Basecamp Mafía Island

Hotels
8.9 (42 reviews)
Utende Beach 13&14 , Utende , tz

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Non-smoking throughout
Staff adhere to local safety protocols
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Beautiful location
Clean and comfortable rooms
Cons:
High tourist tax
Food quality can improve

Categories

Cleanliness
9
The rooms were very clean and recently updated, contributing positively to the overall stay.
Service
9.4
Staff were extremely welcoming, friendly, and dedicated to meeting guests' needs.
Location
9.2
Perfect beach location with breathtaking scenery and proximity to dive shops.
Room Quality
8.6
While some rooms were small and outdated, the new King or family rooms are fabulous with wonderful views.
Amenities
8.8
Amenities like the beach bar and pool with ocean views were highlights during the stay.
Value for Money
8.2
The high tourist tax affected perceived value, although the overall experience was enjoyable.
Food and Beverage
8.9
Food quality was good with tasty options for meals, although there is room for improvement.
Overall Experience
9.1
Overall, the stay was amazing and guests felt as if they had found a hidden gem.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-09 13:26

Property Description

Outdoor Swimming Pool and Free Parking
Enjoy a refreshing dip in our outdoor swimming pool and take advantage of our free private parking facilities.

Diverse Dining Options
Indulge in a delicious breakfast spread with buffet, à la carte, and continental options. Savor African and Italian cuisine at our on-site restaurant, with special dietary requests accommodated.

Multilingual 24-Hour Front Desk
Our friendly staff fluent in English, Italian, and Swahili are available round the clock to offer helpful tips and assistance during your stay.

Experience the best of Mafia Island at Basecamp Mafía Island. Book now for an unforgettable getaway!

Important information:

This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

Check-in and check-out hours:

Location

Guest Reviews

8.9
Based on 42 reviews
Cleanliness: 9
Service: 9.4
Location: 9.2
Room Quality: 8.6
Amenities: 8.8
Value for Money: 8.2
Food and Beverage: 8.9
Overall Experience: 9.1
P
Pierrick couple fr
9
Pros:

La gentillesse du personnel

2026-03-14 via Nuitee
L
Lukas couple ch
10
Pros:

Great location, good value for money

2026-03-12 via Nuitee
S
Stephen family_with_children us
10
Great place to stay while diving-- can't wait to go back :)
Pros:

Very friendly staff, accommodating and helpful with our excursions.

Cons:

It rained, but we still had wonderful diving under the sea!

2026-03-09 via Nuitee
Y
yasmin lucila couple ar
10
Perfect!
Pros:

The hotel is just beautiful, they take care of every detail, the room is super big and confortable. The food is delicious and changes every day. The pool is huge and always clean, there are two bars and a restaurant with a good menu. But the most remarkable thing is the staff, from reception to every waiter/waitress, they are so kind and extremely helpful. We didn’t want to leave!

2026-03-06 via Nuitee
S
Sarah couple ch
8
Sehr schönes Resort im Naturschutzgebiet
Pros:

- Schöner ruhiger Strand mit Palmen & Liegen
- gute Lage für Schnorchelausflüge zu schönen Reefs
- Grosse Frühstücksauswahl mit frischen Eierspeisen, Früchten & Backwaren
- Renovierte Zimmer sind sehr schön modern & geräumig, mit schöner Aussicht, schnelles Internet
- Sehr schön gestalteter Aussenbereich & Restaurants
- schöner grosser Pool mit Wasserfall, Poolbar & Liegen
- Billardtisch
- freundliches Personal

Cons:

- Hotel liegt im Naturschutzgebiet = vor Ort ist zusätzlich eine Gebühr von USD 23.— pro Person & Nacht zu begleichen!! Diese Info steht weder bei Booking.com noch auf der Hotelwebseite!

- Preisleistung stimmt beim Abendessen nicht (kleine Portionen, lieblos angerichtet) Alternative Empfehlung: 2 lokale Restaurants am Strand (lecker, frischer & günstiger)

- Touren über das Hotel zu buchen war leider umständlicher & teuerer als bei den localen Anbietern (Hotel hatte auch nach einer Woche die Touren-Preisliste/Angebote noch nicht gefunden)

- Hatten Zimmer mit Kühlschrank, Wasserkocher & Internet gebucht - jedoch nicht erhalten, stattdessen Schimmel im Zimmer. Nach Reklamation erhielten wir an Tag 2 dann glücklicherweise ein renoviertes Zimmer was alles gebuchte enthielt.

2026-03-04 via Nuitee
L
Layla couple ch
10
The most wonderful time we spend in tanzania was with the support, heart, live from the whole Basecamp crew asante sana
Pros:

Super best Camp Hotel at Mafia Island and tanzani 🫶🥰♥️🤩🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Cons:

Everything Perfect

2026-03-02 via Nuitee
V
Victoria couple es
7
Experiencia con luces y sombras en un entorno privilegiado
Pros:

Un detalle que suma mucho es el personal de seguridad masái, que le da un aire simpático y exótico al lugar, aportando un toque cultural auténtico a la experiencia. La ubicación es excelente, justo en la misma playa de Utende y en el punto desde donde salen las excursiones para hacer snorkel y visitar Chole Island. Es muy práctico si quieres explorar el parque marino y moverte fácilmente en barco.

