Flora and Fauna
Flora
In 1938 PJGreenway produced a detailed report on the vegetation of Mafia (The Natural History of Mafia Island, Tanganyika Territory EAAFRO Nairobi), which has been revised in 1988 by Rodgers, Wingfield and Mwasumbi (Kirkia 13 (I) 1988). In addition a complete survey and mapping of the mangroves of Mafia has been made. And in 1996 the completion of satellite imagery-based mapping of Mafia's land use was completed. Thus the natural vegetation of Mafia and farming areas are well known.
Mafia has been occupied for approximately 1,500 years so has been heavily modifiued by man, especially for agriculture. The introduction of coconut plantations and the cashew and mango trees have been most significant. The use of fire has particulalrly altered Mafia's vegetation as has clearing low-lying valleys for rice. This has meant the loss of much of the native high forest that thrived in such areas as a result of their high water tables.
Several beautiful examples of remnant high forest exist on Mafia, especially at Kitoni, Ngombeni and Chunguruma and in the north between Kanga and Bweni. We offer excursions to these and the protected Mrora Forest.
The whole south-facing side of Mafia from Ras Mkumbi to Chole Bay is the Mrora Forest, a dense, low coral rag forest (actually classified as evergreen coastal thicket) dominated by Commiphora species. It is completely impenetrable for much of its area.
Mangrove forests of four different species cover most of Mafia's coastline (Tanzania has seven species of mangrove) and they can all be seen on the one nature trail.
A high plateau north of Kanga is an open woodland with beautiful baobab trees, and has the multi-headed doum palm, the only coastal Acacia and the succulent Candelabra euphorbia.
A unique plant, known locally as mchati (Philippia mafiensis), is the only lowland heather in teh World and exists only on Mafia.
Fauna
The interesting terrestrial wildlife on Mafia includes galagos (bushbabies) that you will hear every night at Kinasi. There are also some hippos located in the pools in the centre of Mafia, the blue duiker, genets, sykes and vervet monkeys, the guenon, wild pigs and the large Pteropus fruit bat.
The butterflies of Mafia are particularly beautiful during the wet seasons and can be found in great abundance at Ras Mbizi and throughout the mangroves which are flowering during the rains.
Green and Hawksbill turtles lay on some of Mafia's remoter beaches, especially on the south-east coastline. There are four species of turtle found in Mafia's waters but the Green and Hawksbill are most common.
Humpback and pilot whales as well as whale sharks are frequently sighted, especially during the migratory seasons, especially February. While Eagle Rays have been frequently sighted on dives in June to September, but manta rays are not common.
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