Chumbe Island Coral Park

Chumbe Island is the world's first privately managed marine protected area, and is one of the most spectacular coral gardens anywhere in the world. The no-take sanctuary holds more than 90 per cent of all hard coral species recorded on East African reefs and over 470 species of fish. On land, the forest reserve shelters coconut crabs, the world's largest land crab, now locally extinct near most of Zanzibar's settlements, and the Aders' duiker, one of Africa's smallest and rarest antelopes.

The island is home to seven solar powered eco-bungalows, serviced by rainwater and composting toilets. A lighthouse and small mosque, both built around 1900 for the original Indian lighthouse keeper and his community, still stand. The mosque is used daily by Chumbe's own Muslim staff, and the lighthouse still guides shipping through the channel. Snorkelling is the only way into the reef itself, scuba diving isn't permitted inside the sanctuary, and thousands of local schoolchildren have visited free of charge through Chumbe's own environmental education programme. Tourism funds the island's entire conservation and education programme.