StanKase

We are avid snorkeler's having visited Caribbean, Belize,Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. After a safari we were considering going to Zanzibar or on to Premba Island for 4 days of snorkeling and free diving. With all the coral bleaching that has occurred what is is the quality of of the coral and variety of of the species of fish, sea fans, etc. at either place in the past 1-2 years. Whar resort offers snorkelers daily outings to reefs and has 3-4 star accommodations with A/C in the sleeping rooms. We generally like places that accommodate 50-10 guests in 4 star accommodations.
Thanks.

Chris_ExpertAfrica

The coral off east Africa has been affected by the bleaching in parts, but it’s generally not nearly so severe as you’ll find in places like the Maldives.

Firstly, four days is not very long at all – so I suspect you’d be wise to look at just one place, or perhaps two relatively close locations.

I’d focus on Zanzibar, and split your time between two locations:

1. Chumbe Island – which has the best coral gardens that I’ve seen off the East African coast. It’s a marine reserve where the coral is in very, very good condition, and there is a tremendous range of coral species. It’s been very well protected – and in recent years part of that protection has been by restricting snorkelling to ‘guided trips’ led by a lodge guides. (There’s no scuba diving allowed here at all.) So you can’t drop into the water when you want to.

The Chumbe Island Lodge is very ‘eco’ and I don’t think will fit your brief of a 4-star lodge; its “air-conditioning” is by wind; there’s no electricity here! However, if you want to come here … that’s the price. (See travellers’ reviews of Chumbe here: http://www.expertafrica.com/lodge/Ch.../review?page=1)

2. South of Chumbe, I’d head to either Unguja Lodge (http://www.expertafrica.com/lodge/Unguja_Lodge.htm), or Fumba Beach Lodge (http://www.expertafrica.com/lodge/Fumba_Beach_Lodge.htm). Both will take you diving in the relatively little-visited Menai Bay Conservation – where there are lots of small, deserted islands (great for picnics!) and plenty of very good quality coral.

Zanzibar’s more famous coral is over around Mnemba – and there probably are a few more larger fish there. However, I think the coral experience is much better in the Menai area, simply as you’re much, much likely to be on your own.


Alternatively, you might consider some of the excellent snorkelling around Mafia Island – but, on balance, given your criteria, I think the combination of Chumbe and Unguja or Fumba is probably better.

Hope this helps – and forgive a brief answer to a question, which really does warrant a longer reply.


<u>Chris McIntyre</u>
<b>Author:</b> Bradt guidebooks to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia & Zanzibar
<b>MD:</b> Expert Africa & Wild about Africa
(offices in London & New Zealand)

qwovadis

Personally am PADI/NAUI instructor review

www.scuba-do-zanzibar.com

for best safest snorkel ops and nearby lodging of quality.

Kendwa reef offers generally best off the beach snorkeling

of quality...

Happy Hunting,

StanKase

We now want to go to one resort on Zanzibar (one less flight, though short I realize) and the place is geared to take snorkelers to both islands off Zanzibar or are they too far apart? We generally do not enjoy off-the-beach snorkeling unless the reef is only 75-100 yards off shore.Though that would be fine for a day we would want to also go to other quality spots. Also based on experience when going on a dive boat they naturally anchor in 35-45 ft. of water or at a wall and sometimes there is good snorkeling 100-300 yards away but often not and obviously they cater to the many divers on the boat. There are so many critters that a guides trained eye spots that we would have missed so we really need a place where they might offer a snorkel package. To charter a boat to take us out for 3 hours once or twice a day for just ourselves would get quite expensive and that is why the package of 5 nights is attractive.
We really prefer having Air Conditioning especially after having been on a 11 day safari.
Does anone know of a specific 4 star place to stay. The Hilton is not our style because they likely would not cater to our needs in terms of snorkeling. We are spoiled after Indonesia, the Malaysian Peninsula and islands around Thailand but rather not go if we cannot have quality snorkeling in suitable accommodations.
Hope you can help. Thanks.

TC

Hi Stan, By now you've read my report and know that we chose Mafia Island for the end of our safari. The reefs for snorkeling were beautiful. It's much,much better than Thailand and most of the Caribbean. The only consideration are the tides, which was more an issue for some of the dives. Really just a time of day issue for snorkeling. While the resort we used does not have air/con, one of the rooms at the bottom of the hill would have a nice breeze. I don't know the name, but I think there is a new resort on Mafia that DOES have air/con. My photos from snorkeling Mafia are posted at www.Tonna.zenfolio.com. Hope this helps.

sandi

I'm not a diver or snorkler (rather a dipper), but a friend who is, said Mafia was by far one of the very best places he's done both and he's been all over the world doing so.

