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Indian Ocean/Africa - Tanzania / Zanzibar

Award-winning private island nature reserve with stunning eco-architecture, marine park, forest reserve.

Chumbe Island Coral Park is a private nature reserve and the first private marine park in the World. Income from visitors supports park management and education programs for local schoolchildren. The many renowned international awards won by Chumbe include the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Global Award 1999, the UNEP Global 500 Award in 2000, the Independent Environmental Award 2001 of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH&RA), the Ecotourism Destination Award 2001 of the Condenast Traveller Magazine and the 2004 TO DO! Award for Socially Responsible Tourism among others. In 2003, Chumbe was also chosen as the Most Romantic Eco-Lodge by Harpers Abroad November 2003 supplement, Harpers & Queen.

Rates:

(Depending on season): USD 150 – USD 200 per night per person all-inclusive. Single supplement $30-50 US$ per night. Children under 2 years of age are free of charge; between 2 and 12 years half price.
 

Location

Chumbe Island Coral Park is a unique and stunning nature travel destination on a small private island in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Situated 8 km Southwest of Zanzibar town, it is covered by an undisturbed forest and surrounded by a virgin coral reef. The island can be reached in a 30-45 minute boat ride from the Mbweni beach departure point south of Stonetown Zanzibar.

Accommodation

A finalist of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Chumbe's unique buildings have gained world-wide acclaim for pioneering ecologically self-sustaining technology with zero impact on the environment. Perfectly blended with the surrounding nature and situated between the beach and the forest, the seven amazing eco-bungalows are designed with state-of-the-art eco-architecture using African handicrafts and local materials.

The cozy open-air 2- to 3-bed sleeping areas on a wooden platform under the coconut palm thatch roof give the feeling of forest tree houses. The interiors and furniture are all hand-made and reflect colorful African arts and designs. Each eco-bungalow has solar-powered lighting, private bathroom, cold & solar-heated hot water showers fed from a unique rainwater catchment system, composting toilets and greywater filtration through specialized plant beds.

Other facilities include the historic lighthouse keeper's house built by the British in 1904 that has been converted into the magnificently designed Visitors' center of the park with a restaurant and a classroom for local schoolchildren. Its stunning huge palm thatch roof resembles a giant clam shell and has been compared with the Sydney Opera House.

The Chumbe cuisine is renowned for delicious local Zanzibari dishes, which combines influences of Arabic, Indian and African recipes using fresh fish, octopus and seafood, beef and chicken, tropical vegetables, fruits and spices from organic farming. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are also available on request. Breakfast service includes an early-morning tea or coffee waiting for you when you wake up under the palm-thatched roof of your open-air eco-bungalow. Dinner is taken with candlelight in the unique atmosphere of the historic ruin of the former lighthouse keeper's house, situated on a dramatic cliff just above the water level overlooking the crystal clear sea. For honeymooners, private meals are also served in secluded small beach huts. In calm full-moon nights candlelight dinner is sometimes also served on the beach. On Chumbe, the settings are as memorable as the cuisine.

Activities

The fully protected Chumbe Reef Sanctuary is the first Marine Park of Tanzania, 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 corals (about 90% of all species recorded in the region), more than 400 species of fish and regularly visiting turtles and dolphins. This spectacular reef can be observed by snorkeling under the guidance of trained Park Rangers. Snorkeling lessons where needed and equipment are provided on the island. Scuba diving to neighboring reefs can be arranged upon request.

The Chumbe Forest Reserve has a unique flora and wildlife including numerous reptiles, birds, crabs and the awe-inspiring rare nocturnal Coconut Crab (Birgus latro), the largest land crab on earth. Forest Nature Trails can be visited under the guidance of trained Park Rangers. The island is formed from fossilized coral and throughout the trail it is possible to see the patterns of the coral and the remains of giant clams thousands of years old. Chumbe is also a breeding sanctuary for the endemic Aders duiker (Cephalophus adersi), the rarest antelope on Earth that is threatened by extinction in Zanzibar.

There are also nature walks into an open mangrove pool, along inter-tidal areas and around the island at low tides. Historic buildings built in 1904 include the Chumbe lighthouse, which offers breath-taking views of the Island and of Zanzibar, and the mosque that was built with an elaborate design and is still in use by the Chumbe team. Chumbe is also used as a base for day excursions to explore the World Heritage Historic Stone Town of Zanzibar, Spice gardens, the Jozani rainforest reserve, cultural village tours and further attractions.

Best time to travel

Zanzibar is a tropical paradise with 300 days of sunshine. The monsoon winds provide a pleasant cooling breeze during the hot season from November to March (up to 30 degrees centigrade). Some people prefer the cool season from June to October when temperatures average 25 degrees centigrade. Chumbe Island is closed during the long rains between April and mid June, but can be visited during the short rain season from September to October with only occasional showers.
 

Getting there

There are regular flights, as well as several charters from European centers to Zanzibar International Airport, and Dar es Salaam International Airport. Just a 30-40-minute boat ride from Zanzibar, Chumbe Island Coral Park is easily accessible by boat and only one hour travel from the international airport.