Pole Pole Bungalows

My wife and I stayed here for 7 nights at the end of June 2023 for our Honeymoon after a weeks Safari.

The stay at Pole Pole was really very special. On arrival we were made very welcome, with fresh coconut and some complementary aluminium water bottles. We were shown to our bungalow which was very comfortable. The lodge was very empty when we arrived with only one other couple staying there so we were looked after very well. The food was always outstanding, but a three course lunch and a four course dinner after a big breakfast was really a lot!!

The weather in June really was rather windy (this year at least) which did somewhat make it less enjoyable, but the temperatures were hot around 30C. We very much enjoyed our daily excursions and Em from Big Blu was very helpful and took into account our desires. We were especially lucky to swim with Whale Sharks as June is sometimes too early. We also very much enjoyed our tour around Utende with Kassim who lives there and works at Pole Pole (Big bonus for him this month I suggest!)

Overall we were very pleased to have chosen Pole Pole for our Honeymoon and we have such fond memories for the rest our our lives!

Amazing place. Well located, small and beautiful resort, excellent integration with the surroundings, very quiet and realaxing, outstanding staff, good beds, more than acceptable snorkelling nearby, nice bungalows and I could keep going on.
Also, Mafia’s Island shark whales warching is a must do before you leave earth.
The only cons, they must fix wifi’s restrictions and think to do something - if there’s something to do - about hot nights.
Anyway, worth going!!

Loved my stay here. Very relaxing, off the grid. Food was delicious, and all the staff was very friendly, accommodating and impeccably service-oriented. Furnishings are basic, but that's expected of upmarket hotels in Africa. Everything was well thought-out and decorated in great taste with constant little nods to local culture & environment. Also loved the daily excursions - I was only able to participate in one (sunset cruise) - absolutely delightful!

Pole Pole Bungalows is a slice of heaven on earth! My partner and I spent a week there and the only wish we had was to be able to stop time and stay in Pole Pole forever!!
Where can I start? The staff, headed by lovely Alessandra, made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived - unobtrusive, discrete, polite and always with a smile, they made us feel at home. Then I have to mention the food… delicious!! Every meal was prepared with the freshest ingredients and accommodated all types of dietary requirements - as an Italian, I can add that I ate the best pasta outside of italy.. and that’s quite an achievement :-)
A special mention goes to the careful organisation and planning of all the activities available - these are planned on a day-to-day basis, allowing guests to have flexibility whilst also capitalising on last minute opportunities (for example, we were lucky enough to be able to see baby turtles hatching, but this was a last minute thing as we can control *almost* everything except nature itself..!). All the activities are in partnership with either the local Diving Center (which deserves a separate review as this really is another one-of-a-kind place headed by David and his team of passionate and smiley instructors) or the local village associations. We never had a dull moment and our days were a perfect mix of unique activities and wonderful relax.
Last but not least, the place itself: everything, from the paths to the trees to the bungalows, pool and beach are of the highest standard whilst never being ostentatious.. the real “understated luxury” that many of us look for but so rarely find - you’ll definitely find it in Pole Pole!
I can only hope to be able to visit this beautiful place again in future… Asante sana Pole Pole!!

Beautiful out of city place, perfect location for relaxation and rejuvenation. Great service as well as the food 🍝 fantastic. I also loved the rooms and their decor.

Fantastic place, the bungalows are very comfy and cosy, a lot of spots to chill and enjoy the amazing view on the bay.
The service and staff are truly amazing: very helpful, kind and genuine!
Very good vibes overall!!

Amazing place!! From the service to the food to the design... All well done with maticulous attention to detail. Cannot recommend this place and the island enough. Truly a paradise get-away of unique proportions!

One of the Beautiful place in Mafia Island where every tourist would like to be,it's cool and very calm,the view from the beach it's outstanding and the environments around the hotel it's astonishing.

It has a very cool places en people who work in polepole have a good heart en hard working 😊i really love them...... plus the service shortly everything there iss fantastic en u can go and try there

😘

Amazing place - adults only!!

Very nice place

Good views!

Like enough

Un lloc extraordinàri, acabar el viatge al Pole pole va ser el millor encert després d’un bon safari. Destaquem la tranquilitat del lloc, només 7 habitacions tipus cabanya (caseta). Sens dubte la cuina excelent, el millor lloc de Tanzania que vam menjar! Ès un lloc paradisíac , platja particular, piscina! Coctel exiquisits!
100% recomanable!

Un luogo magico, incantevole. Siamo rimasti letteralmente incantati dalla bellezza di questo resort, dalla bravura dello staff e dalla eccellente cucina. Se fosse possibile darei 6 stelle!

Pole Pole ist nicht nur der Name, er steht auch für das Motto dieser Lodge mit nur 7 Unterkünften. Grandiose Lage, das beste Lunch und Dinner auf der ganzen Insel Mafia-Island.

Un Paradiso!!! Cordialità, serenità, bellezza. Ottimo servizio e cucina prelibata.

Magnifico