Chumbe Island - Coral Park
Chumbe
Island Coral Park, situated a few kilometres offshore from Zanzibar, leaves us
speechless every time we visit.Chumbe has all the attractions of an island
paradise - glorious coral reefs, waving palm trees, thick coral-rag forests and
sublime cuisine.
Chumbe
offers the most pristine and colourful coral reefs you'll find on the East Coast
with over 200 species of coral providing a sanctuary for more than 400 species
of colourful fish. To protect these coral reefs, diving is not permitted in the
marine park. The reef is shallow enough to see everything very clearly with a
mask, snorkel and fins. There is also a coral-rag forest which is home to the
endangered Ader's duiker, giant coconut crabs, hermit crabs and a variety of
bird species. Knowledgeable guides take guests on daily snorkelling and forest
tours.
It all started when German visitor Sibylle Riedmiller went snorkelling on the
Chumbe reef. Stunned at the diversity of coral and fish species, she campaigned
the Tanzanian government to declare
Chumbe
Island
a marine park. In 1994 her wish for the protection of these reefs was granted
and
Chumbe
Island
was gazetted a protected marine area. Since many local fishermen didn't know
the value of coral or how to protect it, Sibylle set up an education and
conservation project. Fishermen were trained as park rangers, and school
children were brought to Chumbe to learn about marine ecology. Of course, funds
were needed to keep all this good work going, so the idea of a low-impact,
self-sustaining tourism project began. After continued efforts (the Tanzanian
government favoured large hotel developments) Sibylle succeeded in building a
small eco-tourism lodge. Today Chumbe operates as a non-profit organisation with
all the funds generated from tourism channelled straight back into the
conservation and educational programmes. It's a highly successful model of
sustainable tourism development and we hope to see other projects like it in the
near future.
Note :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.
All
include
-
Lunch
freshly cooked on the island
-
Soda,
water and snacks
-
Swimming
and Snorkeling
-
Boat
transport to and from the island on the morning transfer
-
Boat
transfers onto the reed for snorkeling
-
Guidance
on the reef and through the forest trails
-
Use
of snorkeling equipment
-
Tuition
in snorkeling if required
-
All
taxes
