Photographer Manolo Yllera took this photo of the eco-bungalos and incredible view during his stay on Chumbe Island. We thank him for sharing it with us to show you this little piece of paradise.
Chumbe Island
The whole of Chumbe Island is a nature reserve and you may explore its beauties either under the competent guidance of park rangers or at your leisure. Snorkel through the unique shallow water Reef Sanctuary or explore the Forest Reserve and historical monuments. Take an excursion out SCUBA diving the nearby reefs, or perhaps just allow yourself a lazy day watching dhows and outrigger boats go by .... .
Since the park was gazetted, having been recognized for its immense beauty and bio-diversity, there has been almost no fishing or un-authorized anchoring in the Chumbe Reef Sanctuary. The reef remains in a pristine state (which nowadays is sadly rare in the world). The reef crest, encompassing a spectacular array of hard corals, is shallow (between 1-3m according to tides). Therefore snorkelers can see all those wonders of the underwater world normally only accessible to divers. If you swim up to the reef ridge the view opens up a world of breathtaking sights. Shoals of barracuda taking advantage of the abundant prey living on the reef glide by and if you are lucky you may get a chance to see the playful dolphins cruising in and out of the abyss. Each snorkeling excursion provides new discoveries for guests and with each visit you are unlikely to be disappointed!
With negligible fishing intrusion for so many years, the marine wildlife has become very unconcerned about those few humans moving around. The abundance and diversity of water animals is unbelievable and their natural tameness surprising and delightful.
Don’t be surprised by batfish that have developed the habit of following snorkelers at close range all along the reef (out of curiosity?). One of the island’s resident hawksbill turtles is regularly spotted feeding on the reef. If you imitate the slow flapping movements of her front flippers with your arms while keeping your legs still, she may allow you to accompany her for a long time without showing signs of disturbance.
Other common encounters under and around the water are lobsters peeping out from under corals, trying to investigate your presence with their long white feelers, large blue spotted stingrays, apparently believing they are invisible when hiding under a thin layer of sand, large, colorful parrotfish wandering about the reef, nibbling on the algae covering the corals with a very audible scratching sound, and many more fishes, nearly than 400 species in total; groupers, angelfish, butterfly fish, triggerfish, boxfish, sweetlips, unicorn fish, trumpet fish, lionfish, moorish idols ... to name but a few. And of course who can forget an encounter with Oscar, the huge potato grouper living in one of island caves, who is too old to trust humans, so be patient if you'd like to spot him.
All of these sites can be seen by snorkeling through this pristine shallow coral refuge and although SCUBA diving within the Chumbe reef sanctuary is not permitted (except for research and filming activities), it is still possible to enjoy diving on the nearby reefs.
When the tide is very low it's possible to walk all the way around the island, exploring the rock pools where juvenile fish and a myriad of crabs, shellfish, starfish, oysters and other invertebrates exist in the ever-changing environment of the intertidal. At spring tides, upon reaching the north point of the island, take the time to bask on the exposed sandbar providing over 1/2 a mile of pristine beach (but don't forget to turn back before the tide changes and the sandbar is absorbed back into the ocean). At the south point discover the amazing variety of starfish and explore the small islets where you may be fortunate enough to find Roseate Terns nesting and Fish Eagles battling for territory.
Discover the footpath leading down into a large intertidal pool overgrown with mangroves and shaded by huge baobab trees, where the seawater rises and falls with the tides and where you may observe many creatures adapted to these conditions.
While day trips to the island are possible, the number of guests is carefully monitored to protect the eco-system and to prevent overcrowding. Also, day trips can not be reserved in advance. We strongly advise those travelers interested in visiting the island to plan at least a two night stay. This is, in our opinion, the best way to appreciate and support the reserves and the important role the Chumbe Project plays in wildlife conservation in Zanzibar.
