An adventurer’s dream of being marooned on a secluded island comes to life surrounded by a kaleidoscope of coral reefs and sea creatures at this sanctuary off of Zanzibar. 

Chumbe Island Coral Park extends a Robinson Crusoe experience to anyone who takes the one-hour boat ride to its private nature reserve and eco-lodge that allows, at most, only 20 visitors at a time. Once on shore -- tourist crowds already a distant memory -- guests will find just seven bungalows designed for conservation management with solar power, composting toilets, and a rainwater catchment system. They are designed to blend into the nature that surrounds them and placed conveniently between the forest and the beach.

Each bungalow comes decorated with colorful fabrics, African art, and handmade furniture. Go to sleep in a queen-size bed, relax in the living room, or have a swing on a comfortable bed-style hammock overlooking the warm, tropical ocean. 

Guests have used words like “magical” to describe their stay at the private island.

“It’s peaceful, the food is wonderful, the snorkel is amazing, and the experience was out of this world,” wrote one reviewer on Google. 

While a day trip here is possible, it’s best to come for at least two to enjoy everything the island has to offer. 

All activities are included at the eco-lodge, which serves traditional Zanzibari cuisine and offers guided nature walks through the forest. Take a coconut crab walk or visit some historic monuments. But the most impressive sights are to be seen beneath the water. 

The Chumbe coral reef is famous for holding 90 percent of the coral diversity in East Africa and 474 recorded reef fish species. 

Snorkel through the unique shallow-water coral reef to spot a display of brightly colored angelfish, blue-spotted rays, and the occasional small shark. Night snorkeling is even a possibility on calm evenings. 

The reef has been protected since 1991, when Chumbe Island Coral Park was first developed, and that history of care has paid off. Duma Explorer’s owner, Stacy Readal, has made visits since the early 2000s and noted that the excellent quality of the snorkeling has improved over the years. 

“Chumbe’s reef is, in our opinion, the best snorkeling in Zanzibar – and we’ve seen them all,” she said. “Other locations are crowded, and the reefs can be degraded.”

In contrast, this eco-lodge contributes to preserving the island’s resources by keeping it private and pristine, winning several awards for its efforts in the process. All of its buildings and operations are based on state-of-the-art eco-technology aiming at zero-impact. Chumbe also offers free environmental education and programs for local school children and communities.  

View our detailed Zanzibar itinerary including Chumbe Island here.