Tanzania - Places To Stay

Chumbe Island, Zanzibar Archipelago - Chumbe Island Coral Park is a protected island near Zanzibar. About 90% of the island is covered by one of the last remaining pristine 'coral rag' forests in Zanzibar, a specialised plant community that can survive without any groundwater. The island is also surrounded by extremely rich coral reefs.The eco-bungalows are designed to provide both privacy and a sense of freedom of living in the open. The units all have composting toilets, showers and solar-power panels that provide hot water and lighting. All the bungalows overlook the sea and it takes just 30 seconds to stroll from the comfort of your hammock to feeling the warm tropical ocean lapping at your feet.

The dining room is in the same building as Chumbe's visitors centre, where an abundance of mouth-watering dishes are served in a mixture of Zanzibarian, Arabic, Indian and African tastes and satisfy both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Nature Reserve & Marine Protected Island south of Stone Town

Regular flights from Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Selous to Zanzibar available. Followed by a boat transfer from Stone Town to Chumbe Island.

7 - Bungalows

£165 per person sharing in Low Season (generally Oct-Nov and Mar-Apr)
£180 per person sharing in Peak Season (generally Jan-Feb, Jun-Sep and Dec)

Full board accommodation
Sodas, water, snacks
Daily boat transfer
Snorkelling
Guided reef & forest walks

Children of all ages are welcome

Diving and Snorkelling, guided reef and forest walks.

The Chumbe Island Coral Park is a unique privately managed nature reserve developed and managed by the Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd. (CHICOP). It is a rare example of a still pristine coral island ecosystem in an otherwise heavily overfished and over-exploited area. The reserve includes a reef sanctuary, which has become the first gazetted marine park in Tanzania, and a forest reserve.

Although the Chumbe project is completely funded through tourist revenue, visitors are limited according to the islands' carrying capacity. The main aim of the project is to preserve the Island's exceptional environment and to build environmental awareness on Zanzibar through amongst others organising school visits and teacher training workshops to Chumbe Island. It also facilitates scientific research of these fragile and endangered terrestrial and marine habitats.

The organisation has policies in place to support the local economy. The building materials for the huts are all locally sourced, and food bought at local markets as well as using local transport services. They have a shop which sells locally made products.

Tourism Concern's Sustainable Tourism Score for Chumbe Island: 8.7
Contact us for more information about the assessment process.

The lodge is closed from 20 Apr - 15 Jun

Awards
Finalist in the Tourism Cares for Tomorrow Sustainable Tourism Awards 2005
Winner of the TODO Award 2004 for Socially Responsible Tourism
Winner of the Responsible Tourism Award 2004 - Marine Category
Winner of the Green Hotelier & Restaurateur Environmental Award 2001
Winner of the 2000 UNEP Global 500 Award for Environmental Achievement