Chumbe Island Coral Park

Location: Chumbe Island, Mbweni, tz

Star Rating: 9.6 Stars

Property Type: Resorts

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 09:30 AM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 08:30 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Non-smoking rooms
• Restaurant
• Luggage storage
• Safety deposit box
• Board games/puzzles
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Outdoor furniture
• Coffee Shop on site
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Physical distancing rules followed
• Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
• Cashless payment available
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Sanitized tableware & silverware
• Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
• Physical distancing in dining areas
• Process in place to check health of guests
• Face masks for guests available
• 24-hour security
• Thermometers for guests provided by property
• Free wired internet
• Snorkeling on site
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - drop-off (surcharge)
• Beach umbrellas
• Pool sun loungers
• Private beach nearby
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Wine release events
• Beach club nearby (surcharge)
• Beach toys
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Bungalow - Beach Front

  Boasting a private entrance, this bungalow also includes 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower. The bungalow offers a seating area, a safe deposit box and sea views. The unit has 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Private entrance
  • Mosquito net
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap
  • Hypoallergenic pillow
  • Fire extinguisher

• Bungalow with Garden View

  Featuring a private entrance, this bungalow also is consisted of of 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower. The bungalow offers a seating area, a safe deposit box and garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Private entrance
  • Mosquito net
  • Linen
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap
  • Hypoallergenic pillow
  • Fire extinguisher

• Bungalow

  1 King Bed

  323 sq feet

  
  

  Layout - Bedroom and sitting area

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, free toiletries, and towels

  Practical - Safe; rollaway beds (free) and cribs (free) available on request

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and fan

  Eco-friendly - Eco-friendly toiletries, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, compost bin, and recycling bin

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Fan
  • Private bathroom
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Separate sitting area
  • Free cribs/infant beds
  • Separate bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Composting
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products
  • LED light bulbs

• Basic Bungalow

  1 King Bed

  Layout - Bedroom and sitting area

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, free toiletries, and towels

  Practical - Safe; cribs (free) available on request

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and fan

  Eco-friendly - Eco-friendly toiletries, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, compost bin, and recycling bin

  Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Fan
  • Private bathroom
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Separate sitting area
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • Free cribs/infant beds
  • Separate bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Composting
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products
  • LED light bulbs

• Basic Bungalow

  1 King Bed

  Layout - Bedroom, living room, and sitting area

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, free toiletries, and towels

  Practical - Safe; cribs (free) available on request

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and fan

  Eco-friendly - Eco-friendly toiletries, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, compost bin, and recycling bin

  Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 3 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Fan
  • Private bathroom
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Separate sitting area
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • Free cribs/infant beds
  • Separate bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Composting
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products
  • LED light bulbs

• Family Bungalow

  1 King Bed

  Layout - Bedroom and sitting area

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, free toiletries, and towels

  Practical - Safe; rollaway beds (free) and cribs (free) available on request

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and fan

  Eco-friendly - Eco-friendly toiletries, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, compost bin, and recycling bin

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Fan
  • Private bathroom
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Separate sitting area
  • Free cribs/infant beds
  • Separate bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Composting
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products
  • LED light bulbs

• Bungalow with Sea View

  Our Seaview Bungalows are two story and are just a few steps away from the ocean. They feature a living room downstairs equipped with handmade furniture and African art, a hammock for lounging through the day, and an private bathroom with hot water rain shower. The king size bed on the second floor sleeping platform benefits from a views across the sea.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Private entrance
  • Mosquito net
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap
  • Hypoallergenic pillow
  • Fire extinguisher

• Bungalow with Sea View

  Boasting a private entrance, this bungalow includes 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower. The bungalow offers a seating area, a safe deposit box and sea views. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Private entrance
  • Mosquito net
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap
  • Hypoallergenic pillow
  • Fire extinguisher

