Chumbe Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania

When we were researching our honeymoon trip to Zanzibar, one place kept coming up time and time again.  Whether it was through research on the net, reading other people’s blogs or speaking to people who had visited Zanzibar, one thing was clear!  We had to spend a night on Chumbe Island!  Spending the night on a deserted island paradise, 45mins off the coast of Zanzibar sounded right up our street!

About Chumbe Island Coral Park

Chumbe Island Coral Park is a private nature resort on an island just off the coast of Zanzibar.  The ethos of the whole island is to protect its ecology (which was previously under threat) whilst educating others about its incredible flora, fauna and sea life.  The whole operation is completely sustainable and the aim is to have zero impact on the island.  For that reason, they only ever allow a maximum of 14 visitors at any one time.  It’s very popular so best to book your trip quite far in advance!

There are two different ways you can experience Chumbe Island for yourself.  You can go for a day trip or you can stay the night on the island.  If you go for the day trip you get the boat across from the mainland early in the morning but return before dinner.  If you stay the night you can enjoy dinner, sleeping on the island in an eco-hut and breakfast the next morning before catching the boat back to the mainland.

Getting to Chumbe Island

Travel to Chumbe Island is by boat from the Jungle Paradis Beach Resort at Mbweni Ruins, about 10-15 minutes out of Stone Town in a taxi.  Once there, you’ll be met by a guide, to pick up the boat to the island.  Reef shoes are advisable although they have some to borrow if you do not have your own.

The boat is a slow but enjoyable journey and takes around 45 minutes.  Plenty of time to sit back, relax and enjoy the ocean views and the island coming ever closer.

When we arrived at the island we were shown to the eco-lodge which is also the Visitor and Education centre.  There was a quick briefing about the eco-island and what the project is trying to achieve.  Then it was time to head to our hut.

When walking around the island, the first thing you notice is all the hermit crabs.  They are literally everywhere and you can hear the clicking of their shells banging against stones and rocks everywhere you go! Just watch where you walk so you don’t tread on them!

Accommodation on Chumbe Island

There are only 7 huts on the island which means that only 14 people can be on the island at any one time.  This is to limit the human footprint in this special place and to help it remain protected and unspoiled.  Everyone gets a hut whether you’re just there for the day or staying the night so you always have a base (and a bathroom and shower)!

Dan and I lucked out big time on our trip!  There was just one other couple on the island with us and they were only there for the day trip!  We would literally have the whole island to ourselves tonight!

ALL the huts are named after animals and we were shown to our turtle hut!  I was so impressed! Expecting a complete shack, we were surprised to see a two-storey hut with plenty of mod-cons.  (They call them eco-bungalows but they were actually two floors).  Downstairs was a seating area with a couch, a hammock bed and table. There was also a bathroom complete with a composting toilet, basin and proper solar shower with running water.  Upstairs, the sleeping area is large and luxurious with queen-size beds under the palm-thatched roof and it really was so well equipped, with mosquito nets, fans and electric lights.  You can even open the side of the bedroom via a drop-down panel to increase ventilation and make the most of the breathtaking views out to the ocean.

In keeping with the eco theme, the showers use filtered rainwater and the electricity is provided by solar panels.  There’s no wifi in the huts but don’t worry guys!  They have Wifi in the main lodge if you need to keep up to date with the rest of the world!

Itinerary on Chumbe Island

Once we had settled ourselves into our hut we could begin the rest of our day.  Your stay on Chumbe Island starts with a Forest Walk with an extremely knowledgeable guide.  Ours was the local botanist and he took us through mangroves, shaded by huge baobab trees and showed us some amazing plants explaining what they can be used for.  Some of the flora and fauna on the island is endangered which is why it is so important that this program has been put in place to protect these species.  We saw fossilised giant clams and corals along with plenty of birds, lizards, and local wildlife.

Then we were shown to the Chumbe Island lighthouse which was built by the Sultan of Zanzibar and the British in 1904.  You can climb all the way to the top if you want and it provides spectacular views of the turquoise seas between Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar.  There are 132 steps to the top, and continuing the eco-theme, it is powered by a solar system.

Next up, hopefully you’ve worked up an appetite as it is back to the main lodge for lunch.  Lunch on the island is prepared by the resident chef and comprises traditional Zanzibari dishes.  The chef uses fresh, local seafood, meat, vegetables, and fruits to create an absolute feast – and don’t worry, they can cater to most dietary requirements if you inform them in advance.  The fish that they serve is all local and sustainable and we were given a meal of fish curry, langoustine, plantains and other vegetables, with fresh tropical fruit and coconut cake for dessert!