Cons:

Al principio fue bastante decepcionante debido a la habitación estándar que nos asignaron inicialmente. Estas habitaciones necesitan una renovación urgente. Todo lo metálico estaba oxidado, la puerta de la terraza no cerraba correctamente y, lo peor de todo, la humedad en las paredes era evidente. El olor a humedad era muy desagradable y nada saludable.
Además, la cisterna del baño dejó de funcionar en dos ocasiones. Después de la segunda vez, finalmente nos cambiaron a una habitación superior. Las habitaciones del lado derecho con vistas al mar son completamente distintas: más nuevas, mejor cuidadas y realmente merecen la pena. La diferencia respecto a las estándar es enorme.
Mi recomendación es clara: no reservéis las habitaciones estándar, la experiencia puede ser muy mala. Si vais, elegid directamente una superior con vistas al mar.
El desayuno está bastante bien, pero la comida o la cena dejan bastante que desear.

2026-03-02 via Nuitee
B
Bengt solo_traveller se
9
2026-02-22 via Nuitee
I
Ilaria extended_group it
10
Paradise stay
Pros:

Tutto!
Lodge fantastico, immerso nel verde delle alte palme e fronte spiaggia paradisiaca. Colori mozzafiato.
Personale gentilissimo, sempre pronto a soddisfare ogni nostra richiesta. Cucina deliziosa. Centro diving PADI associato di ottimo livello

Cons:

Nulla!

2026-02-14 via Nuitee
M
Muriel solo_traveller fr
10
BASECAMP, le paradis des plongeurs
Pros:

Très bel hôtel en bordure de plage avec une chambre très spacieuse avec vue mer, un très bon restaurant qui propose tous les jours un menu différent midi et soir servi par du personnel très souriant et attentionné. Piscine naturel et salon de massage au prix imbattable de 20 USD l’heure. Le tout dans une atmosphère très calme et sécurisé grâce au Massaï qui discrètement sont présents. Cerise sur le gâteau, un joli cadeau en quittant l’hôtel avec des produits locaux et surtout un bracelet personnalisé.

2026-02-11 via Nuitee
M
margareta extended_group sk
9
2026-01-24 via Nuitee
S
Sam family_with_children gb
10
2026-01-15 via Nuitee
F
Fabio couple it
10
Recommended!
Pros:

Our stay was absolutely wonderful and the staff was incredibly helpful and friendly from the moment we arrived. The room was very spacious and equipped with all the necessary amenities in a perfect position within the structure. We loved the location of the hotel because it is so close to the beach and makes everything very convenient. The food was delicious and offered vegetarian options while the staff was always available to find vegan solutions for us. One of the best parts was the collaboration with the local diving center because they come directly to the hotel to organize trips and dives for the next day. This means you do not have to go anywhere to plan your activities in the evening. The massages were also excellent and provided a great way to relax during the day. Overall there is a perfect holiday vibe at this place and we enjoyed every single minute of our vacation.

Cons:

Nothing, everything was great.

2026-01-13 via Nuitee
K
Karin extended_group se
9
Trevlig, naturnära resort
Pros:

Naturnära resort med mycket trevlig personal. God afrikansk mat.

Cons:

Toaletten var sliten och gick inte att spola. Men personalen löste det.

2026-01-04 via Nuitee
A
Avni extended_group gb
8
Pros:

Relaxed and casual atmosphere. Perfect beach location with 3 convenient dive shops within a 5 minute walk. Lovely staff

2026-01-02 via Nuitee
D
Daniela family_with_children it
10
Pros:

La struttura è molto bene organizzata e il personale è estremamente gentile e servizievole. È vero quel che scrivono sulle magliette: arrivi da ospite e te ne vai da amico!

Cons:

La tassa di soggiorno all'interno del Parco Marino, che viene incassata dal Parco, non da Basecamp, incide tuttavia in modo esagerato sul costo finale del soggiorno. Circa 25 €/persona al giorno!

2026-01-01 via Nuitee
L
Lynne family_with_children za
8
Basecamp is a lovely hotel on Chole Bay on Mafia, close to all diving Centres, with friendly staff that do everything wi
Pros:

Super friendly staff and location. The new King or family rooms are fabulous and big and have wonderful views. The beach bar is super and in best location on the beach.

Cons:

The Standard rooms are very small and outdated and some don’t have anywhere to hang clothes but the hotel kindly managed to sort out better rooms for our group.

2025-12-31 via Nuitee
A
Aryata solo_traveller in
10
2025-12-31 via Nuitee
D
Dylan family_with_children ca
10
Pros:

Basecamp is a beautiful place to stay on Mafia Island! The property is so stunning with views of the ocean and access to the beach. Our stay was very comfortable with lovely beds and bedding, our room was very clean and recently updated. The staff were all extremely welcoming and tended to our every need. We were greeted with a coconut to drink out of upon arrival as well as some local fruits. The breakfast was great with freshly made eggs however you like. The lunches and dinners were also really tasty. There is a bar at the pool, beach and restaurant which was convenient. The pool has a nice view of the ocean as well. The shuttle service from the airport was timely and convenient. We saw whale sharks snorkeling! We had our laundry done and folded, which was great. Our room was upgraded free of charge as there was availability, which was such a nice surprise as it has never happened to us before. Overall an amazing stay at a beautiful hidden gem, book it!!

Cons:

Nothing :)

2025-12-24 via Nuitee
M
Mwevila family_with_children tz
10
My stay was wonderful
Pros:

The staff are friendly and dedicated to excellence. Environment is wonderful, the hotel is clean and attractive. Also the food is hot and yummy

Cons:

N/A

2025-12-15 via Nuitee