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03/03/2011 - Recent Reviews - http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g317083-d672607-Reviews-Ras_Mbisi_Lodge-Mafia_Island.html

“Laid back comfort” Date of review: 21 Feb 2011 Ras Mbisi is out on its own on a remote beach - we were amazed at the logistical challenges John and Michelle coped with to ensure their guests got good food, drink and service. Rooms are lovely- completely open but private , so the seabreezes kept tempreratures bearable at night. The staff are all local and its fair to say they dont have a huge amount of English- but their friendly smiles and willingness to go the extra mile made this stay truly memorable. Michelle has a huge stock of paperbacks so laying around in the sun was not a hardship. We were a bit unlucky with weather ( arrived in a cyclone and then had unsettled days ) so could not take advantage of the sea trips which was sad- we would like to have had a trip out to the coral islands - another guest had done this and said the beach barbecue was fantastic- maybe next time for us. This lodge would not suit if you want nightlife or a variety of eating/drinking venues- but for a laid back few days after a safair it ticks most boxes. One word of warning- there are a lot of sandflies periodically- we were unlucky to coincide with them! “A completely unique experience” Date of review: 23 Jan 2011 We booked this trip through Imagine Africa less than a week before we went and we must say that they organised our vacation promptly and although we had 3 flights, all were booked and timed to perfection, so we had no waiting around in between flights which made the journey run smoothly. Pierre from Imagine Africa was extremely helpful in the booking and meeting all our requirements and we would recommend using this tour operator. Ras Mbisi Lodge - well what can we say. Amazing location, fantastic food, friendly and helpful staff, the most chilled out holiday you will ever have. Mafia Island is not the run of the mill tourist destination, with only 2 small planes flying in and out a day, the amount of tourists here is minimal so you really do get a feel for what the country is like. Ras Mbisi Lodge is set on a beautiful quiet stretch of beach, with the wooden bandas just set a little way back from the sand. The banda itself is comfortable and private, and has wonderful views of the sea, with its open front and sides you get a real feel for being with nature. A lovely sea breeze kept us cool in the heat. Michelle and Jon have done an amazing job in building this lodge and have really put their heart and soul into making a wonderful, calm, relaxing and personal place to stay. We felt very welcome around the lodge and the staff really do wish you a pleasant stay. So many of the staff we felt we made friends with really did make our holiday what it was. We learnt a bit of Swahili, learnt about the Island, the sea life, the locals, saw how they go about their daily lives and it was amazing. We feel very privileged to have had the chance to experience this beautiful place. To have the chance to swim with Whale Sharks twice on our holiday was just spectacular, to be able to get so close to these giant fish was incredible and the experience of the Ras Mbisi boat crew made this possible for us. A trip to the Marine Park on the other side of the island is a must also. We had an excellent snorkelling trip with Sea Point Dive Centre. Another great trip was the barbeque on a deserted island where we were cooked lobster and fish on the beach. So there is plenty of things to do if you wish or just perfect for doing absolutely nothing. Amazing memories for us. “Fantastic” Date of review: 11 Jan 2011 You are in the middle of nature (forest of coconut trees, monkeys, birds, ..., virgin and long beach) ; the bedroom is very confortable with a view on the sea ; the food is everydays excellent and it is a hard job when you know how far is the lodge from everywhere! Services are at the rendez vous for anything you need for discovering the island (taxi to north or marine park, boat to islands, whale sharks, snorkelling, etc..). This is just a very relaxing place built with taste and love. The owners John, Michele and all the friendly staff are just making your holidays easy and beautiful. Mafia island is very wild and a very few places are offering that quality. So, be sure of something compared to the other lodges i have visited, the beach in front of you is pure nature and you won't find that atmosphere in Utende. Thanks so much to John and Michele for this beautiful holidays+++ “A Magical Place to get away” Date of review: 2 Jan 2011 1 person found this review helpful John and Michelle have found AND made a piece of paradise which is exactly what we were anticipating after traveling for 4 weeks around Africa! What drew us to the place right away was the sustainble ethic, support for the local community, and a feeling of genuine comfort. They describe it perfectly as barefoot luxury. There are so many things that make this place special including the secluded location, fresh coconut drinks upon arrival, sand so white it looks like snow, palm trees swaying in the breeze, clear water, floral arrangements the night before you leave, watching sunsets from the kayak.... I could go on and on. John and Michelle are excellent hosts and engaging company. The individual bandas, were you sleep, are a bit spartan but have all the amenities you need for a stay at the beach. They are open which people may find disconcerting at first. To us, however, the openness of the rooms made our experience of a tropical vacation that much more enjoyable. We could feel the cool breezes and hear the sound of the ocean and bird calls. Why go to the beach if you are staying in an air conditioned room the whole time? Don't worry you still have plently of privacy and there is a bathroom in the banda. The food is spectacular! The restaurant is not open all the time. I'm not sure whether you could get food outside mealtimes but I find it hard to beleive that anyone would be hungry. They were several courses at each sitting and we had so much that I felt a bit guilty. They were fresh baked goods, chutneys, and salsas. Yumm! The beach is perfect with fine white sand. However it is a bit narrow and subject to tides. We didn't find this to be a issue at all. It meant that you could be long way from shore and still be able to stand up. This side of Mafia is not part of the marine conservation area and we did not see very many fish off the lodge. Instead we rented a dhow to take us to an uninhabited atoll. On that trip we went snorkeling and saw a lot of fish as well as the most amazing starfish- I swear there was one every 10 feet. The crew also cooked us lobsters! We did not make it over the conservation area but I would bet that it would be worth the visit if you were really into snorkeling or diving. We preferred to just relax on the beach. One word of warning. Mafia is a very very small island. When we visited this past summer there was no bank, money exchanger, and I don't think anyone took credit credits. Make sure that you bring enough cash for your stay and budget accordingly. No one wants to be worried about money when you are trying to get away from it all. Also the internet connection is a bit fickle and it took us a while to connect some times. I even called Africa twice from America. Don't take an unanswered e-mail to mean bad service-it's just that this is a tiny place, not part of the hustle and bustle you probably normally deal with, and the satellite service is spotty. Keep in mind these are just the things that are drawing you to this place to begin with. As I write this I'm dreaming of how we can possibly make it back to Mafia and Ras Mbisi. I'm even trying to convince my husband that we should climb Mt Kilimanjaro just so we can stop back here! Thanks John and Michelle for the wonderful vacation and all the memories “A great alternative to Zanzibar” Date of review: 1 Jan 2011 Stayed here for a week after a safari in the Serengeti and it was like arriving in paradise. The setting is amazing and you feel like you have the entire beach to yourself. Accomodation is literally metres from the beach, food is amazing and hospitality unbeatable. As well as pure relaxation you can take out canoes (free of charge) as well as snorkelling and whale shark excursions on a dhow (both chargeable). This is a great alternative for anyone looking for a quieter alternative to Zanzibar and would highly recommend Ras Mbisi.