GUIDE ON CHUMBE ISLAND IN WESTERN ZANZIBAR

Chumbe Island, located in the Indian Ocean off the western coast of Zanzibar Island is a stunning marine island park that was the first to be gazetted by the Tanzanian government. Managed as a private entity, the entire island forms a part of the park along with the coral reef ecosystem around the island. An incredibly beautiful reserve, it has many facets to it, a gorgeous underwater world, sandbars that form incredible realms with the coming and going of the tides, the verdant forest kingdom with its diverse flora and smaller fauna and an interesting historical site of the Chumbe Lighthouse that vacationers on their exploratory trip on Chumbe Island will love to explore.

The coral reef world of Chumbe has been preserved in its original state with strict restrictions on fishing or laying heavy anchors that can damage the delicate coral. Shallow enough to capture the warmth of the sun that is so vital for the proliferation of the coral, the waters are around 1 to 3 meters deep depending on the movement of the tides.



AfricanMecca guests ocean touring the Chumbe Reef Sanctuary can delight in the snorkeling excursions where they can discover many distinct assortments of coral and their equally diverse marine inhabitants. You will see barracudas hunting in the reefs while dolphins frolicking in the depths make for an enchanting view. Due to the fragility of the marine biome, scuba diving is not permitted at Chumbe.

On shore, the tide dances on and off the sandbars, leaving behind pools in the rock formations. During your dream holiday on Chumbe Island, you will enjoy viewing the delicate marine creatures that are stranded in the pools. Take lots of pictures of oysters, starfish, shellfish, crabs and many other invertebrates as they wait for the tide to come back in.



On the north of the island, a kilometer of sandbar beckons for exploring when the tide leaves it bare while the south of the island houses tiny islets that many roseate terns use to nest here. Fighting off the tern rivals, African fish eagles also lay their claim on the territory while the groves of baobabs and mangroves play host to a range of other assorted creatures.

Chumbe Island has developed on ancient coral fossils and when you wander through the inland forests, you will see many remnants of their past when they were still submerged in the ocean. You will find hardened coral skeletons and clams with their dissimilar shapes. Even more incredible is the fact that the coral rag forest that has evolved to cover the island survives without any groundwater at all.



The expert lodge guide accompanying you explains that the forest captures and stores moisture from the humidity in the air and from the rain. And the trees form a thick umbrella overhead that minimizes evaporation. To view some of the most spectacular sunrises over the Indian Ocean, visit the Chumbe Lighthouse at dawn. After a climb of 131 steps, you will be rewarded by the sight of the sun emerging over Zanzibar Island bathing the ocean and land mass in a superb auburn color.

Even as you revel in its splendor, traditional dhows with their triangular sails set out over the waters for another day of fishing. A truly breathtaking beginning to another day of your unforgettable travels in Tanzania with AfricanMecca. Chumbe Island Lodge is the only accommodation on the isle.

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