailed.

You will also need to complete a short medical questionnaire and, if necessary, you may be required to obtain clearance from your doctor/physician.

Upon arrival, you will complete a swimming assessment to ensure you are able to take part in all aspects of the project and that you will be safe doing so. To fully participate you will be trained to do the following: pull yourself out of the water and onto the boat without assistance or ladder, swim alongside a whale shark for at least 10 minutes, assist others in the water if they are struggling, stay in the water for prolonged periods of time and free dive to 10 meters so that you can get below the whale sharks to check their sex. We therefore highly recommend improving your fitness and swimming abilities before arriving.

A dive qualification is not required for this project and almost all the work is done whilst snorkelling and skin diving.

Vaccinations

The vaccinations required will depend on the individual medical history of each volunteer. We recommend that you consult with your doctor/GP regarding your own vaccination needs as this will ensure you are protected and prepared to travel. Please also be aware that malaria is an issue here and the entire coast of Tanzania is a high-risk area, so it is important to take preventative measures. Additionally, although the yellow fever vaccine is no longer required, it is likely you will be asked to have one on arrival anyway, so we advise volunteers to arrange this at home and take the certification along with them.

Project Details

When Is The Best Time To Volunteer?

This project runs from October 1^st to March 15^th, as due to their migration patterns, this is the only time whale sharks can be seen around the island.

October – December: This is a popular time as the weather is often favourable, meaning you are likely to have a lot of opportunities to go out to sea to swim with the whale sharks.

January – March: The weather during these months can be varied, meaning there may be days when you are not able to go out to sea. During periods of bad weather, it is also more difficult to see whale sharks as they do not come to the surface to feed. These are, however, the best months to go scuba diving due to increased visibility. So, if you plan on diving during your free time, we recommend joining in these months.

The peak travel season for tourists is December 20^th to January 6^th, so if you join during this period, more time is spent assisting with whale shark tourism excursions.

Getting There

You will need to arrive at Mafia Island on your chosen start date with most flights going via Dar es Salaam.

To do this, we recommend arriving into Dar es Salaam (DAR) and then taking a domestic flight to Mafia Island. We recommend flying with Coastal Aviation or Auric Air as both offer direct flights from Dar es Salaam to Mafia Island. Please note, these flights depart from a different terminal (1.5km away), so please allow at least 2-3 hours between your domestic and international flights to get through security and make your connecting flight.

Alternatively, you may wish to arrive the day before your start date, stay overnight in Dar es Salaam, and take a flight to Mafia Island the next day.

Visa Requirements

Most nationalities can purchase a tourist visa upon arrival into Tanzania for US$50 (US$100 for US citizens). Tourist visas are valid for up to 3 months, although you will need to make sure that your passport has at least three blank pages spare. Alternatively, it is possible to purchase your visa prior to arrival, but please ensure to speak to your local Tanzanian embassy in advance to check their application requirements/processing time.

What's included in the price of the project?

• Airport Transfers
• Accommodation
• Three meals per day
• Tea, coffee and drinking water
• All activities, skills and theory classes
• Full support from the project team
• Wi-Fi

What's not included?

• All flights
• Visas
• Any extra excursions completed outside of the stated itinerary
• Soft or alcoholic drinks and extra snacks
• Snorkel equipment (you can bring your own or rent it from the project site for a small fee)