homepage   |    about mafia   |    history & culture   |    nature   |    kinasi   |    activities   |    excursions   |    doing nothing   |    logistics & services Home :: activities :: Walks and Bird-watching   Walks and Bird-watching Reef-walking The tidal reef in front of Kinasi is an excellent subject for the amateur naturalist. In the pools left by the receding tide you will find live cowries and other shells, small moray eels and juvenile fish, as well as a myriad of starfish. Fish eagles and palm nut vultures stalk the pools on the flats along with many waders and scavengers, and four species of mangroves grow side-by-side. On the outer edge a lovely, sandy beach gives way to the blue water of the channel at low tide.   Nature trail The Nature Trail starts at the Kinasi beach so is a very convenient excursion and full of interest. There are many native trees and excellent bird-watching along the trail, as well as the chance to see guenon (monkeys), the Sunni antelope, and the Elephant Shrew.   Village walks The favourite walking excursion is to Chole Island, just across from Kinasi, where a well-organised village development association encourages visitors to come and experience village life. There is also a nature taril culminating in the bat roost of the giant Comorian flying fox.   Utende village is also a good walk and is close to Kinasi and Jibondo Island is very interesting and very different from Chole.   All walks in Mafia are enjoyable as the people of Mafia are friendly and do not harass visitors for any gifts or money.   Bird-watching Bird watching in Mafia adds a very interesting dimension to a Tanzania wildlife safari, as the visitor will see many species of shorebird, including migrants such as the Crab Plover, and other species found in coastal thickets and mangroves that cannot be observed in the main land National Parks and Reserves. The visitor will see many sepctacular rollers (Lilac-breasted) and bee-eaters (White-cheeked) between Kilindoni and Kinasi, and there are five species of sunbird in the Kinasi gardens. The black or white Dimorphic Heron is the common species at roosts in Chole Bay. The Kinasi Nature Trail has been designed with bird-watching very much in mind.   For keen birders we will visit several sites so that you get to see the woodland, sea and shore and thicket species.   All walks are accompanied by our resident guide, the wonderful Mr Kirobo.    [ Top of page ] mangrove nature trail [+]   Village excursion, Ch... [+]   Kinasi nature trail [+]   Where is Kinasi Gallery CONTACT US Prices and Special Offers Enquiries & bookings Useful Web Links SIte Map