Guest Reviews

• Po Yu (7/5): -
• Alexander (10/5): Absolut unique experience! - This place is absolutely unique -- you stay on a beautiful island with just a few more clients and excellent staff. In our case, there was just one couple present. Everything is perfect! Breakfast, lunch & dinner are tasty, snorkeling is excellent and you'll also see plenty of animals on shore, such as the gigantic coconut crabs. The bungalow is wonderful, and overall you feel totally immersed in nature! There is truly nothing to complain about.
• Hein (9/5): A very unique Zanzibar experience - can't wait to visit Chumbe Island again! - An Island with so few guests - three wonderful meals per day - great service - the snorkeling - the bush walks - the beach and the comfortable sunbeds along the beach - in total a very unique Zanzibar experience. We love the experience as presented and could not complain about any aspect of our stay
• manu&isa (10/5): - Exceptionnel Parenthèse sauvage et inoubliable Chumbe Island coral park est un endroit encore préservé, presque hors du temps. Les fonds marins sont superbes, parfaits pour le snorkeling avec une eau claire et pleine de vie. Les coraux sont bien préservés et l’on plonge dans une véritable réserve marine, ce qui rend l’expérience encore plus exceptionnelle. L’observation des poissons se fait avec des rangers, en toute sécurité, accompagnés par des bateaux. On peut y voir des requins à pointes noires, des tortues, des mérous, des raies et toutes sortes d’autres poissons colorés. Une expérience vraiment impressionnante. Les cabanes sont rudimentaires, mais c’est justement ce qui fait tout le charme du lieu. On se sent vraiment coupé du monde, comme des Robinson Crusoé sur une petite île. L’expérience est simple, authentique et très dépaysante. La visite de l’après-midi avec les explications sur la forêt est très intéressante et permet de mieux comprendre cet environnement préservé. La sortie du soir pour observer les crabes de cocotiers est à la fois très instructive et impressionnante. Les repas sont très bons, copieux et servis face à la mer, ce qui rend l’expérience encore plus agréable. Un lieu unique pour les amoureux de nature et de tranquillité.
• Samantha (8/5): Magical place - The staff, the dedication to conserving the island and teaching people, the yoga mat provided, lunch and dinner, the daily snorkelling on the reef (though some more verbal guidance on what we are looking at would have been great)! I would highly recommend visiting, it is a magical place. We liked everything, but just make sure to know that you are going back to basics - you are sleeping in an open structure and have a compost toilet (hopefully that doesn't put you off). Nothing it was great. We stayed here for 2 nights and that was plenty for us.
• Ingrid v A (9/5): -
• Maria (4/5): A beautiful island with unique nature, but an overpriced experience with poor food, uncomfortable sleeping conditions an - The island itself is beautiful and remote, with a stunning night sky, a historic lighthouse and good snorkeling directly from the beach. The boat transfer was well organised. Crabs, snorkeling and the natural setting are genuinely special. The experience does not match the price. The food was very poor overall: lunch was acceptable, but dinner was repetitive and basic, breakfast was extremely limited, and desserts were inadequate for this price level. The bed was very uncomfortable: a thin mattress, visibly uneven bed frame and stained bedding. Even in an eco lodge, these are issues that can and should be addressed. The huts are very basic and feel more poorly finished than intentionally simple. Staff were distant, poorly trained and not focused on guest experience; communication during activities felt patronising rather than welcoming. Activities such as the crab walk were extremely short and underwhelming. Overall- is delivers a 2* experience for the price of a 5* high end ticket and therefore we feel the experience with regard to quality/price is completere out of balance.
• Natascha (10/5): prachtige lokatie - Fantastisch, wat een geweldige ervaring.
• Suzanne (10/5): Amazing! - Ecological preserve with unique accommodations friendly and knowledgeable staff and delicious food.
• Birgit (10/5): Natural - alles wunderbar -
• Jonathan (10/5): -
• Patrik (10/5): Fantastiskt ställe. -
• Mark (10/5): Exceptional! - A true escape, laid back, amazing staff and great food and a genuine commitment to the environment. I recommend at least two nights.
• Carmen (10/5): -
• Per (10/5): - Best experience on Zanzibar for sure. Expensive for the standard, yes, but money is going to the nature reserve and everything is mindful and thought through. A fantastic getaway for two nights, if you book only one, try to stay until the afternoon to enjoy the snorkeling and other activities. There’s no wifi in the cabins which was fine but good to know. There is in the restaurant though.
• Lisa (10/5): - Bliss, peaceful, exceptional food, staff, and activities Nothing
• Stefan (10/5): -
• MARCO (10/5): Unico per l’immersione in una natura incontaminata. La sera eravamo in 6 in tutta l’isola ( oltre allo staff) ed è una s - Esperienza indimenticabile Abbiamo soggiornato una notte in un un gruppo di 4 amici e abbiamo potuto apprezzare l’isola in ogni momento. Barriera super con una varietà di coralli che non abbiamo mai visto. Snorkeling notturno eccezionale con una guida esperta Pranzo e cena serviti con attenzione, con un menu semplice ma di qualità in un contesto impagabile. Certo il costo non è banale ma vale il prezzo Non è un aspetto negativo ma va sottolineato come le camere siano veramente come ti aspetteresti di vivere nella casa sugli alberi di Tarzan. Tutti i servizi sono presenti e abbiamo dormito bene, ma ad es il WC e’ ricavato con una fossa biologica inodore che per chi vive in città può apparire veramente strana. Occorre quindi un po’ di spirito di adattamento ma ne vale la pena al 100 per 100
