| Many young couples have a tropical honeymoon | | | | that Mijini Lodge has no electricity supply, and it is |
| vacation, and some take an African Safari | | | | full board, with dining at a large family style dining |
| Honeymoon to Tanzania or Kenya, and then | | | | table, and only water is included in the full board |
| urgently seek a peaceful quiet escape for the last | | | | rate, although alcoholic drinks can be purchased. |
| few days, and this is where an Indian Ocean | | | | You will find the the food simple imaginative and |
| Island in the Mafia Archipelago off Tanzania called | | | | superb, with different dishes to tempt even the |
| Chole comes in. There are few better places to | | | | most jaded palate! The service is excellent |
| finally end up in than Chole Mijini Lodge which is | | | | throughout the lodge, always there, and very |
| the epitome of a romantic honeymoon getaway. | | | | discreet. If you are worried about security, there |
| This is never more true if you are very conscious | | | | are guards around all the time especially at night |
| of the damage that new holiday developments | | | | so so feel safe at all times. In terms of what you |
| can do to the local environment or population, | | | | do at Mijini Lodge, there are sailing trips, forest |
| because Chole Mijini Lodge has developed with the | | | | walks, and general exploration of the historical |
| best principles of echo tourism and benefiting local | | | | ruins, and general history of the area, snorkeling, |
| communities. Chole Mijini Lodge is on a tiny fertile | | | | and diving. There is everything from shallow |
| island called Chole, some twenty minutes sail from | | | | lagoons to deep dives, and a fully set up PADI |
| Mafia. It has been set up as a partnership with | | | | center. Tanzania, and the Mafia Archipelago makes |
| the owners Jean and Anne de Villiers and the | | | | everyone think of white sand beaches, and they |
| people of Chole Village. In fact $10 per night per | | | | are easily accessible by dhow, if not quite on the |
| guest goes to resource community development | | | | doorstep. Some of the beaches you will be taken |
| projects, and this is working extremely well. This | | | | to are so remote, utterly untouched and beautiful. |
| has so far resulted in the Community having, and | | | | What you absolutely must do is to take the |
| more importantly being able to afford to run a | | | | unique opportunity to see how the local village |
| primary school, a kindergarten, an adult learning | | | | lives, and to experience it. Majini gives you a |
| centre with computers and English classes, and a | | | | unique opportunity to do this, and gives you an |
| clinic and a market. Chole Mijini Lodge is very close | | | | insight into everyday African life. Without wishing |
| to the village, and is unfenced, being situated | | | | to be negative, the biggest drawback to Chole |
| amidst the ruins of an old town that was heavily | | | | Mijini Lodge is the heat normally an advantage |
| involved in the slave trade two centuries ago. | | | | during the day, but at night when the breeze |
| There are six tree houses high up on stilts, and a | | | | drops, the lack of a fan, and the ever present |
| large suite on the ground. The tree houses are | | | | malaria mosquitoes means that the bed enclosed |
| quite superbly designed and extremely unusual, | | | | by nets becomes an oven. Now this is also the |
| with the whole effect being one of a tropical | | | | case at many safari camps in Africa, but is |
| garden amidst the ruins, and it is spectacularly | | | | something to be aware of here. Notwithstanding |
| effective. The tree houses all have a view over | | | | Chole Mijini Lodge is a completely unique spot to |
| the mangroves to the sea, and contain a | | | | end an African safari honeymoon, but not for |
| bathroom at ground level with a long drop | | | | people who need all the luxuries of the 21st |
| composting loo, which although it sounds pretty | | | | century. If it is for you, then the experience you |
| basic, does work very well. If Chole is to be part | | | | will have will make this a romantic honeymoon |
| of your honeymoon, and you don't like the sound | | | | getaway you will never forget. It isn't really a |
| of this, then book the ground level suite which | | | | base for a complete Tanzania vacation, but a |
| boasts the only flush toilet on the island! There | | | | great place for two or three days, hidden so to |
| are hot showers for all the accommodations, and | | | | speak, amongst the islands in the Mafia |
| there is a dhow where you can spend a night | | | | Archipelago. |
| away from the lodge. Mijini Lodge has a very | | | | Peter Stewart writes about in Kenya Safaris as |
| comfortable main lounge with lots of large colorful | | | | well as Worldwide Vacation Spots He also |
| cushions to lie about on, with loads of books and | | | | recommends Travel Tennis a great Game to play |
| games. This really is an escape and a romantic | | | | on Holiday. |
| getaway destination. It is also fair to point out | | | | |