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All 6 Mafia Island accommodations »

Pole Pole Bungalows

4.0 of 5
Utende Beach, Mafia Island, Tanzania
Hotel amenities
5.0 of 5 stars 39 Reviews
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39 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
    33
    4
    1
    1
    0
Date Rating
Lucy O
Blantyre
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 6, 2012 NEW

We stayed at Pole Pole and loved it! The flight in is spectacular and we were greeted and whisked to the peace, quiet and solitude of Pole pole. I'm a keen diver and this certianly lived up to expectations. The dive centre was just up the beach and very well organised -as my first ocean dive seeing a turtle, shark... More

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Dan_Aurel
Zurich, Switzerland
Reviewer
5 reviews
1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 1, 2012

I enjoyed every single moment on Mafia Island's Pole Pole Lodge. Robyn, the utmost friendly and attentive hoste (manager) of the premises, does a marvelous job of letting you feel comfortably pampered and welcomed. The staff is equally joyful and kind and fulfilling every wish, before it's even spoken. The prepared food is of such delicious quality, that I felt... More

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Sarah H
Basel, Switzerland
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 26, 2012

After the mad rush of the Christmas season, we arrived to Pole Pole for a new year's rest and rejuvenation in the quiet of a secluded resort under the tropical sun. The relaxed and friendly nature of the ever sunny Robyn our host ensured our needs were met, Each meal was a culinary delight, a combination of local food with... More

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Walter T
Wettswil, Switzerland
2 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 15, 2012

After two weeks of thrilling fotosafari in West- and South-Tanzania, we spent a very relaxing holiday-week in the Pole Pole Resort. We estimated specially the quiet athmosphere, the excellent kitchen and the kind and very friendly service of the personnal and the management. We enjoyed also the individually offered excursions and we will never forget the snorkelling trip to the... More

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Timothy-ta
Germany
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 30, 2011

Pole Pole provides the perfect place to relax after a week of Safari. We were very happy we chose Mafia Island over Zanzibar. Bungalows at pole pole were very good, with gorgeous surroundings and above all fantastic food. This was - without a doubt - the best food we had in Tanzania. We didn't go diving, but still preferred our... More

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ByronEdinburgh
Edinburgh
Reviewer
5 reviews
7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 7, 2011

After a week on safari in the Selous. A few days at Pole Pole was the perfect place to relax, in beautiful surroundings, tremendous food and a delightful host in Robyn. We enjoyed it immensly. The beach, sailing on Dows to surrounding Islands, the sea and sea life, visiting the nearby village, lovely people including delightful Masai and "Rasters" ,... More

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Leagle
London, England
Contributor
11 reviews
18 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed September 20, 2011

Mafia Island is probably the way that Zanzibar was years ago. The airport is tiny with a bougainvillea draped “waving bay” and the 20 minute drive to Pole Pole on a rutted unpaved road was hair-raising (well, it was my first rural African driving experience) but Pole Pole was an oasis of pleasure when I reached it. The food was... More

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NuNu1980
Cairns, Australia
Contributor
18 reviews
6 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed February 3, 2011

We stayed at Pole Pole after visiting the game parks in Tanzania and as a quieter alternative to Zanzibar. We were really happy with the resort, it was really relaxed, had great service, good food and was right on its own private beach. We enjoyed taking little excursions each day, most of which were included in the price. A highlight... More

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DreamOcean
Madison, Wisconsin
Contributor
17 reviews
15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 20, 2011
2
people found this review helpful

We were four friends meeting up on Mafia Island as a reunion of sorts- all of us marine lovers who have been all over the world to beautiful snorkelling/ diving islands... we knew it would be beautiful and fun, but we really had no idea what we were in for and how much Pole Pole would impress us. Our accommodation... More

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wonderingminstrel
Frankfurt, Germany
Reviewer
4 reviews
6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed November 7, 2010
1
person found this review helpful

We stayed at pole pole for 5 nights - and did not want to leave! Every minimal detail has been thought of and the service is absolutely impeccable. Staff is fantastic, both in pole pole and at the dive centre. Highly, highly reccomended! More

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