• Angelique (9/5): Fantastisch!!! - Heerlijk verblijf gehad op Chumbe Island. Het is een prachtige eiland waar je veel onderwater leven en de bijzonder cocoskrabben kan spotten. We waren tijdens ons verblijf de enige gasten op het eiland. De gids en personeel waren enorm vriendelijk. Vooral de gids heeft veel kennis over het eiland en de natuur. Het hoogtepunt was toch echt dat zowel tijdens de lunch als het diner we een fantastisch uitzicht hadden op de zee waar black tip haaien rondzwommen. De snorkeltour was prachtig. Een van de mooiste plekken op Zanzibar om te snorkelen. Mooi koraal, veel vissen, schildpadden en haaien gezien. In de avond hebben we ook gesnorkeld wat een prachtige ervaring was. Kortom een ervaring om nooit te vergeten. Chumbe Island is echt een must om heen te gaan als je in Zanzibar bent.
• Marcel (10/5): Abseits des Massentourismus - Von der ersten Sekunde an spürten wir die herzliche Gastfreundschaft des Personals. Alle Mitarbeiter waren jederzeit aufmerksam, freundlich und zuvorkommend – ohne dabei aufdringlich zu wirken. Das Essen war vorzüglich. Wer eine entspannte und zugleich nachhaltige Auszeit sucht, wird hier definitiv nicht enttäuscht. Wir empfehlen, mindestens zwei Nächte zu bleiben. So können die Aktivitäten entspannt auf zwei Tage verteilt werden und man hat dennoch genügend Zeit, den Strand zu genießen. Wenn man versucht, alle Aktivitäten an einem Tag unterzubringen, kann es etwas stressig werden.
• Nathan (10/5): Peaceful island stay at one with nature. - This is a remote off grid hotel stay on a marine/island reserve— a peaceful relaxed stay in a basic glamping style beach house. The staff are all wonderfully warm and helpful and the food is a set menu prepared each day. We had a jungle tour where we learned about the medicinal qualities of the plants there and we learned about the large coconut crabs that roam the island. Beautiful coastal walks and snorkelling.
• lynda (10/5): - Beautiful place with great staff
• Annina (10/5): - Eizigartige Umgebung und sehr aufmerksames und freundliches Personal.
• Anita (9/5): Best eco friendly resort. - This is one of the few places that really makes a huge effort on environmental protection, especially marine life. The staff is amazing and very knowledgeable. Pillows were bit too hard for me. High government taxes. The ferry and cargo ships approach quite close. This is not the property’s fault. The government should prohibit heavy sea transport so close to a marine reserve.
• Richard (10/5): -
• Lucas (9/5): Unique experience. - The island is amazing: pure relax and nature. Snorkeling is the peak, and the local beach is amazing . Value for money is clearly greater in the overnight stay. Seafood could be more varied/better prepared.
• Sabrina Stella (9/5): Esperienza unica - Trovo che il progetto per preservare un luogo così speciale e delicato sia l'aspetto più importante e di conseguenza tutto ciò che è legato all'idea di poter vivere sull'isola utilizzando quello che la natura regala (acqua piovana per lavarsi, sole per produrre energia, foglie ed alberi per costruire le capanne e gli arredi, ecc) rende l'esperienza ancora più unica. I bungalow sono veramente belli e curati, lo staff è disponibile e molto cordiale, il cibo davvero buono, le attività ben programmate ed interessanti (snorkeling, passeggiata nella foresta e giro notturno per vedere i granchi del cocco). La vista ed il luogo ovviamente impagabili. Se proprio devo trovare una critica, devo ammettere che l'odore che proveniva dal bagno (compostabile) non era dei migliori, però si può sopportare visto il concept della struttura.
• Yvette (10/5): séjour très agréable ,répondant parfaitement à nos attentes - milieu naturel très préservé, propreté sur l'ile et dans l'océan,plages de snorkeling très bien calculées en fonction de la marée,documentation de qualité mise à disposition rien
• Nicolas (7/5): bien mais mauvais rapport qualité/prix - Les bungalows, au nombre de 7, sont superbes ! une vue magnifique depuis la chambre, le calme. Snorkeling intéressant. Groupe de chercheurs sur l'île intéressants. Les carbes de coco, impressionnants ! Délicieux repas. Petit déjeuner un peu léger. Les produits d'hygiène faits spécialement pour ne pas polluer l'île. On nous explique que ces grosses sommes pour la nuit servira pour l'île et les gens de l'île, histoire de nous décomplexer.... Le prix est exhorbitant pour le temps passé sur l'île. On arrive en fin de matinée (retard du à l'un des clients) par bateau, ensuite nous n'avons pas le temps de nous poser ou aller voir le phare car selon les horaires de la marée, nous devions partir pour faire le snorkeling. (pas de prise près du lit), attention toilettes sèches, petit déjeuner un peu léger et tôt pour check out à 8:30 (même si on ne nous pousse pas dehors) ATTENTION une taxe de séjour spécifique à l'île de 35$ en plus par personne à payer en cash ou en CB sur place.
• Elaine (9/5): -
• Chiara (3/5): Un ecocamping con un costo da hotel 5 stelle - La struttura mi ha chiesto un feedback, che ho inviato via mail. Non ho ricevuto alcun riscontro. Pertanto vi inoltro il testo della loro richiesta e la mia risposta. La mia risposta: I work as a consultant in tourism quality services and marketing for an international hotel company and i am going to write you my honest and free feedback . I will no give you a bad revieew on booking but i want to be cllear with you;: 1-Our 2 nights , 3 adults one banda stay costed us in total 2150 dollars . we paid in euro the same amount and this Is absolutely not correct because The value euro/dollar is calculated the same but euro is much stronger than dollar. 