Sources for Chumbe Island Coral Park
Every line on the Chumbe Island Coral Park record, with where it came from, what kind of source it is and the date we read it.
Back to the record- Current as of
- 6 Aug 2026
- Last reviewed
- 6 Aug 2026
- Strongest evidence
- Certified
- Coverage
- Documented across 8 of 8 pathways.
Your stay at a glance
Air & ventilation: Wind-catcher roofs specified
Architectural design intent, not confirmation of current construction or measured air quality.
Drinking water: Rainwater collection specified
A rainwater-system design, not a current drinking-water test. No drinking-water test recorded
Sleep setting: Unlit paths and solar torches
The director’s article describes outdoor paths, not bedroom lighting. No measurements are supplied.
What this place offers
Wind-catcher roof design
Architectural design intent, not confirmation of current construction or measured air quality.
Rainwater collection design
A rainwater-system design, not a current drinking-water test.
Forest bungalow design
The plans describe design intent. Current construction and room-specific access have not been independently confirmed here.
Practical details and location
The practical details and the map point, -6.2775, 39.1831
The property’s own website
The property's own site: its name and its place are on the page
Safely managed drinking water, Tanzania, 2024: The World Health Organization reports 31 per cent of the population nationally, 45 per cent in urban areas, 23 per cent in rural areas using a safely managed drinking water service. This describes the country, not this property, and says nothing about what reaches a guest room here. It is recorded because it is the background against which a property's own treatment is worth publishing.
Regional data is context about the location. It does not establish conditions inside a room.
Ambient PM2.5 and PM10 near Chumbe Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 30 days to 2026-08-17: Modelled ambient air over this location averaged 9.0 micrograms per cubic metre of PM2.5 and 12.5 of PM10 across the 720 hours to 2026-08-17, peaking at 23.1 PM2.5. The World Health Organization annual guideline for PM2.5 is 5. This is the outdoor air over the area, modelled rather than measured on site, and it is not a reading of the air inside any room.
Regional data is context about the location. It does not establish conditions inside a room.
Evidence by area
All eight areas, in the order this index reads them. Every line was read and placed by a person.
Air Ecology
The architectural design sheets published on the property's own download page describe the bungalow roof as a wind catcher, opened to the sea during the south west monsoon with a closing ventilation louvre for storms, and raised above the tree line to catch the breeze during the north east monsoon.
In their words: “The roof acts as a wind catcher. During the south-west monsoon it is open to the sea with a closing ventilation louvre in the case of storms. During the north-east monsoon the roof is high enough to catch the breeze which blows above the tree line.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
The same architectural sheets name the guest bathroom compost toilet as based on the Swedish Clivus Multrum Compost Toilet System and state that its ventilation exit sits above roof level with suction in the ventilation pipe, described in the source as ensuring an odour free environment.
In their words: “The ventilation exit is located above the roof level and the suction in the ventilation pipe ensures an odour-free environment. [...] The compost toilet system on Chumbe Island is based on the Swedish "Clivus Multrum Compost Toilet System", which proves 60 years of successful operation.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
In an article by CHICOP director Sibylle Riedmiller dated 31 January 2024, the property states that guests regulate the flow of the sea breeze through the bungalow using hand woven mat panels, and that no air conditioning is fitted.
In their words: “Guests can regulate the flow of the sea breeze through the bungalow with hand-woven mat panels. Thus no energy-demanding air-conditioning is required.”
Read it: Chumbe Island in Zanzibar: 25 years a Pioneer of Zero-impact Eco-architecture and Operations Archived copy
The same director's article states that gas stoves were selected as the cooking energy for the restaurant after trialling solar box cookers, a parabolic solar cooker, a low pressure gas cooker, kerosene cookers and charcoal stoves, with no appliance specification or kitchen extract detail given.
In their words: “Of the several options examined, gas stoves were the most appropriate and cost-effective option.”
Read it: Chumbe Island in Zanzibar: 25 years a Pioneer of Zero-impact Eco-architecture and Operations Archived copy
Water Integrity
The architectural design sheets state the island has no fresh water source other than rain, and that roof rainwater is funnelled through a sandstone filter into a cistern forming the base of each guest bungalow, supplying drinking and washing water.
In their words: “Chumbe Island has no source of fresh water other than rain. Therefore rainwater catchment provides the most feasible water supply for drinking and washing. From the roof of each building the rain water is funnelled via a sandstone filter into a cistern which forms the base of each Guest Bungalow and parts of the Visitors' Centre.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
The same sheets describe a combined filter and foul flush inlet unit that diverts the first rainwater flush before the second flush passes through the sandstone filter into the cistern.
In their words: “The rain water inlets of the cistern function as a combined filter and 'foul flush' unit. These separate the first, rather 'dirty' rain water flush, from the 'cleaner' second flush which then enters the cistern through the sandstone filter.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
The accommodation page states each bungalow cistern holds up to 15,000 litres, which the property says is sufficient to supply that bungalow's bathroom taps and shower for a year. The figure is a storage capacity and no water quality test accompanies it.
In their words: “Each bungalow cistern can hold up to 15,000 litres of water, sufficient to supply the bathroom taps and shower units for the entire year.”
