Chumbe Island truly exceeded our expectations! The staff couldn't have been more welcoming, creating a family-like atmosphere from the get-go. They even arranged private activities to accommodate my sight impairment, which was incredibly thoughtful. From night-time coconut crab walks to snorkeling and forest tours, every experience was memorable. The dining on the island was top-notch, and the $50 massage was the cherry on top. Our room came with 2 hammocks outside, perfect for dozing off after lunch under the serene sky. What really impressed us was the island's commitment to sustainability. The eco-friendly bungalows powered by solar energy showed their genuine care for the environment. A special thanks to Margrethe and Jumma for sharing some fun times playing Bao after dinner. Those personal touches made our stay even more memorable. Chumbe Island is the perfect blend of hospitality, sustainability, and relaxation. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a meaningful getaway.

Our stay at Chumbe Island was amazing! This place is magical, exclusive. It’s the luxury of simplicity, of being in deep contact with nature. There are stunning views no matter where you look. The staff is so nice, helpful and sweet (many thanks to Vera, the charming manager who took really good care of us). They always have big smiles on their faces :) The food is delicious and very healthy. It’s amazing to diner under the starts. There is unlimited water, tea and coffee all day. The bungalows are charming, simple but comfortable. Beach beds on the shade to relax. The snorkeling is great, excellent visibility and rich marine life (we saw sting rays, octopus, sharks, dolphins and a multitude of colorful fish and corals). We spent three nights, which was a perfect timing (we could have stayed a week longer without getting bored). Everything is ecological, sustainable. Solar electricity, water collected from rain, and dry compostable toilets. The hotel is a non-profitable organization which helps to protect the island and invests in education. So even more reasons to go! We can’t wait to go back!

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Chumbe island is everything it stands for : an ecological refuge which proves that tourism is possible without having an impact on nature and its gems : the amazing coral, the forest with its huge land crabs, the fish .... Yes, you will have to adapt yourself to the heat and not having AC. But you will be able to enjoy the breeze coming from the sea, the sound of the waves not disturbed by any roaring of engines from AC or alternators. Instead you'll have the most romantic dinner outside under the stars with some candles to illuminate your table. And all this with the support of an amazing friendly staff.

I was here in the month of January and it was VERY hot ( I am 73). So if you are susceptible to the humid heat you might prefer to go when it is less hot.

Overall, we had a great time in Chumbe and would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for something a little less conventional. It met our expectations and was exactly what we had hoped for! As the island is very small there really isn't much to do outside of Snorkeling and a relatively brief walk in the forest or on the other end of the island beach during low tide but that is why it's such a great place to really disconnect, relax and get in touch with the surrounding nature and appreciate the simple things. On our first day there, we were lucky enough to see one of the most beautiful sunsets we've seen. The bungalows are super authentic and adequately equipped and they are cleaned every day. As far as the food, the 3 meals per day included the full board package were truly amazing. The food was healthy, simple yet delicious – without a doubt the best food we had during our 10 days stay around Zanzibar (Stone Town, Jambiani/Paje, Mbweni). The staff is truly lovely, very professional, and always available.

This is an exceptional place-- like they say, it's the closest you can come to living like a castaway while still maintaining comfort. Imagine an island as mysterious as the Galapagos, but private! A true eco-lodge, you know when you're coming here you are protecting one of the most pristine marine environments in East Africa. Snorkeling here is among the best in the world, because the coral formations are healthy and spectacular. Swam with black tip reef sharks between purple, blue, and yellow coral heads big as houses. At night, the forest walk among the giant coconut crabs is as surreal as anything in Life of Pi! It's the perfect complement to a high end safari in one of the Maasai conservancies. The staff are also exceptional, especially the island manager Vera.

Can't think of anything.

Chumbe island and its surrounding water wildlife are exceptional places of beauty. It feels like a very exclusive experience given the small amount of guests that can stay on the island overnight. We stayed for 3 nights over the New Year's holiday, and did really love the remote feel to our stay there. We also loved the food cooked for us every breakfast, lunch and dinner - everything so fresh and healthy and tasty. Also it's amazing that Chumbe is a not for profit resort, and so all proceeds go towards preserving the natural beauty of the island and its surrounding waters.

I think the only point I would question is the price versus the level of comfort / service. It goes without saying that we were not expecting luxury, as this is an eco resort and the huts are very clearly basic huts - but for the price we paid, I think I would have expected the basics to be in order (light working in the eco hut, fan working, slightly better shower experience) as well as a higher level of service (I found myself looking for staff quite frequently trying to get a cup of coffee). But all in all the good outweighed the bad by quite a big margin.

The place is located on a private island near to the shore of Sansibar. As there are only 7 cabins and at maximum there can stay not more than 20 people the feeling is calm and very relaxing. The staff is very kindly and give there best that the guest has a good stay. The meals are really great and the daily offered excursions to the island and the nearby reef are also great. One of the best is the private light house which could be visited for free anytime. Overall it was worth the stay...even if it costs a bit more than usual.

You have to be a little adventurous as the cabins are very open and you will find a lot of creatures there.

Paradise. The food was delicious, the room was amazing, they stay true to their eco values, the crabs are gorgeous. It's a whole other world. Once in a lifetime experience. We loved that on our way back to Zanzibar our boat stopped to talk with some fishermen who had been caught laying traps in the reef, our boatmen were firm but polite and told them their equipment was on the island awaitint collection but only if they spent the day there to be educates into why they can't lay traps in a protected area etc (lunch included). Fantastically ethical way of handling what must be a regular threat.

I loved everything but maybe the management could think about not just the local issues which cause problems for the island e.g managing fishermen damaging the reef but maybe they could factor in larger issues into their initiative e.g. rising ocean levels due to climate change driven largely by the animals for food industry. Perhaps they could serve only local fish, vegetarian and vegan dishes to help combat rising sea levels in their small way. Just a suggestion, not a critisism.

The most amazing place I have ever stayed. To have an NPO this beautifully run which supports the local community and children is amazing. Already trying to work out a way to come back.

Nothing - this place is paradise

I stayed at Chumbe for 3 nights as a solo traveller and it was the best choice. Firstly, the staff were amazing, special call outs to Chaga, Munir and Vera, and made the whole stay so enjoyable. The food was plentiful and tasty. The snorkelling was great, I actually saw more snorkelling off the coast Chumbe than I did diving off the coast of Zanzibar. The accomodation was clean and had everything you need (keep in mind it’s off grid, so the facilities they had were great). Can’t recommend this place enough

Nothing