Chumbe

This luxury island resort is situated 8 miles from Zanzibar and is the first privately managed Marine Park in the world. Uninhabited, it covers 24 hectares and contains a protected coral rag forest and reef. The aim is for ecotourism to support conservation and education. Lots of activities are waiting for you - make sure you bring enough time with you!

The whole of the island is a nature reserve and you may explore its beauties either under the competent guidance of our park rangers or on your own with laminated cards and leaflets. Snorkel through the unique shallow water Reef Sanctuary, explore the Forest Reserve or enjoy the historical monuments.

Or just allow yourself a lazy day at the beach watching dhows and outrigger boats go by... Accommodation on the island is very special. It's what Robinson Crusoe could only have dreamt about!

Firstly, the bungalows themselves are cleverly designed to provide both privacy and a sense of freedom of living in the open. Many clients find these bungalows exceptionally romantic, but any individual with a passion for natural beauty will enjoy their layout and the facilities.

All bungalows overlook the sea and it takes just 30 seconds to stroll from the comforts of your bungalow hammock to the ocean’s edge.

They are all equipped with; double or twin beds under the palm thatched roof; self-contained bathrooms with hot & cold shower; African art and colourful fabrics; and very comfortable hammocks. Since there are only seven bungalows, it will never get crowded, even if we're fully booked.

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Activities
J.E.N. Vernon of the Australian Institute of Marine Science has called Chumbe "one of the most spectacular coral gardens to be found anywhere in the world". Since the park was gazetted, there has been almost no fishing or unauthorised anchoring, leaving it in a pristine state.

The reef crest, encompassing a spectacular array of hard corals, is shallow (between 1-3m according to tides). Therefore snorkellers can see all those wonders of the underwater world normally only accessible to divers. For divers, we can arrange SCUBA excursions from Chumbe Island to visit neighbouring reefs.

For guests the nature trails provided allow for an insight into this otherwise virtually impenetrable habitat that covers about 90% of Chumbe. The bedrock of the island is made up of an impressive substrate of fossilized coral.

Highlights include: 64 species of bird (including the Mangrove and Pied Kingfishers, Fish Eagle and Peregrine Falcon); the exceptionally shy Ader’s Duikers (Cephalophus adersi), the rarest antelope in the world - under threat of extinction in its endemic Zanzibar, where less than 500 individuals remain; and giant coconut crabs.

You can also climb the 131 steps to the top of the Chumbe Lighthouse, built in 1904 by the Sultan of Zanzibar and the British. From the top you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the turquoise seas between Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, still plied by dhows unchanged for a thousand years.