2- the services given for a 5 star hotel and for the price we paid are definitely low, even for an ecological and sustainable accomodation . in the rooms there should be electicity enough to charge our telephone, should be a good wifi connection every where expecialky in bandas ( sky link satellite web signal would be perfect solution ) Should be given at least 2 towels per guest Should be an hairdrier Should be more privacy having a key- closable door in every banda entrance - should be only white color towels and bed sheet for a guarantee of hygiene - should be solar little lights for night walking from restaurant to bandas - as you have a sustainable filosophy , in the beach and on the island should not be absolutely no trace of waste or plastic. You should clean every day very precisely. I noticed many workers on the island doing nothing . They should work in their working hours instead of sitting in the shadow ( you could put cameras so you can control control your staff.) - most of your guests come to see the reef , the fishes and little sharks ,so there often should be a snorkeling guide to enter in the water also from the beach , for safety surveillance and to show whats underwater. There should be a possibility to have payment private guide if desired by guests . - food offer is really basic.
• Mallory (10/5): This place is paradise and I miss it deeply already ❤️ - This place is magical!! BRING REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN (and extra to leave there for others) AND RED LIGHT HEADLAMP! Stay two nights or do an overnight and a full day the next day, that’s what I did. Everyone was wishing they had more time! Also you can bring some cool marine or conservation books to leave there and maybe exchange for one of theirs if yours is on par. The staff are so friendly and kind hearted and it’s just such a cool getaway from society and “the real world” back to what truly is the real world. It was so nice to be in tune with nature and to see you can really live in true comfort, beauty, and even luxury without having to destroy the earth to do so. The bungalows were so comfortable and the sound of the waves all night. I think it would be great for them to do a bit more education on how all of their conservation works but I understand it’s a short stay for many people and also maybe not everyone would love just being there to be in class haha. NOTE: when I was there I really wanted to Snorkle more and so I just asked to borrow the gear and you can do so on your own (if this still stands true) but just be careful and make sure to get up on your belly once you’re in a couple feet of water so you don’t step on and damage any more reef or creatures. They need to have red light headlamps/flashlights for doing the night crab walks so they don’t disturb the circadian rhythm of the creatures. Also be careful where you step! They need reefsafe sunscreen and should make sure that is what all guests are using though I understand it would be hard to get there so people should bring some to leave as well. Maybe the Snorkle tour should be a bit longer if people want especially the day trip people that come there just for Snorkle because it’s a bit quick.
• Benoit (10/5): Plus qu'un hôtel, une expérience. - Chumbe Island n'est pas un hotel traditionnel. C'est un lieu où vous serez connectés à la nature, où vous vivrez au rythme du soleil, vous découvrirez de magnifiques fonds marins en snorkeling et partirez à la découverte de la faune de l'île (oiseaux, bernard l'hermites, crabes des cocotiers...). Le personnel présent sur l'île est très disponible et généreux en explication. Un séjour inoubliable pour ma femme et moi.
• Marina (10/5): - Wow, words can not even express. The staff is highly professional, the island is absolutely incredible. We especially enjoyed the feeling of like being on an uninhabited island but with the staff always there for us. The kitchen is insanely good and the sunset and overall vibe were sensational. We got to see dolphins, a shark and the incredible coral reef. There are thousands of crabs running around the island so watch your step. At night you get to see the giant coconut crabs which the staff feeds on the island. God bless you guys for your work!
• Cornelia (9/5): - Wunderschöne Insel, superfreundliches Personal und leckeres Essen Eher teuer
• Elena (7/5): The staff is disappointing 😞 - The island is amazing, beautiful views, coral reef and beaches The staff were lazy. The ranger took us to the Reef in a wrong time when the tide was already high. They spend too much time for "orientation" and room "tour" and missed the valuable tide swim schedule. Upon booking, I was told that we can ask a ranger to take us to reef at anytime, but the ranger was too lazy to take us. They told us to swim for 4-5 minutes to the ocean and one we reach the reef, go around the islan corner and swim back to the shore. We are good swimmers but we didn't want to take a risk swimming to the unkown derp water, relatively rough waves without a boat or a ranger. Regarding other activities, the forest walk was literally 16 minutes with 3 stops and not much information. The same for the night crab walk. 10 minutes with a limited information about crabs or the island. The food was mediocre. 85% is the same food for lunch and dinner. In our experience, the staff are not knowledgeable in eco tourism, island history, flora/founa or even marine life. For the price of $300 per person or $600 per room (in Africa) the service was extremely disappointing 😞
• Claudio (10/5): Pole Pole with the natural things .. - Wonderful breakfast, everything fresh, facing a beautiful sea and a magical place full of energy. The staff coordinated by Vera are sensational and always attentive to help with everything. A place for those who like nature and healthy coexistence, go running. You will hear three sounds all day long: the sea, the birds and Allah, and every hour you will be very thankful for being there. leave ..
