Although Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and the adjacent islands of Vilingili, Hulhule and Hulhumalé, are geographically part of the North Malé Atoll, they do not form part of the Kaafu Atoll administrative division and are a separate administrative division.

Kaafu is a code letter of the Thaana alphabet used in the Dhivehi language assigned to one of the administrative divisions of the Maldives which is officially and traditionally known by the name Malé Atoll.

The designations Kaafu and Male are inaccurate from both a geographical and cultural standpoint, but they are popular among tourists and foreigners arriving in the Maldives.

[4][5] The atoll consists of 30 islands, of which only 3 are inhabited, 10 are uninhabited, and 17 are home to hotels offering beach and diving opportunities for tourists.

[6] The largest island in South Male is Guraidhoo, known for surfing, while the most visited is Maafushi, where the capital of the atoll is located.