Eco-Tourism at Chumbe Island Coral Park

August 14^th, 2013

On Tuesday Kim and I went to Chumbe Island Coral Park, off the coast of Zanzibar, to experience eco-tourism.  For those who are unaware of what eco-tourism is, it is an occasion to experience natural beauty while still keeping in harmony with the planet.  The lodge where we are staying takes great strides to assure that its clients have no impact on the surrounding ecosystem.

To get to Chumbe Island, you must take an hour-long water taxi from Zanzibar.  The island itself is uninhabited.  On the island, there is a beautiful lighthouse, a one hundred year old mosque, and seven open-air bungalows.

 

Since Chumbe Island is a Marine Protected Area, the staff who work there are rangers, who conduct research on the coral and seaweed beds, educate guests, local fishermen, and students about best practices to conserve and protect land and aquatic ecosystems.

To that end, the bungalow where we stayed was a really fascinating sort of accommodation.  It was designed by German and Zanzibarian architects to have no ecological footprint.  The roof is very steep and designed to collect rainwater, which is then filtered using rocks from the island.  Each bungalow has a solar panel for heating water for showers and electricity for LED light fixtures.  Here is a picture of Kim in front of our bungalow.

 

The interior was also quite interesting, beautiful and very comfortable.  Everything in the bungalow was made from recycled materials.  The bed was upstairs, and although there was no air conditioning, it had a large window that could be opened and closed to allow wind to pass through.

 

The bathroom was also a wonder.  The toilet was a composting toilet.  Since there is no ground water on the island, the toilets are used to create compost, which is then used to fertilize the shrubbery around the bungalows.  After you use the toilet, you just have to add two scoops of compost, and that’s it.  The bathroom did not smell bad, just kind of earthy.

 

On the island was a 110-year-old mosque, which was built by the original lighthouse keeper on the island, who was an Indian Muslim.  It was a modest building, but beautiful nonetheless.

 

There were two activities led by the park rangers.  In the morning, we went snorkeling in the expansive coral beds.  There are over 200 species of coral at Chumbe Island and over 400 species of fish.  It was a truly mesmerizing experience, but unfortunately we have no underwater camera, so we have no pictures.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner were provided, and once again Zanzibarian cuisine impressed.  After our morning swim, we had plenty of different kinds of curry, grilled meats, and delicious fruits and vegetables for lunch.  We enjoyed our meals in the shade overlooking the untrammeled nature of coastal East Africa.

 

In the afternoon, we went for a walk in the jungle.  The island has its own rainforest, which is quite strange, since there is no ground water.  The plants are adapted to absorb moisture from the humid air and have very waxy leaves to hold rainwater for long periods of time.

 

At the end of our walk, we climbed to the top of the lighthouse on the island for outstanding views of Chumbe, Zanzibar, and the coral reef.  Here are two shots from the top.  You can see the eco-bungalows quite well!

 

In the afternoon, we had plenty of time for lounging around.  Kim even did some yoga on the mat that was provided in the bungalow!   

 

I walked the beach, and relaxed on one of the hammock beds nearby.

At night, we had the opportunity to walk in the jungle in search of the endangered coconut crab.  We had never heard of the creature, but evidently it is the largest species of terrestrial crab, reaching widths of over 2 feet!  They have very good senses of smell, and are adapted to climb trees in search of fresh coconuts.  They are real giants!  Here is a nice shot of one.

 

The guide even picked one up to show us how docile they are.  I took his word for it.

 

Our experience at Chumbe Island was truly eye opening.  We learned a lot about coral reefs and the sorts of dangers they faced, and enjoyed a fun-filled day and night.  It was all the more enjoyable knowing that our stay was environmentally sustainable.  Kim and I cannot recommend enough eco-tourism.  The accommodations are first rate, and the experience is truly unforgettable.

Here's one last shot of a hermit crab.  They are so cute and are found all over the island.  You see shells in the pathways, and all of a sudden they start moving!  If you're not careful you could easily step on one.