Most properties on Mafia don't have a/c, but do have ceiling fans and that seems more than sufficient by most. If as TC mentions above there is a new hotel on the island with a/c, check it out. But, expect price may be higher than the others.

StanKase

TC; It looks like there are only 2 hotels and neither has A/C. We really are concerned. On safari it will be 60 gegrees when we bed down at 9:30/10 but om mafia Island it could well be 75+ and humid even though as you said a possible breeze. That's a bummer.

TC

I think Butiama might be the "new" hotel on Mafia, Stan. Although they don't have a/c, might be worth a look.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ia_Island.html

TC

Re-reading your concerns, Stan. If it's only 75 on Mafia during your stay, I don't think a/c is as big a deal. It must have been 95 every night when we were there and we managed. At Poli-Poli, everything is open air - but with screening, so it can all be left wide open at night. I can sense your concern, but we felt the snorkeling was worth the small discomfort. Having said that, if I had it to do over now -- I would stay out on safari the few extra days and snorkel elsewhere in the world. It wasn't the highlight of our trip to Tanzania.

sandi

There are more than two (2) hotels/lodges on Mafia. Unless the new hotel has a/c, then they have fans and with open-air layouts. Pole Pole is a lovely property.

StanKase

Tc; I know you were thrilled by the sharks as we were around the Blue Hole in Belize. we saw Bull, Blacktip Reef and caribbean Reef Sharks and that was just snorkeling. The divers saw a few other species down at 100 feet. Maybe you can help me by comparing the snorkeling around Mafia Island to other snorkel experiencies,. Have you been to the Malaysian Peninsula,Thailand, Australia, Belize, Honduras, St.John in the USVI's, Grand Cayman,Papette,etc. We believe an 11 day stay out in the bush,that does not include our time in Arusha on either end,is enough and with the proximity of Zanzibar,Pembra,Mafia we thought if it is really top class snorkeling with 50+ foot visibility, healthy coral, wide variety of fish species,clams,and other sea anenomies we should take advantage ofit. But to spend an extra $1500++ for just good snorkeling, I don't know. Can you help?

TC

Stan, I am also an "avid" snorkeler. My husband dives. We travel with another couple who, like us, consist of one diver, one avid snorkeler. We are also sailors, so we charter sailboats, live on-board and explore the reefs in our own time. Of your list we've done AU, Belize, Thailand, Caymen, USVI, Honduras, and French Polynesia. I've also done most of the Caribbean, Hawaii, and we spend a part of each winter in Cozumel on the reefs.

I would compare Mafia with AU-GBR. The places we went were similar to the "bommies" on the GBR. You can get up very close to things. The water was clear. Although there was a nice variety of fish, none were huge. We only saw a few of the big clams. We usually spent about 1 to 1.5 hours in the water. I would have stayed longer if I could have. The reefs areas aren't huge, like in FP.

Here's my ranking:
1. French Polynesia
2. Honduras
3. AU
4.

TC

(sorry--hit submit by accident)

4. Cozumel
5. All the rest

Stan, we were on safari for 3 weeks and I would have stayed more. If you really want to add a snorkeling experience, this is a good one, but the weather (seas) can be iffy. How disappointed would you be if you go but can't get out to the reefs for one or two days?

Both DH and I agree that it was "very good" snorkeling but that wasn't why we went. I would never have spent the money "just to snorkel". DH wanted to dive and we have been chasing whale sharks all around the world without success. THAT is why we went.

StanKase

TC; But we saw so many huge clams and tecnicolor sea anenomies around Lizard Island though it was probably 9 years ago. I doubt coral bleaching would have wiped those sites out. If it is not as good as Roatan then I think we will pass. But correct me if I am reading too much into your comments.
Thanks.

TC

Stan, Similar to AU in that the sites are "table" like. We swam around the outer perimeter of these tables. At times the tide was low and we could swim right over the top of reefs. Not like AU in the numbers and size of sea life.

I preferred Roatan because it was so easy to snorkel right from the beach. We had a house on West End Bay. We would walk out and snorkel for hours on our own.

The reefs are very good on Mafia, but it's a long way from here to there and it's not cheap. For me, personally, Africa is about safari not snorkeling. That's just me. Everyone has to set their own priorities. I think you will have fun either way.

StanKase

TC; Do you know anything about Chumbe Island which is right in the same area?