• Scheila (9/5): - As cabanas são bem fofas mais é bom reforçar que é roots, Isa quer dizer conforto mais dentro das possibilidades do lugar. Elas ficam no meio do mato então vale reforçar isso. Os funcionários são bem atenciosos. O lugar é único mesmo!
• ALBERTO (9/5): -
• Fabrizia (10/5): - Buongiorno desidero lasciare questa recensione perché è una tra le più sentite di sempre. Chumbe ci ha accolto con tranquillità e grande rispetto per l’ambiente, tutto è stato spiegato nel dettaglio da cui traspariva il grande impegno e passione per questo progetto. I bungalow costruiti per non impattare e inquinare sono accoglienti e l’emozione di dormire con una finestra sull’oceano in perfetta armonia con l’ambiente e’ un’esperienza unica. L’attività di snorkeling è seguita molto bene e si adatta perfettamente anche a bambini o persone con altre esigenze, personalmente sono dovuta rientrare prima perché non stavo molto bene e con me una bambina che aveva freddo, sono stati tempestivi e accoglienti nel prestare aiuto. Il team è splendido, ci è capitato di incontrarli successivamente in giro per la città e anche in quella occasione sono stati molto disponibili . Sicuramente sarà un’esperienza che custodirò per sempre dentro di me.
• Federica (9/5): -
• Markus (10/5): Ein wunderschönes, abenteuerliches Erlebnis. - Super Konzept, schöne einsame Insel für Ruhe und Frieden. Riff it super zum Schnorcheln. Die Nacht war ein schönes unvergessliches Abenteurer. Tolles Programm und super Personal! Forest Walk könnte etwas spannender gemacht werden, mehr Einblick in die Tierwelt und weniger von Flora und Fauna.
• Josselin PIVOT (10/5): Un Séjour Idyllique - Un cadre exceptionnel avec une vue sur l'océan incroyable et la possibilité de faire le tour de l'ile à pied est juste extraordinaire. Une langue de sable blanc se dévoile à marée basse à l'extrémité Sud. Les sorties snorkelling proposées quotidiennement sont juste magnifiques avec une visibilité parfaite. Les repas servis à midi et soir sont des très bonne qualité et n'ont rien à envier aux "grands" hotels. Le cuisinier est aux petits soins si vous avez des allergies ou intolérances alimentaires et vous concoctera même des assiettes à part si besoin. Bref, un séjour exceptionnel et hors du temps sur un caillou idyllique. Deux nuits sur place suffisent pour apprécier la totalité du site. Absolument rien.
• Suzanne (9/5): -
• Richard (9/5): Castaway on a remote island paradise - We loved the friendliness and reassurance that Vera and her staff showed us. The guides were knowledgeable and are doing a wonderful job protecting this very special place and promoting the need for conservation. We loved it all.
• Maalouf (8/5): Great experience but overpriced - The unique experience The Staff Connecting with nature Overpriced Could benefit from better lounge chairs and comfortable seating and benches across the island
• Ann (10/5): Exceptional -
• Craig (10/5): Exceptional -
• Camellia (10/5): Wonderful place to stay :) - It is beautiful on Chumbe and the reef was wonderful. All the staff were wonderful but especially Margret and Vera! The food was amazing too. We enjoyed the coconut crab and forest walks and climbing up the lighthouse stairs to see the view. I wish it was less expensive so we could stay longer- but we understand that it supports the nature reserve.
• Benjamin (10/5): Simply the best - The best place I’ve ever been. If you love nature, quality fresh food, education, tranquility and amazing snorkelling then book this place without hesitation Maybe not for everyone especially the all inclusive gang. But It’s perfection if you embrace it
• Shotocris (10/5): Exceptional - One of the perfect places for nature lovers. Quiet, peaceful, ideal to disconnect from the "real" world
• Dorothee (10/5): - Leben in und mit der Natur, freundliche Menschen, zur Ruhe kommen, das alles findet man in dieser einzigartigen Unterkunft
• William (10/5): Imagine an island as mysterious and pristine as the Galapagos, but private! A coral paradise. - This is an exceptional place-- like they say, it's the closest you can come to living like a castaway while still maintaining comfort. Imagine an island as mysterious as the Galapagos, but private! A true eco-lodge, you know when you're coming here you are protecting one of the most pristine marine environments in East Africa. Snorkeling here is among the best in the world, because the coral formations are healthy and spectacular. Swam with black tip reef sharks between purple, blue, and yellow coral heads big as houses. At night, the forest walk among the giant coconut crabs is as surreal as anything in Life of Pi! It's the perfect complement to a high end safari in one of the Maasai conservancies. The staff are also exceptional, especially the island manager Vera. Can't think of anything.
• Anna (8/5): Gorgeous island and amazing stay at the eco resort (if a bit overpriced) - Chumbe island and its surrounding water wildlife are exceptional places of beauty. It feels like a very exclusive experience given the small amount of guests that can stay on the island overnight. We stayed for 3 nights over the New Year's holiday, and did really love the remote feel to our stay there. We also loved the food cooked for us every breakfast, lunch and dinner - everything so fresh and healthy and tasty. Also it's amazing that Chumbe is a not for profit resort, and so all proceeds go towards preserving the natural beauty of the island and its surrounding waters. I think the only point I would question is the price versus the level of comfort / service. It goes without saying that we were not expecting luxury, as this is an eco resort and the huts are very clearly basic huts - but for the price we paid, I think I would have expected the basics to be in order (light working in the eco hut, fan working, slightly better shower experience) as well as a higher level of service (I found myself looking for staff quite frequently trying to get a cup of coffee). But all in all the good outweighed the bad by quite a big margin.
