Reported by SV Toybox – 6 August 2018
We visited Kilindoni (Mafia Island) on route from Mayotte to Dar Es Salaam. We used Kilindoni as a point of entry to Tanzania.

A bridge was built during 2014-2015 from the port length of 1200 m to the sea. Currently, a vessel can anchor near the end of the bridge (07 54.2437 S 039 39.0875 E) and there is a barge which enables boarding from a dinghy or in good sea conditions even alongside docking. From there it’s a walk to the port or you can order a tuk-tuk.

Formalities:
The officials on the island are not accustomed to visiting yachts hence the formalities can take a while. In our case, we had a visit on the boat of the immigration, customs and local police. All were polite and helpful, though they insisted on searching the boat. Overall the process took 4-5 hours.

The customs office is a small hut near the port gate. From there you can initiate the process of clearing into Tanzania and the port. Eventually, that is where you will get the transire.
Documents Required: ship papers copy, crew list, list of equipment and goods aboard, last port clearance.

The cost of the clearing was 12,000 Shillings – about 5 USD.
The transfer should be filled by 3 copies and one of them will be kept by the boat together with the clearance documents. None of the offices has means of providing the forms, so you better prepare in advance.

The immigration office is uphill. You go up till the roundabout, take left and then at the bank again left, the immigration office will be on the left about 200 m from the bank at the back of the building.
Documents Required: passports, vaccinations cards.
Cost of visa is 50 USD per person.

The village has multiple shops though not too much to offer.

Udy Yosha
SV Toybox
Kilindoni Bridge/wharf