Chumbe Island Coral ParkChumbe Island Coral Park, Zanzibar, TanzaniaChumbe Island Coral Park is an Island based Marine Protected Area. It is a financially self-sustaining Conservation and Education Project. The Eco-lodge at Chumbe Island Coral Park never gets crowded. |
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Chumbe Island Coral ParkZanzibar, Tanzania
It's what Robinson Crusoe could only have dreamt about! Since there are only seven bungalows, Chumbe Island Coral Park never gets crowded, even when fully booked ensuring you receive all the service and attention that you deserve on your peaceful and relaxing holiday away from traffic, phones, TV, faxes, loud music. Chumbe Island Coral Park is an Island based Marine Protected Area. It is a financially self-sustaining Conservation and Education Project, managed by a non-profit organization, where funding is provided by visitors to the Park who stay in the stunning and innovative Eco-Lodge on the island. Prices on Chumbe Island include everything except alcoholic drinks. All the food, soft drinks, snacks, park fees, park ranger services like forest walks, guided snorkeling on the reef (with all equipment provided), scheduled boat transfers back and forth to the island... everything is included. And, if you're not quite sure about your snorkeling skills our experienced rangers provide excellent tuition. After a day of exploration and discovery, dine under the huge palm thatched roof stretching over the ruins of the historical lighthouse keeper's house converted into a visitors' centre. This spectacular structure has kept the enclosed ruins intact, and offers tranquil views across the ocean. Next door nestles the beautifully elaborate small mosque, built for the lighthouse keepers nearly 100 years ago. The mosque is one of the only Indian-style mosques in Zanzibar, and it is still in use today by the team on the island. Our chefs provide an abundant supply of mouth-watering dishes that are a mixture of Zanzibarian, Arabic, Indian and African tastes and satisfy both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Accommodation on Chumbe IslandThe Chumbe Island bungalows are designed to provide both privacy and a sense of freedom of living in the open. Many of our clients find these bungalows exceptionally romantic (honeymooners love them), but any individual with a passion for natural beauty will find these bungalows captivating beyond measure. All Chumbe Island bungalows overlook the sea and it takes just 30 seconds to stroll from the comforts of your bungalow hammock to feeling the warm tropical ocean lapping at your feet. All bungalows are decorated with African art and colourful fabrics and equipped with:- double or twin beds in the sleeping area under the palmthatched roof; self-contained bathrooms with hot & cold shower; large living rooms; handmade furniture; and very comfortable hammocks. Being a Marine Protected Area (MPA) the focal aim of the Chumbe Island Coral Park Project is to preserve Chumbe Island's exceptional environment. Therefore we have built accommodation based on the state-of-the-art of eco-architecture and eco-technology. For more information on Eco-Tourism on Chumbe Island click here.
Activities on and around
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Chumbe Photo Gallery | Chumbe Activities | Chumbe Prices |
Chumbe Island Reservations: bookzanzibar@madbookings.com |
These are some of the features that make Chumbe Island the globally recognized leading example of true ecotourism to be found anywhere in the World.
As there is no ground water source in the rocky substrate of Chumbe Island, each bungalow collects its own freshwater supply from rainwater (captured from the specially designed expanse of roof) during the rainy season. This rainwater passes through a complex filtration system and is stored in spacious underground cisterns (under each living room). The water is then hand-pumped (by either Ali, Juma or Yussuf on the Chumbe Team) through a solar-powered heating system into hot & cold-water containers for the shower and hand basin in the bathroom.
The used water from showers and basins is filtered through particulate filters, ending in specially sealed plant beds so that no polluted water will seep into the Reef Sanctuary. These beds are planted with species that are demanding in water and nutrients, and therefore easily absorb any remaining nitrates and phosphates.
To deal with sewage we have also installed composting toilets. These eco-toilets prevent sewage (from septic tanks) seeping through the porous ground into the Reef Sanctuary, (as this would lead to pollution of the fragile reef ecosystem, encourage algae growth and finally kill coral communities and organisms depending on them). Instead, human waste is quickly decomposed to natural fertilizer when mixed with compost (aerobic composting) in the compost chamber. To ensure the experience is the same as with any regular toilet, specialized designs have been implemented with wind powered vent pipes and gradient storage so that it feels no different to using a regular toilet; except that composting toilets need no flush water at all, thus they also effectively economize on water.
Lights are powered by photovoltaic panels on the roof that provide ample environmentally friendly 12V energy for normal usage.
The open design of the bungalows, with minimal barriers to the open air, allows for maximum through-draft for cooling of the bungalows; a form of natural air-conditioning. To enhance this louvres are in place that can be lowered or closed depending on the desired temperature.
Other features of operations on Chumbe that ensure minimal disturbance to the environment include:- Organic soaps produced by a local women's co-operative in Zanzibar are provided for guests; In the process of purchasing supplies, non-organic products are avoided (i.e., plastic bags) and any unavoidable non-organic waste produced by the island is removed and incinerated in a specialised incinerator constructed by the project on the main island Unguja; Drinking water is provided by advanced filters (made in Switzerland) located on the island. These effectively clean readily available tap water from Unguja, avoiding the need for mineral water in plastic bottles (which are still available for purchase, but are not readily encouraged, as plastic bottles are a problematic environmental hazard recently introduced into Zanzibar); The walkways, nature trails and beach areas are not artificially illuminated at night. This protects feeding and breeding patters of nocturnal animals, and also helps preserve and view one of the most stunning attractions of Chumbe Island: the rare giant Coconut Crabs (Birgus latro). Instead, individual solar powered torches are provided for all guests that recharge each day for use each night.
Chumbe Island has been awarded:*** GREEN HOTELIER OF THE YEAR 2001***Independent Environmental Award from the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH&RA)*** WORLD WINNER 2001***Ecotourism Destination Award of the Condenast Traveler Magazine,*** GLOBAL 500 LAUREATE 2000 ***Outstanding Environmental Achievement Award of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)*** EXPO2000 PROJECT AROUND THE WORLD ***Selected to represent Tanzania at the EXPO2000 World Exhibition, Hannover, Germany,*** GLOBAL WINNER 1999 ***British Airways TOURISM FOR TOMORROW Award *** FINALIST *** Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2001 and 2004 *** PROJECT AROUND THE WORLD WINNER *** Award presented at the EXPO2000, Hannover Germany, where Chumbe was selected to represent Tanzania *** MOST ROMANTIC ECO-LODGE ***Harpers Abroad November 2003 supplement, Harpers & Queen
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Prices are per person including fullboard. Valid until 19th
April 2009. | |||||||||||||||
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Chumbe Photo Gallery | Chumbe Activities | Chumbe Prices |
Chumbe Island Reservations: bookzanzibar@madbookings.com |