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Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island Lodge
Chumbe Island Lodge

Reviews of Chumbe Island Lodge

Wildlife sightings and reviews

48 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Chumbe Island Lodge and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

Showing 31-40 of 48
Duration
Arrival date
Ms A & Mr M
London

"Chumbe Island Lodge review"

2 nights Arrived 1 Mar 2010
"Our stay on Chumbe island was wonderful, inspirational and trully relaxing. Well done to all involved in creating this unique experience for travellers and the local community.

2-3 nights at Chumbe would be highly recommended. A one-day stay is definitely not adequate in order to trully appreciate the environment and experience what the island offers. We stayed 2 nights and would have gladly stayed longer, despite the relatively great cost of the lodge.

The activities offered are fun and interesting, particularly the snorkelling and the inter-tidal walks. The view from the lighthouse is also worth checking out." See all these reviews: 8n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs G
W Sussex

"A very special visit"

2 nights Arrived 15 Dec 2009
"Just what we expected from the Expert Africa book. A stunning position, environmental construction of the buildings very interesting. Cabin had all the facilities and comfort which we wanted, hot shower etc and perfectly adequate lighting (why were you worried about us getting up from a floor-level bed?!).

Snorkelling very well conducted, and stunning coral (perhaps the fish were less colourful than in some other places). Excellent swimming beach in front of the cabins.

Interesting walks with rangers, tidal area and forest.

Staff very friendly and efficient. Good food - outstanding given the environment. School party visited on our second day - very welcome and no intrusion on our programme or facilities

Small point for your planning. The island is fairly flexible about running boat trips to and from Mbweni Beach, e.g. for day visitors, so there is no need to restrict planning to the 0930/1000 timing. Actually no problem for us as it was pleasant to return to the Serena for a day visit, collect baggage etc.

The long walk across the foreshore at each end (it was low tide) was a bit of a surprise!. Absolutely no problem, although perhaps some new overshoes (which they provide) would help.

Two nights (one full day) just about right, we thought" See all these reviews: 6n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Cambs

"Chumbe Island Lodge review"

5 nights Arrived 24 Oct 2009
"Excellent place for a quiet holiday. The ambience was unique. As a poor swimmer, a few shorter snorkelling trips would have been welcome" See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Miss S
London

"Eco-haven on Chumbe Island"

3 nights Arrived 11 Oct 2009
"This was the first time that I had stayed at an eco resort and I found the design and functionality of the bungalows fascinating. The work being undertaken to protect the Chumbe Island Coral Park and to educate the local people about the importance of protecting the reef is fantastic - I wish I could have sat in on some of the environmental education sessions with the local schoolchildren.

The service and food on the island were excellent. The staff made you feel like you were part of one big family and would come and find you if you didn't turn up for a meal! The rangers who took us on the daily forest walk were hugely knowledgeable and they were experts on locating the biggest coconut crabs after dark for our tourist photo opportunities! Unfortunately we were unable to go on the inter-tidal walk for the whole time that I was on the island, due to the fact that it was neap tide. This meant that the daily programme of activities was very limited.

The only slightly negative comments I would make about Chumbe would be that, as a complete snorkelling novice, the pre-snorkelling tuition could have been much better - it was non-existent! Also, the island was a little bit too quiet for me. In hindsight, I think that 2 nights would have been long enough as the daily programme becomes rather tedious after 2 days. Perhaps I would have appreciated the tranquility more if I had visited Chumbe at the start of my holiday....." See all these reviews: 11n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs ME
W London

"Chumbe Island Lodge review"

2 nights Arrived 22 Sep 2009
"Paradise. This was the highlight to our trip.

The location, the lodges, the sealife, the staff and the food were all exceptional. I would recommend a stay here for anyone visting Zanzibar." See all these reviews: 8n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Maningtree

"Chumbe Island Lodge review"

3 nights Arrived 22 Jul 2009
"After the eco-shock (why didn't we pick a 5* sybaritic beachside boutique) the whole point came across and one felt part of something a bit more than the usuual offer.

Lucky with the spring tides to enjoy two inter-tidal walks. Worth three days, fewer would lose the effect of relaxing in a different way." See all these reviews: 4n in Tanzania; 4n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
The H family
Sweden

"Chumbe Island Lodge review"

2 nights Arrived 13 Jul 2009
"Very, very friendly staff and the food was just terrific.

We stayed two nights and that was just perfect when it comes to the activities. But It would have been perfect with another extra day to just relax on the quiet and beautiful beach, where you are almost alone." See all these reviews: 5n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Dr B
Leeds

"Chumbe Island review"

4 nights Arrived 8 Feb 2009
"Just as we remembered it. Friendly staff. Totally relaxing. Can't wait to return" See all these reviews: 7n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mrs A
Peterborough

"Back to Mother Earth at Chumbe"

3 nights Arrived 21 Dec 2008
"Our overall experience on Chumbe Island was good with friendly staff and a homely feel. A very relaxing time. The accommodation was as expected with housekeeping doing an excellent job. We did, however, feel that the stairs would be a lot safer with a handrail, especially since one side is open to the ground level. Each accommodation has a lockable chest which was much appreciated as the huts of course are open.

The food on the whole was good. However, as there is no choice, we did have difficulty one lunchtime in particular. Neither of us can eat octopus or calamari. The salad course was seafood - octopus, calamari & tuna. The main course was octopus curry. The chef, however was able to provide us with chicken.

As one of us does not snorkel, we felt that 3 nights was a little long as there is little else to do. The tides were high during our time there otherwise our experience may have been different. When the tides are low you can make intertidal forays and I believe also walk around the island. We would have welcomed this. The beach area at Chumbe is well set out with areas where you can feel very private and cushioned shelters which are very welcome as a respite from the heat of the sun where you can snooze, read or perhaps just daydream.

For us, insect bites were a problem despite protection. We think, however, that most of the bites resulted from the forest walk which took part just before sundown and therfore before we had put on any protection. Perhaps it would be advisable if the guide could warn guests before the walk.

Chumbe also has an excellent library especially of reference books - sealife, birds etc which we browsed several times." See all these reviews: 10n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
J & P
Ireland

"Chumbe Island review"

3 nights Arrived 9 Nov 2008
"My personal favourite place of the whole trip. Felt like Robinson Cruso in the huts, and the way the wall dropped down was so cool - we were lucky to be there at full moon too, walking back with our solar torces at night: with full bellies and mellowed with some wine & conservation - stopping to say hello to our hut number 4 crab at the bottom step: bliss.

Swimming with sea turtles - watching the local kids come for thier school day out - sunset at hte special sunset hut: where the staff come with beers if you want. Without doubht my favourite piece of the whole trip. Could wax lyrical about the food all day - so much so we even bought the receipe book to try recreate at home! could happily live at Chumbe!!

One of us in not a strong swimmer, but the guide ensured we both felt comfortable, and the inflatable ring on each snokling trip gave a welcome feeling of security. Even the most nervous can avail of all the reef has to offer." See all these reviews: 5n in Zanzibar; 4n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Showing 31-40 of 48
98%
48 reviews of Chumbe Island Lodge by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
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5
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