MAZIWE ISLAND MARINE RESERVE

Maziwe Island is located in the Indian Ocean at a distance of about 15 nautical miles east of Pangani town. It extends from 380 00’ to 390 10’E and 150 00 to 60 00’S. Declared as Marine Reserves in 1975. Currently managed collaboratively with Pangani District Council and Resident community. 

The Reserves Is also part of the Fisheries Management Plan agreement with Communities implemented under the Tanga Coastal Conservation and Management Programme.

This submerged island that at one time had forest cover extending for about 10km. The main island species found by then were huge trees like Casuarina cunninghamiana (Mivinje Bahari) Breonadia salicina (Mgwina), Cocos nucifera (coconut plantations) fruit trees and other shrubs including tall trees. It serves as a fishing camping to a number of fishermen from different areas as far as Mtwara, Mafia and Kilwa while others came from Zanzibar and Mombasa in Kenya on fishing activities.

The island was used by Pangani district residents as a place for ritual performance and that was the reasons why livestock like goats and chicken used to be found in some parts of the island before it was submerged in 1978/79 to erosion resulted mainly from clearance of the island vegetation cover.

However, Maziwe remains an ideal place for swimming, snorkeling and diving as well as research expedition, sunbathing and watching dazzling tropical fish.

There are wide ranges of marine species diversity within the Maziwe Island Marine Reserve.

Over 200 species of fish, 35 Genera of corals (soft and hard), number of sea-grasses, many type of birds different algae and sponges are found in and around the Island Reserves.

Conservation Efforts:
Communities living around the Maziwe Island are actively involved in conservation endeavors. The Island is part of the Ushongo - Sange fisheries Management Plan facilitated by Tanga Coastal Zone conservation and Development Programme. Under the programme village environmental committees were created and the whole concept is based on the integration of conservation with sustainable utilization. 

HOW TO GET THERE:

Maziwe Island can be reached by local boats from Pangani town or by fast moving fibre boats operated by beach hotel operators found at Mkoma area and Ushongo village.

Tourist hotels at Mkoma area include Argovia tented lodge, Tingatinga and Pangani beach resorts whereas Cocobeach, Emayani and the tides resorts are situated at Ushongo.

When one tour Maziwe Island reserve you can spend your money to the best of your pleasure. The area is ideal for underwater adventures and is among the best diving destination along the Eastern African Coast with a wide variety of under water life.