Read it: Accommodation, Chumbe Island, Unguja in Zanzibar Archived copy
The director's own article of 31 January 2024 states that drinking water is supplied in recycled and refillable glass bottles, with no treatment step described for the drinking supply.
In their words: “Drinking water is supplied in recycled and refillable glass bottles, while organic waste is composted for re-use in composting toilets, while all inorganic waste is taken off the island.”
Read it: Chumbe Island in Zanzibar: 25 years a Pioneer of Zero-impact Eco-architecture and Operations Archived copy
Light Rhythm
The director's article of 31 January 2024 states that walkways, nature trails and beach areas carry no artificial illumination and that guests are issued solar powered torches for moving between bungalows and the restaurant at night.
In their words: “To protect nocturnal wildlife from light pollution, the walkways, nature trails and beach areas are not artificially illuminated. Guests are given solar powered torches for walking along the pathways between the eco-bungalows and the Restaurant at night.”
Read it: Chumbe Island in Zanzibar: 25 years a Pioneer of Zero-impact Eco-architecture and Operations Archived copy
The design concept panel of the architectural sheets states that the bungalow roof shades the interior from sun and rain and that only the evening sun enters the building.
In their words: “The roof protects the guests from sun and rain. Only the evening sun can enter the building. The solid base of the bungalow protects from insects and water.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
EMF Harmony
Not published. We looked and found nothing on this, which is a gap in what we could read, not a finding about the building.
Materials and Textiles
The architectural sheets name the bungalow frame material as slender casuarina poles bound with coconut rope.
In their words: “The slender poles from local casuarina-trees are bound together with coconut rope.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
The same sheets name the roofing material as makuti, made from coconut palm leaves.
In their words: “The roof is nearly coverd on both sides with 'makuti', the local roofing material made from coconut palm trees.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
The accommodation page states the property is a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and single use plastic free, and that goods are transported in locally made biodegradable baskets rather than plastic packaging.
In their words: “As signatories and ambassadors of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, Chumbe Island has avoided using plastics since its early days and is a single-use plastic free island.”
Read it: Accommodation, Chumbe Island, Unguja in Zanzibar Archived copy
Food and Kitchen
The property publishes the Zanzibar Sustainable Seafood Guide, which it wrote itself and describes as an awareness tool for the tourism industry and consumers. It rates species by fishing method, location, size and maturity. It is the property's own document rather than third party verification, it grades species conservation rather than this kitchen's sourcing, and no purchasing policy for the restaurant is published.
In their words: “the fishing method, the fishing location, the size of the seafood, its age of maturity and eating local”
The accommodation page states that all food products are sourced from local community fishers and farmers, with no supplier named, no share quantified and no verification published.
In their words: “Food products are all sourced from local community fishers and farmers.”
Read it: Accommodation, Chumbe Island, Unguja in Zanzibar Archived copy
The accommodation page asks guests to declare dietary needs and allergies before arrival and states that vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and lactose free dishes are available, with no additive or cooking oil position published.
In their words: “Please let us know before your visit if you have any dietary needs or allergies. Our cuisine includes a variety of vegan, vegetarian, gluten and lactose-free dishes.”
Read it: Accommodation, Chumbe Island, Unguja in Zanzibar Archived copy
Biophilic and Healing Design
The architectural sheets, credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche with architectural design by Georg Fiebig, Jan Hulsemann and Per Krusche, publish the design intent for the seven bungalows: units placed into existing clearings in the coral rag forest, giving protection from sun, rain and insects and using wind for ventilation.
In their words: “The Guest Bungalows are small units carefully placed into natural clearings in the coral rag forest. Without disturbing the surrounding nature they offer protection from sun, rain and insects, and use the wind for ventilation.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
The same sheets state that the position of each bungalow was set by the sea view and the surrounding natural features, and that the elevated base forms the living platform with a sea outlook. A sectional drawing of a guest bungalow is published at a 0 to 10 metre scale.
In their words: “The position of the bungalow was determined by the seaview and the natural surrounding features.”
Read it: Architectural Plan, design sheets credited to fiebig hulsemann krusche Archived copy
The accommodation page states the bungalows are very open, including the upper sleeping platforms, and describes a king size bed on a sleeping platform under a palm thatched roof.
In their words: “the bungalows are very open (including the upstairs sleeping platforms)”
Read it: Accommodation, Chumbe Island, Unguja in Zanzibar Archived copy
Sound and Sensory Ecology
In guidance written for families, the property states that the bungalows sit in relatively close proximity where sound travelling is concerned. No acoustic separation specification and no measured noise level are published.
In their words: “The bungalows are also located in relatively close proximity when it comes to sound travelling.”
Read it: Accommodation, Chumbe Island, Unguja in Zanzibar Archived copy
Certifications
Global Ecosphere Retreat, issued by The Long Run
Awarded: 2011. Valid until: Not stated.
The Long Run, Global Ecosphere Retreat, issued by The Long Run
Awarded: Not stated. Valid until: Not stated.
Disclosures
Compare what each stay offers, how it was checked and what still needs confirming. Assessment labels describe the review, not an overall quality rating.
A low score means a property has not published information. It does not mean the property is unsafe, unhealthy or poorly run.
A score describes proof: what a stay publishes and, on a Human Garage certified stay, what our assessor checked in person. It is not a quality rating of the property. Listings are free, and any commercial relationship is disclosed.