The Whale Safari was the original whale shark tourism operator on Mafia Island, starting tours in 2004. Liberatus Mokoki, the owner, was also the founding Chairman of WHASCOS, the Whale Shark Conservation Society, and has been supporting research and conservation efforts at Mafia Island since they began in 2006.
Liberatus at work
Captain Libe employs all local staff, and The Whale Safari is fully licensed for marine tourism operations. The Whale Safari adheres to international best-practice standards for whale shark interactions. Libe advises the local government on whale shark conservation and tourism.
Libe also helps to ensure that the community receives a benefit from the whale shark tourism, by collecting a whale shark management fee for the Mafia Island District Council. These fees make a significant contribution to local development
Libe skippering for whale shark researchers
Everybody can see the whale sharks – swimmers or not!
Captain Libe was featured by National Geo in a recent story on the whale sharks of Mafia: