Chumbe Island Coral Park

Chumbe Island is a tiny outcrop of fossilised coral in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Zanzibar. Acclaimed as one of the most successful sustainable tourism projects in the world, Chumbe Island is a protected national park and offers world-class snorkeling and a remarkable eco-lodge.

CHUMBE IN PICTURES

In the six years since Chumbe opened its shores to tourists all profits have been put into local conservation projects. Only a kilometre in length and 300 metres wide, Chumbe's blanket of rag forest, swaying palms and giant baobab trees are home to two of the world's rarest creatures: the fierce looking giant coconut crab (the largest crab in the world, which climbs palm trees to the very top in search of food), and the highly endangered Ader's duiker, a reclusive antelope hunted to near extinction elsewhere. The surrounding reef is formed of over 200 types of coral and has 370 different species of fish, lobsters and dolphins.

Chumbe Island is a nature reserve that includes the 'Chumbe Reef Sanctuary', the 'Chumbe Forest Reserve', a ruined mosque, historic lighthouse and 7 unique eco-bungalows. At the centre of the island, the stunning visitor centre has a restaurant and lounge for island guests, and a classroom for local children who visit on day trips from Stone Town. In the past five years the Chumbe project has won a number of globally recognised awards for ecologically sustainable tourism, including by the United Nations 'Environmental Achievement Award', Conde Nast Traveller's 'Eco-Tourism Destination of the Year' and the prestigious British Airways 'Tourism for Tomorrow' Award.

Guests accommodation is in 7 beautiful palm thatch bungalows nestled at the edge of the forest, looking out over the sea. The bungalows are equipped to catch, filter and solar heat their own water and have a private bathroom, solar lights, shelves made of driftwood and hammocks. The upstairs bedrooms have a mattress, flowing mosquito net and a front wall that you can open at night so that you can look at the stars.

Everything on Chumbe is designed to fully protect the fragile nature of the island. Former fishermen now act as the park rangers and take guests on twice daily snorkeling trips over the reefs (which are said to be amongst the best preserved in Africa) and walks along the nature trails where it is possible to see remains of giant clams thousands of years old, as well as numerous reptiles and birds.

Chumbe has all the attractions of an island paradise - glorious coral reefs, waving palm trees, thick coral-rag forests and sublime cuisine - but its as far removed from a typical holiday resort as you can get. No cocktail bars, catamarans, swimming pools, televisions or even electricity, and if you're looking for entertainment - it's all provided courtesy of nature.