• Samuel (10/5): Perfect stay - The place is located on a private island near to the shore of Sansibar. As there are only 7 cabins and at maximum there can stay not more than 20 people the feeling is calm and very relaxing. The staff is very kindly and give there best that the guest has a good stay. The meals are really great and the daily offered excursions to the island and the nearby reef are also great. One of the best is the private light house which could be visited for free anytime. Overall it was worth the stay...even if it costs a bit more than usual. You have to be a little adventurous as the cabins are very open and you will find a lot of creatures there.
• Adriana (10/5): Absolutely worth it - This place doesn't even feel real. Raw, untouched, pristine nature. The Chumbe Island team have done a wonderful job with the hotel. It's an incredible experience to go to this place. I was having second thoughts about our booking since the price was out of our usual travel budget. But we decided to give it a go and I'm so happy we did. Our day at Chumbe was the highlight of our stay in Zanzibar and most likely of our Tanzania trip. As a heads up, Hotels.com doesn't clearly state the amount of local taxes you have to pay per person upon arrival. It's 35 USD per person per night on top of the Hotels.com rate.
• Lars (6/5): Pleasant - Too expensive.
• Gabriella (10/5): Amazing stay - I stayed at Chumbe for 3 nights as a solo traveller and it was the best choice. Firstly, the staff were amazing, special call outs to Chaga, Munir and Vera, and made the whole stay so enjoyable. The food was plentiful and tasty. The snorkelling was great, I actually saw more snorkelling off the coast Chumbe than I did diving off the coast of Zanzibar. The accomodation was clean and had everything you need (keep in mind it’s off grid, so the facilities they had were great). Can’t recommend this place enough Nothing
• Koenraad (8/5): an unforgettable wedding anniversary -
• Lucinda (10/5): Rest in nature and beauty!! - Beautiful place, wonderful snorkeling !
• Cotolan (10/5): Exceptional -
• Dana (9/5): Superb - The place is magical and so unique! The staff is very friendly and nice- all of them! Food was amazing, the best we had in Tanzania. We expected to sleep good without any noises, it is not the property responsibility, but the birds and other animals did a lot of noise in the very early morning.
• Lia (10/5): - 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.
• F (10/5): Beautiful. World Class. Future of sustainable and compassionate travel and tourism. - Exceptional place and team, the island is beautiful and sacred. The team are so wonderful. Stayed there six nights and could've stayed more . Most of all the sustainability and ethics of the place is world class and leading in eco tourism. It's a little patch of paradise that is making our oceans and world better. Worth every penny!
• Karen (10/5): - A wonderful eco resort! Cute bungalow's with compost toilets. We slept with all the windows and doors open to enjoy the ocean breeze. staff and food fantastic. Good snorkelling. Coconut crab night walk was fascinating. We climbed up the lighthouse and walked around the island on low tide - saw heaps of starfish and crabs! We also relaxed in the swinging day beds and read our books. 4 nights was a lovely amount of time if you can…but lots just came for 1 night.
• Alban (10/5): Amazing experience! - Amazing Localisation Full experience of the wild life (coconut crabe walk by night and visit of the dry forest included) Two sessions of Snorkeling (shark, turtle) N/A
• Adam (10/5): Perfect - Everything Nothing
• Elisa (4/5): Wonderful Island and Disappointing Overpriced Service - Amazing protected natural park, isolated and very quiet, possibility to watch a great variety of animals (kingfisher, bird of paradise, coconut crubs...) far from the Stone Town chaos. The 100% sostainibility of the Ecolodge is very remarkable. Late pick up and departure to the island (10.45 am instead of 10 am). Not real 'free' activity on the island: first 45 minutes snorkeling mandatory after a uninformative briefing and with all the guests by boat (the reef is really easy to reach swimming from the beach) even if on website and after specific requests by mail they guarantee you freely activity. It's possible to swim free just after the scheduled lunch (we had unfavourable tide condition by then). Crab walk 15 minutes long and request from the staff to come back after that time (very strict and short time to enjoy the walk). There was no time to enjoy dinner because it was served at 19.45 and at 20.30 we were pushed to do the crab walk. At our return (15 minutes later) the dinner table were gone. The food was good (buffet type) but without any presentation and with very poor control to the quantity taken by each guest (if you arrive a bit late you can miss some). This review is based on 1 night spent on the island for a total amount of 520$. It's a beautiful ecolodge with a really poor sensibility to details.
• Cariska (10/5): Wonderful experience! - Beautuful island! It's worth the money because they value the environment and they teach the locals how to take care of the land, the sea, the animals and the planet. Very good and sympathetic. And apart from that: you have a wonderful time yourself! Friendly and helpfull staff, good food, nice walks and nice snorkeling! -
• Daniel (10/5): A truly amazing experience even as a solo traveler. - Beautiful property. Amazing staff. Great experiences.
• Nikhil (10/5): Exceptional -
