Chole Mjini Treehouse Lodge - An Exclusive Island Retreat in East Africa’s Largest Marine Park

Escape to a secluded tropical island sanctuary and bring your dream holiday to life at Chole Mjini Treehouse Lodge. Located within the largest marine park in East Africa, just off the Tanzanian coast, this eco-lodge on Mafia Island in Tanzania offers a rare and authentic experience — far removed from conventional resort tourism.

Chole Mjini provides a unique opportunity to stay in open-air treehouse accommodation, carefully designed to harmonise with the natural environment. If you are seeking a peaceful, meaningful, and unforgettable island escape, this is the destination you have been searching for.

Accommodation: The Treehouses at Chole Mjini

With only seven individually designed treehouses, each discreetly positioned amidst lush vegetation, privacy and tranquility are guaranteed. These elevated, thatched platforms are open to the elements, offering an immersive experience in nature without compromising on comfort.

Each treehouse features:

• A spacious king-size bed as its central feature
• Sea views from every platform
• Direct access via winding, sandy paths through tropical forest
• The calming sounds of the tide through nearby mangrove roots
• Multi-level layouts in most treehouses to accommodate families with children
• These accommodations are intentionally rustic yet romantic, offering a rare sense of simplicity, beauty, and connection to nature.

Dining: A Culinary Journey Under the Stars

Guests at Chole Mjini are invited to dine in a series of distinct and atmospheric settings, changing nightly to enhance the sense of occasion. Whether returning from a sunset sail or watching the moon rise over the bay from the Red Herring Café or Hanashi Rooftop Bar, evenings transition into memorable candle-lit dinners beneath the stars.

Dining options include:

• A communal dinner-party table for those who enjoy shared stories and connection
• Private, romantic settings, including:
• Ancient ruins entwined with fig tree roots
• The jetty, beside the ocean’s gentle murmur
• Beneath a majestic tamarind tree
• Along the beach or in a hidden garden alcove.

The cuisine is globally inspired, with a strong Swahili-Indian influence, celebrated for its nuanced use of coconut milk and aromatic spices.

The menu highlights include:

• Fresh seafood, caught and delivered daily
• A wide selection of salads and seasonal vegetables
• Menus that cater to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets
• No pork is served, and meat or poultry options are offered infrequently.

Experiences & Activities

Chole Mjini offers a diverse range of tide-dependent activities, thoughtfully planned each day to suit a wide variety of interests and age groups. Whether you seek marine adventure or quiet natural beauty, your stay can be as active or as relaxed as you desire.

Turtle Hatchings on Juani Island (June – December)

Adrmire the hatching of turtles from the comfort of the beach between the months of June to December making for a once in a lifetime experience.

Marine and Wildlife Experiences

Whale Shark Encounters (October – March)
Includes road transfers, breakfast, orientation briefing, snorkeling gear, and refreshments.

Whale Watching Tours (August – September)

A full-day excursion including a briefing, on-board refreshments, snorkeling at Mange or Kitutia Reef, a picnic lunch on the sand cays, and return by traditional dhow.

Water-Based Excursions:

• Scuba Diving
• Snorkeling in Chole Bay
• Stand-Up Paddleboarding Tours
• Sunset Sailing
• Marimbani Sandbar Picnics
• Island Hopping & Exploration
• Jibondo Island
• Mange Reef & Kitutia Reef
• Bwejuu Island.

Each experience is curated to showcase the unique biodiversity, cultural heritage, and ecological richness of the Mafia Archipelago.

Chole Mjini is not just a place to stay — it is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience a way of life that is both grounding and inspiring. Whether you're watching the tide roll in beneath your treehouse or dining by candlelight under the African sky, every moment here is unforgettable.