Feeling full, it was time to work off lunch as we headed out for our snorkeling trip.  We had a short safety briefing and introduction to the reef and some of the sea life that we might see.  The waters surrounding Chumbe Island are completely protected and it is honestly the best reef in Zanzibar with the widest array of sea life.  We headed out in a small boat and jumped in!  The water was so warm, it was literally like swimming in a bath.  We saw incredible fish or every size shape and colour.  Some that were tinier than a fingernail to some that were up to around 3 foot across!  There were sea slugs, giant clams, sea urchins, rays… Dan even saw a reef shark.  The snorkelling experience lasted about an hour at which point we jumped into the boat to head back.

Once we returned to the island we had a few hours to ourselves before dinner.  The day-trippers departed and we headed back to our hut to take a shower before it was time to relax.  It was so peaceful, we lay around in hammocks, having a drink and playing cards.  (You can purchase beer and wine on the island).  We sat and watched the sun go down with a drink in our hand – it was utterly magical.

Once the sun had set we headed over to the main hut for dinner.  But no, we were taken elsewhere, along a dirt track, through some vegetation until we came out onto a clifftop.   A candlelit dinner had been set up for us on the edge of a cliff.  It was stunning – the most romantic setting I’d ever seen!  There was a chilled bottle of wine and we sat back and looked up at the stars.

Dinner was delicious, pumpkin soup to start followed by Zanzibar fish curry!  The chef here really knows what he is doing!

Once dinner was over, it was time for the coconut crab walk.  Not quite sure what we were in for, we were handed a torch and we followed the guide into the forest.  It was pitch black apart from the torchlight and a bit spooky but soon we were rewarded with the sight of the amazing giant coconut crabs!  They can reach up to 45 cm in diameter and are the largest living land crabs in the world! During the daytime, they hide in caves and crevices but after sunset, they roam around to look out for food.  Coconut crabs are so-called because their legs are strong enough to crack open the shells of coconuts – their favourite meal, but they are scavengers and eat almost everything they can find!

They were incredible, much bigger than I expected and almost pre-historic looking.  Definitely not something you’d want to meet alone in the dark.  The sound of their pincers click-clacking over the rocks is truly the stuff of nightmares.

Even though we weren’t quite sure we were going to be able to sleep knowing what was out in the jungle we headed off to our hut.  It was so amazing to climb in between the sheets and be able to look out at the ocean from our bed.  It was quite hot but we switched on the fans, adjusted the mosquito net and fell asleep to the sound of the waves and the island.  We actually had an incredible night’s sleep and woke to the sounds of the jungle at sunrise.

A quick dip in the sea and it was time for breakfast.  Breakfast was back in the eco hut and was a delicious mix of fresh fruit, hot coffee and traditional Zanzibari pastries.  The perfect way to set you up for the day.

After breakfast, we headed back to the hut, took a quick shower, packed up and it was time for our boat trip back to the mainland.

We truly felt like we had spent the night on our very own deserted island.  We definitely lucked out being the only ones there that night – I’m not sure if the experience would have been different if there were more guests staying.  I honestly can’t recommend the trip enough.  Dan and I both said it was the best thing that we did our whole trip and we’d do it again in a second!

Book Your Stay at Chumbe Island

A stay on Chumbe Island is not cheap but the money goes toward the running of the Chumbe Island eco-project (in our case we thought it was extremely reasonable for our own private island!)

If you want to go for a day trip you can only book a day or two in advance.  This is because overnight stays take priority and there can only be a maximum of 14 guests on the island at any one time.  Therefore until a few days before it won’t be known if there are any available day trip spaces.

The overnight stay costs around $260- 280 per person depending on whether it is low or high season.  Day trippers pay $90 per person

The Rate includes:

• Boat transport to and from the island
• Accommodation in one of the eco-bungalows
• Full-board meals
• Soft drinks, water and snacks (Beer/wine is extra and can be purchased on the island)
• Boat, guide and equipment for snorkelling
• Tuition in snorkelling, if required
• Snorkelling over one of East Africa’s most diverse coral reefs
• Guided walk through the forest trails and inter-tidal area (if low tide)
• Access to climb to the top of a historic lighthouse
• Guided walk to view the endangered coconut crabs in the evening
• WiFi around the office (powered by solar)
• All taxes (18% VAT inclusive)

Dan and I both agree that Chumbe Island was the absolute highlight of our whole trip to Zanzibar.  BOOK YOUR TRIP HERE NOW!

Chumbe Island Coral Park

info@chumbeisland.com