• Ebony:) (10/5): You have to visit this paradise - Paradise. The food was delicious, the room was amazing, they stay true to their eco values, the crabs are gorgeous. It's a whole other world. Once in a lifetime experience. We loved that on our way back to Zanzibar our boat stopped to talk with some fishermen who had been caught laying traps in the reef, our boatmen were firm but polite and told them their equipment was on the island awaitint collection but only if they spent the day there to be educates into why they can't lay traps in a protected area etc (lunch included). Fantastically ethical way of handling what must be a regular threat. I loved everything but maybe the management could think about not just the local issues which cause problems for the island e.g managing fishermen damaging the reef but maybe they could factor in larger issues into their initiative e.g. rising ocean levels due to climate change driven largely by the animals for food industry. Perhaps they could serve only local fish, vegetarian and vegan dishes to help combat rising sea levels in their small way. Just a suggestion, not a critisism.
• Alex (10/5): We had a wonderful stay and enjoyed every part of this beautiful island! - Our lodge under the lighthouse and stars, the beautiful nature and birds, crabs, activities, delicious food and hospitality of the staff. It was very interesting to talk to the manager and learn more about the environment, research and protection of the reef. Good luck with your good work! It was all perfectly taken care of!
• Ingrid (10/5): Exceptional - Amazing experience! Guided snorkel tour was the best, food was delicious, impeccable service and beautiful beach and forest walk. A bit hot the second night and somehow there were mosquitoes in the mosquito net, coupld have byour fault, I'm not sure how they got there.
• Graham (10/5): Exceptional -
• Marcel (10/5): A Great Blend of Nature, Comfort, and Personalised Care - Chumbe Island truly exceeded our expectations! The staff couldn't have been more welcoming, creating a family-like atmosphere from the get-go. They even arranged private activities to accommodate my sight impairment, which was incredibly thoughtful. From night-time coconut crab walks to snorkeling and forest tours, every experience was memorable. The dining on the island was top-notch, and the $50 massage was the cherry on top. Our room came with 2 hammocks outside, perfect for dozing off after lunch under the serene sky. What really impressed us was the island's commitment to sustainability. The eco-friendly bungalows powered by solar energy showed their genuine care for the environment. A special thanks to Margrethe and Jumma for sharing some fun times playing Bao after dinner. Those personal touches made our stay even more memorable. Chumbe Island is the perfect blend of hospitality, sustainability, and relaxation. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a meaningful getaway.
• Natalia (10/5): Paradise - Our stay at Chumbe Island was amazing! This place is magical, exclusive. It’s the luxury of simplicity, of being in deep contact with nature. There are stunning views no matter where you look. The staff is so nice, helpful and sweet (many thanks to Vera, the charming manager who took really good care of us). They always have big smiles on their faces :) The food is delicious and very healthy. It’s amazing to diner under the starts. There is unlimited water, tea and coffee all day. The bungalows are charming, simple but comfortable. Beach beds on the shade to relax. The snorkeling is great, excellent visibility and rich marine life (we saw sting rays, octopus, sharks, dolphins and a multitude of colorful fish and corals). We spent three nights, which was a perfect timing (we could have stayed a week longer without getting bored). Everything is ecological, sustainable. Solar electricity, water collected from rain, and dry compostable toilets. The hotel is a non-profitable organization which helps to protect the island and invests in education. So even more reasons to go! We can’t wait to go back! -
• Jørgen (10/5): Will love to come back - The peace and the fealing of be a special guest. Later return time (check out) included in the last day on the island was too short.
• Lara (10/5): Paradise - Grab Walk at Night, snorcelling, superfriendly staff, food, Island as such
• Gloria (10/5): A little paradise in Africa. - Chumbe island is everything it stands for : an ecological refuge which proves that tourism is possible without having an impact on nature and its gems : the amazing coral, the forest with its huge land crabs, the fish .... Yes, you will have to adapt yourself to the heat and not having AC. But you will be able to enjoy the breeze coming from the sea, the sound of the waves not disturbed by any roaring of engines from AC or alternators. Instead you'll have the most romantic dinner outside under the stars with some candles to illuminate your table. And all this with the support of an amazing friendly staff. I was here in the month of January and it was VERY hot ( I am 73). So if you are susceptible to the humid heat you might prefer to go when it is less hot.
• Andrea (10/5): Exceptional -
• Katharina (10/5): My personal little paradise - Ecotourism at its best!! You are looking for an eco-friendly holiday - this is where you habe to go. So many beautiful places to be, such bio diversity, animals not disturbed by us. Staff super helpful and friendly. The food is the best I had in quite some time. For me, its my personal paradise. 100% recommendation!!!
• Catherine (10/5): Outstanding! - Fabulous place to stay with excellent model of conservation, education and eco-tourism. Very friendly staff, great food, views and relaxed atmosphere.
• William (10/5): Truly a desert island experience with just enough comfort to call it "glamping." - An extraordinary location--- truly a desert island experience with just enough comfort to call it "glamping." Excellent food, wonderful rangers, pristine coral reef, interesting excursions, and a wonderful host, Vera, who is charming. And by staying here, you are contributing to important conservation efforts. A win all around and likely a highlight of any trip to Africa. Nothing.
