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CHUMBE ISLAND - Zanzibar
CORAL PARK
Chumbe Island is a unique nature travel destination situated 8 km
Southwest of Zanzibar town (Stone town). The island is covered by an
undisturbed forest and surrounded by a virgin coral reef. The island
can be reached in a 45 minute boat ride from the Mbweni beach
departure point south of Stone town.
Chumbe
Island is a nature reserve and includes:
The
Chumbe Reef Sanctuary: the first declared Marine Protected Area of
Tanzania, one of the world's most beautiful coral gardens and the best
preserved shallow reef on the East African Coast. The sanctuary has more
than 200 species of pristine stone corals, more than 400 species of fish
and regularly visiting turtles and dolphins. This spectacular reef can be
observed by snorkelling under the guidance of trained Park Rangers.
Snorkelling equipment is available on the island. [Please note that scuba
diving on Chumbe is prohibited, unless for research purposes; however
scuba excursions can be arranged for clients];
The
Chumbe Forest Reserve: a coral rag forest with a unique flora and
diverse wildlife, such as birds, butterflies, small reptiles, and crabs,
including the rare nocturnal Coconut Crab. The island is formed from
fossilised coral and throughout the trail it is possible to see the
patterns of the coral and the remains of giant clams thousands of years
old. The Forest Nature Trails are also visited under the guidance of
trained Park Rangers;
The
historic buildings: built by the British in 1904; these include the
lighthouse, which offers breath-taking views of Chumbe Island and
Zanzibar, and the mosque that was built with an elaborate design and is
still in use by the Chumbe team.
ACCOMMODATION:
consists of eco-bandas perfectly blended with the surrounding nature and
situated between the beach and the forest. Chumbe has seven stunning
eco-bandas each incorporating state-of-the-art eco-architecture and using
local materials. (NB: bungalow #3 is relatively smaller than the
rest and hence cheaper i.e. US$ 150 and 125 during high and low season
respectively). They are especially pioneering because they are all
ecologically self-sustaining with zero impact on the environment.
Each bungalow has solar-powered lighting, private bathroom, cold &
(solar-heated) hot water showers fed from a unique rainwater catchment
system, compost toilets and grey-water filtration through specialized
garden areas. The beds are futon-style mattresses placed on the wooden
upper platform. On Chumbe you can live in simple luxury on this paradise
island in the knowledge that you are in no way damaging the environment of
this spectacular nature reserve.
Other facilities:
the historic lighthouse keeper's house built by the British in 1904 has
been adapted to be the Park HQ with a restaurant and lounge for visitors
and a classroom for local schoolchildren. This magnificently designed
building is also equipped with eco-technology. The restaurant has dining
terraces overlooking the Indian Ocean. Our head Chef serves delicious
local Zanzibaris cuisine, which combines influences of Arabic, Indian and
African dishes using fresh fish, octopus and seafood, beef and chicken,
tropical vegetables, fruits and spices.
Chumbe
Island Coral Park is a financially self-sustaining conservation
initiative. It is run by a limited company without profit objectives,
whereby income from visitors is re-invested into the conservation
activities and education programmes operating in the park. Numerous
experts have volunteered their skills and energy into the development of
the project. The management of Chumbe is mostly comprised of Tanzanians
with preference to local Zanzibaris.
*******************************************
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 organisation, where funding is
provided by visitors to the Park who stay in the stunning and innovative
Eco-Lodge on the island
*******************************************
The rates per night per person for
the island are inclusive of:
· Boat transport to and
from the island on the morning transfer
· Accommodation
· Full-board meals
· Sodas, water, coffee, tea and snacks
· Boat transfers to the reef for snorkelling
· Guidance on the reef and through the forest trails
· Use of snorkelling equipment
· Tuition in snorkelling, if required
· All taxes
The rate is
not inclusive of late boat
transfers or alcoholic drinks (which are available for purchase on the
island).
2005/06
|
2005
(Elapsed)
High season:
7th
December 28th February 2006 |
2006
High season
7th December 28th
February 2006
6th June 30th
September
8th December 28th
February 2007 |
|
Price at high season:
US$200 per person per night |
|
Low season:
2005 (Elapsed)
1st September - 6th
December
|
Low season:
2006
1st March 23rd April
1st October 7th
December |
|
Price at low season:
US$150 per person per night |
Closing dates: from April
23rd, 2006 until June 05th, 2006 (inclusive)
There is a
$30 per night single occupancy charge
TRANSFER TO CHUMBE
*
To reach the island, our boat leaves from MBWENI RUINS HOTEL (south
of Stonetown) at 10:00 on the day of departure and returns again to
Mbweni Ruins at around 09:45 on the day of your return to Zanzibar.
Were sorry that time extensions on the return day (that is, taking
a later boat on the day of return to Zanzibar) unfortunately cannot
be accommodated as we have a strict policy regarding numbers of
visitors allowed on the island at any time.
*
Would you like us to arrange for the
transfer of your clients to the Chumbe Island boat departure at Mbweni
Ruins Hotel? We offer this at the rates below (and are happy to make
these arrangements, to help with the smooth transfer of guests to the
boat):
Airport to Mbweni Ruins:
US$10 Stonetown to Mbweni Ruins: US$10
East Coast to Mbweni
Ruins: US$50 North Coast to Mbweni Ruins: US$50
**
Would you like us to
arrange for the transfer of your clients to their next destination, on the
morning of their return from the island?
Please note, as Mbweni
Ruins Hotel are kindly allowing us to use their beach for boat access we
try to minimise any intrusion into their own Hotel administration.
Therefore, if your clients do not have transport arranged to their next
destination, please let us know and we will arrange for a taxi transfer to
be waiting for them at Mbweni Ruins to take them on to wherever they need
to go (at the above rates).
***
Please ask
your clients to wear shoes that can be used in the water, as at certain
tides they may have to wade for a short distance to the boat.
SCUBA DIVING
Are you interested in diving the beautiful
Coral
reefs off Zanzibar?
For qualified divers (PADI Open Water at least) we can arrange dive
excursions from Chumbe Island to visit neighbouring reefs.
The excursion consists of
two dives with the lead dive operator in Zanzibar (One Ocean Divers), on
reefs off the west coast of Zanzibar, exact location weather dependent.
Departure time from Chumbe
Island is 8am, and you will be picked up by One Ocean Divers at Mbweni
Ruins. You will return to Chumbe Island around 4pm.
The excursion also
includes all transfers, all your dive gear as well as lunch. Cost:
US$125 per person, all inclusive.
If you would like to join
a dive excursion, please let the island management know the day before. A
minimum of two people is required.
Thank you!
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