Chumbe Island

Chumbe Island Coral Park is a rare example of a still pristine coral island ecosystem. A truly romantic and unique place, since there are only seven bungalows and they only aloud a maximum of 14 people on the island at one time, the island never gets crowded. Chumbe Island is globally recognised as one of the leading examples of true eco tourism to be found anywhere in the world.

Situated 8 km Southwest of Stone Town, the Island is covered by an undisturbed forest and surrounded by a virgin coral reef.

Chumbe Island is a nature reserve and includes the Chumbe Reef Sanctuary, the first declared Marine Protected Area of Tanzania with one of the world's most beautiful coral gardens and the best-preserved shallow reef on the East African Coast. The sanctuary has more than 200 species of pristine stone corals, more than 400 species of fish and is regularly visited by turtles and dolphins.

The Chumbe Forest Reserve is a coral rag forest with a unique flora and wildlife including numerous reptiles, birds, crabs and the rare nocturnal Coconut Crab ('the rhino of the invertebrates'), the largest land crab on earth, roaming about and even able to climb palm trees to the very top for their food. The island is formed from fossilised coral and throughout the island it is possible to see the patterns of the coral and the remains of giant clams thousands of years old. The British build the historic buildings on the island in 1904. These include the lighthouse, which offers breath-taking views of the Island and of Zanzibar and the mosque that was built with an elaborate design.

Lots of activities await visitors of Chumbe Island. The whole of Chumbe Island is a nature reserve and guests are free to explore its beauties either under the competent guidance of park ranger or at their leisure - when the tide is very low it's possible to walk all the way around the island, exploring the rock pools where juvenile fish and a myriad of crabs, shellfishes, starfishes, oysters and other invertebrates exist in the ever-changing environment of the intertidal. Guests can also snorkel in the unique shallow water Reef Sanctuary, explore the Forest Reserve and historical monuments, take an excursion out scuba diving the nearby reefs, or perhaps just lazing about, taking in the breathtaking view of the turquoise seas between Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, still plied by dhows unchanged for a thousand years.

How to get there?
To reach the island the boat leaves from Mbweni Ruins Hotel at 10h00 (just South of Stone Town) and return from the island on 09h30. Private transfers can be arranging at an extra cost.

Chumbe Island is a unique nature travel destination on a private island 8km Southwest of Zanzibar Town (Stone Town).  It is covered by an undisturbed forest and surrounded by a virgin coral reef.
Chumbe has 7 stunning eco-buildings each incorporating state-of-the-art eco-architecture, built with local materials and coconut palm thatch. They all provide both privacy and a sense of freedom of living in the open.  They are all ecologically self-sustaining with zero impact on the environment. All of them have distinctive parabolic wood-and-thatch roofs, with an open sitting area and bathroom downstairs, and a sleeping platform upstairs.
In the sitting area, raised a few steps above the sandy paths, you'll find a small driftwood-table decoratively strewn with shells; a seriously comfortable hammock and sofa, made from casuarina and local rope; a stool and desk.
Behind the solid wall at the back of the sitting area is the bathroom. The sit-down loo uses compost instead of flushing; the washbasin and shower use water from the header tank that is heated by the sun.
Up the pleasingly irregular wooden stairs you'll find a sleeping area with some shelves, space to hang a few clothes and a simple bed-not much more than a mattress on the floor with a mosquito net around. The piéce de résistance is a rope-and-pulley, which allows you to lower the makuti (palm-thatch) sidewall to look out onto the sea and let its soporific lapping wash you to sleep.
On Chumbe you can live in simple luxury on this paradise island in the knowledge that you are in no way damaging the environment of this spectacular nature reserve.
The restaurant has dining terraces overlooking the sea, and serves delicious local Zanzibari cuisine, which ombines influences of  Arabic, Indian and African dishes using fresh fish, octopus and seafood, beef and chicken, tropical vegetables, fruits and spices.
Facilities:  Restaurant & Bar / Library
Activities:  Snorkelling / Guided forest walks / Lighthouse ascent / A walk around the island at low tide / Diving