• Beatrix (6/5): Not for the faint-of-heart - Private island surrounded by coral reef. Very friendly staff. Experience is very weather-depend. We had high winds and low tides during our stay, making swimming and snorkeling extremely limited. Cabins are truly basic (think: compost toilet). Lots of bugs in high humidity.
• Francesca (9/5): Great experience, would highly recommend to anyone looking for something a little less conventional! - Overall, we had a great time in Chumbe and would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for something a little less conventional. It met our expectations and was exactly what we had hoped for! As the island is very small there really isn't much to do outside of Snorkeling and a relatively brief walk in the forest or on the other end of the island beach during low tide but that is why it's such a great place to really disconnect, relax and get in touch with the surrounding nature and appreciate the simple things. On our first day there, we were lucky enough to see one of the most beautiful sunsets we've seen. The bungalows are super authentic and adequately equipped and they are cleaned every day. As far as the food, the 3 meals per day included the full board package were truly amazing. The food was healthy, simple yet delicious – without a doubt the best food we had during our 10 days stay around Zanzibar (Stone Town, Jambiani/Paje, Mbweni). The staff is truly lovely, very professional, and always available.
• Noud (10/5): Amazing experience with great staff -
• Jeremy (9/5): A stunning place to stay - try to go when the weather is cooler. - The food was exceptional. The coral reef and sea life were superb (and I have been to many in my life)! It was VERY hot at night. We visited at a hot time of year, so I understand this, but we did not sleep well (and one fan did not work).
• Kg (10/5): Unique place. - Chumbe Island is unique, a marine protected area which came about from once being a military site. Local fishers stayed well away (imagine), and the military did little to disrupt it, hence the best reefs we encountered anywhere near Zanzibar. Most people come here for the day trip, consisting of a snorkeling dive, lunch, and a forest walk. All great! And it is an active environmental education and advocacy organization. (You can see a class underway in one of the enclosed photos.) We were very glad to have stayed for several nights, just to take it in better and to get to know the staff, who are beyond excellent. Food, especially lunches, was superb. The forest walk after dark, to see the nearly one-meter across coconut crabs, was amazing. (They are very rare where they are not protected, as here.) We were very sad to say goodbye to these great people, as you might notice in one of the photos. The overnight charge ain't cheap. We wonder if they might fill more bungalows (of which there are seven; typically three or four were occupied during our time there) if they dropped the price a bit, but not for me to say.
• Tiago (8/5): In close contact with nature - Very authentic accommodation in the middle of the forest. The island is beautiful and you will be in close contact with nature! Staff is friendly and the food very tasty. Make sure you are fine to be sleeping in an eco-resort. For example, there is no water flushing in the toilet (the only way to clean it is with natural soil) thus the smell could be bad at times. Overall the place is too pricey for what it offers.
• Thomas (10/5): A trip to remember! Incredible! - Fantastic! Above all expectations! What a place! Snorkeling the reef is just incredible, the food was plentiful and super good. The staff was very friendly and helpful and knowledgeable. The Coconut crabs were everywhere and the beach was quiet and beautiful. The little huts were very neat. What an experience!! I highly recommend a few days at Chumbe Island! A visit I will remember always. I would have liked better quality sheets and as I’m a light sleeper, I should’ve used ear plugs. The waves crashing in at night kept me up a bit. But this did my no means diminish my great experience at Chumbe
• Georgia (10/5): Make sure you go. - Wonderful staff, tasty home cooked food, fantastic snorkelling and activities.
• Michael (10/5): An amazing experience- just wish I could have stayed longer - An amazing experience-I felt privileged to participate in this extremely important research and education project. They do excellent work. The coral and general reef condition is the best I’ve seen in the Indian Ocean - thanks to the work of the staff. Also the coconut crabs are a must see. Nothing
• Christine (10/5): Exceptional -
• Guðmundur (9/5): Superb -
• Patricia (10/5): Meget mere end en overnatning ❤️ - Fantastisk oplevelse ikke bare en overnatning ! Der blev taget hånd om os fra starten med planlagte ture så vi kunne få mest ud af øen og naturen, maden var så god og serveret i de flotteste omgivelser . Hytten var over forventning på en isoleret ø. Personalet var imødekommende , venlige og skønne. Både snorkel tur og aften krabbe gåtur var fantastiske oplevelser
• Sarah (10/5): Paradise - It was unique and very tranquil Absolutely nothing
• Emma (10/5): Peaceful/tranquil/beautiful - interacting with nature the tranquillity 'laid back' atmosphere nothing! it was perfect
• Ayyash (10/5): A hidden pearl - Every single detail, including Staff Place Rain water drainage system All the eco tours Information Location Activites All organic food Bungalows and how it is operated The toilet and rules Boats Views and the sea That we only stayed for 1 night We shall repeat it with more people
• Laetitia (3/5): It's beautiful for day tours - I loved how they preserve nature I didn't like the fact that the cottages had no door and I hardly slept at night

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