Chumbe Island Coral Park

What a stunning and wonderful gem. Came to this beautiful and pristine eco-marine lodge after summiting Kilimanjaro. This was what I needed to decompress. Comfy eco-friendly cabin, sunkissed beach, and chill/ good vibes. The staff were amazing all around. Chef John and his team like Muren and Zena kept me fed and satiated. All the meals I had were included and I loved sampling everything they gave me. Endless coffee and ginger tea was an added touch. Chagga was super informative. Loved having after dinner drinks and talking with him. And his guided walk to see those incredible coconut crabs was perfect. Vera was the ultimate host/ manager. No words in terms of how generous and how much she cared for everything and everyone on the island. The other park staff and rangers were always smiles and helpful. Be aware no doors anywhere I could see on the island except for the lighthouse. Felt super safe regardless. The bungalow was well outfitted. Mosquito net over bed and solar powered lights all over. Fan was available but only used it once. Their window system is genius. Bathroom had an easy compost toilet and simple rain shower system. Loved the easy shades in the bungalow. Internet only in the main building, which was nice to help disconnect. If you have cell service it is throughout the island but not consistent. Flip flops definitely not recommended. Grateful they provided coral/ reef safe sandals. Used them to get to the boat, off the boat, and throughout the island. Snorkel, swim, or wander walk the island - all wonderful. Lots to explore or not. Enjoyed learning about the marine life, conservation, and seeing how they model true eco-travel excellence. Highly recommend walking the whole island during low tide.

If you are looking for the ultimate nature experience in Zanzibar you definitely have to visit Chumbe Island! - Best snorkeling experience I had in Zanzibar (MUCH better than Mnemba Island) with a high chance of seeing reef sharks, turtles and rays) - Incredibly knowledgeable staff that can tell you about the wildlife on and around the island - Cosy, eco-conscious huts that invite you to relax and forget about the world - AMAZING food! - I have never seen so many hermit crabs of all shapes and sizes in my life - Special experience to see the big coconut crabs (definitely go on the guided night walks) - beautiful, unforgettable sunsets - As a traveler who places very high value on sustainable tourism, this was a special treat, and I was impressed by all their thoughtful initiatives The only thing I regret is that we did not stay two nights, we would have loved to enjoy the nature, peace and hospitality a little longer!

What an incredible experience! We stayed three nights and enjoyed each moment. For sure a trip worth. Boat transfer: it might be a little bumpy, on the way to the island it was bumpy but on the way back absolutly not. Food: Lunch and Dinner: the best food we had in our trip, very tasteful and delicious! Everyday there was something different and local, we loved it. Breakfast was also nice. There was an amazing Ginger and Lemongrass tea available all day. Bungalow: everything is natural, it was a good experience and it fits their concept. There was enough space and the bed was on the second floor. There is only rainwater and a compostable toilet which was fine, only negative point was that the toilet was not clean, we cleaned it ourselves. The bed sheet had holes and spots, the mattress was too hard, pillow was not comfortable, even if we were not looking for luxus. Snorkeling: Awesome, unforgetable! We have been 4 times to Maldives, comparing both, here the corals were healthy, almost intakt, some huge, colored, many different kinds. They do not have many fish. Corals are the spot. Snorkeling is only possible one time day, with the guide, the spot is far away and need to be reached by boat. Beach: it is not possible to swim, you can enter the water to get a refresh but there are a lot of stones or corals substract. There are low and high tides. People: All employees were friendly and helpful, special thank you to Magreth from Snorkeling and Cooking Chef John King.