Chumbe Island Coral Park is one of the most state-of-the-art, eco-friendly lodges in East Africa and a diver's paradise. Situated in a Marine Protected Area off the coast of Zanzibar, Chumbe Island Coral Park is set in the heart of an award-winning private nature reserve. This boutique eco-lodge in Tanzania offers accommodation in unique bungalows situated right on the beach.
Upon its inception, Chumbe Island Coral Park recruited former fishermen from neighbouring villages and provided them with training to become park rangers. They played a vital role in early outreach programs to raise awareness within the local communities about marine ecology and the sustainable management of natural resources.
Today, Chumbe’s strong ranger team patrols and monitors the reserve using non-confrontational and educational approaches to deter poaching and guide visitors.
The nature reserve includes a coral reef sanctuary – the first gazetted marine park in Tanzania – and a forest reserve. Thanks to its protection, the reef is home to 90% of East Africa’s hard coral species, and over 400 fish species, and is a vital feeding ground for green and hawksbill turtles.
The forest reserve harbours highly specialised flora that has developed to survive without any groundwater – the bedrock of the island comprises fossilised coral that is unable to store rainwater.
It’s also a sanctuary for a plethora of birds, rare and endangered species like Ader’s duiker, and a healthy population of coconut crabs (the world’s biggest arthropod).
The coral reef is next to the island and you can experience a cornucopia of wildlife and their beauty is enough to catapult you into a higher state of consciousness. The interior of the island holds one of the last remaining coral rag forests in Zanzibar: an ancient coral reef that was raised from the sea by tectonic movement. Exploring the island is a blissful and peaceful experience and overhead flies a multicoloured sky of birds.
The reserve includes a fully protected Coral Reef Sanctuary and Forest Reserve that harbour rare wildlife, a Visitor and Education centre, a small eco-lodge, nature walks and historical monuments. All buildings and operations are based on state-of-the-art eco-technology aiming at zero impact on the environment (rainwater catchment, photovoltaic energy and solar water heating, composting toilets, vegetative greywater filtration etc.).
