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Chumbe Island is an ideal destination for ecoconscious nature-lovers seeking to combine quality beach time with some unusual wildlife sightings and superb snorkeling. Protected in a private nonprofit reserve since 1991, the island is home to
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an exclusive ecolodge with seven rustically chic bungalows. Highlights of this near-deserted tropical island include a small but beautiful beach, close encounters with giant , and exclusive access to a pristine coral reef. Note that when the lodge is fully booked, day visits are not permitted.Overnight Stays on Chumbe Island
The best way to enjoy Chumbe is to spend a few nights at the island’s ecolodge, which blends naturally into its surroundings. The lodge has six seafront and sea-view bungalows, each with a ground-floor lounge and
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upstairs sleeping platform overlooking the ocean. There is also a single-story garden bungalow for visitors who are unable or unwilling to climb stairs. The solar-powered bungalows have tall thatched roofs and airy interiors decorated with handmade local furniture and colorful African artworks and fabrics. Overnight stays are inclusive of guided activities, nonalcoholic beverages, and delicious -style meals prepared with sustainable locally sourced ingredients.Around Chumbe Island
The first thing you’ll see when you land on Chumbe is a small but idyllic palm-lined swimming beach set right in front of the ecolodge. When the tide is very low, you can walk all the
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way around the island to explore an intertidal zone dotted with sandy coves, coral-rock outcrops, rock pools and shallow lagoons.Chumbe’s skyline is dominated by a tall whitewashed lighthouse built in 1904 by the sultan of Zanzibar with British assistance. Towering 34m/112ft above the beach, this striking historical landmark was restored in the 1990s and converted to solar power in 2013. It is worth climbing the 132-step spiral staircase for sensational views over the open ocean between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.Wildlife on Chumbe Island
Walks through the around the ecolodge come with a good chance of spotting Chumbe’s star wildlife attraction: the giant . Like something from a science-fiction movie, these versatile scavengers are the world’s
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largest land-living , weighing up to 4kg/9lb. They can be seen at any time of day but tend to be most active around dusk and dawn. Smaller are also common.The north of Chumbe Island is home to an introduced population of . This tiny and rather secretive forest antelope is found only in a handful of coastal forests in Tanzania and Kenya. More than 75 bird species have been recorded on the island, among them , and . Other non-marine wildlife includes 26 species of butterfly, five types of bat and several different lizards.Snorkeling on Chumbe Island
Chumbe is more than just an island. It is also the centerpiece of the Chumbe Island Coral Park, which was established in 1991 as the world’s first private marine protected area. This nonprofit sanctuary covers 55
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hectares/136 acres and protects one of East Africa’s most pristine and shallow reefs, making the island appealing to keen snorkelers. Guided snorkeling trips leave from the lodge daily and take around one hour. Overnight guests can also snorkel independently from the beach when tides and other conditions are suitable.The marine life in Chumbe’s vast coral gardens is quite incredible. A remarkable 525 reef fish species have been identified, together with a long cast of weird and wonderful that includes , starfish, sea snails, sea urchins and clams. The waters off Chumbe are also regularly visited by larger marine creatures such as dolphins, whales, turtles and reef sharks.Day Trips to Chumbe Island
Because Chumbe is a protected area, visitor numbers are strictly regulated and day visits are not permitted when the lodge is at full capacity. When things aren’t so busy, however, it is possible to book a
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day trip. Although this isn’t quite the same as spending a few days on the island, you should still get to experience several Chumbe highlights. This includes a guided snorkeling trip and intertidal walk, and the steep climb to the top of the lighthouse.Day trips include boat transfers to and from the island, as well as a seafood lunch and all guided activities. However, because first preference is given to overnight visitors, day trips can only be booked at short notice (at most four days before your intended visit).How To Get to Chumbe Island
Chumbe Island lies about 6km/4mi off the southwest coast of Zanzibar. It is accessible only by boat transfers provided by the management of the private marine park and lodge. These take roughly 30 minutes and leave