Although it was just 24 hours, Chumbe was definitely the highlight of our stay. Photographs can't really convey how wonderful this place was - snorkeling excursions in the morning, forest walks in the afternoon, fabulous meals throughout the day and lots of time to just relax in one of the 7 eco-bungalows where guests stay. Again, there are many more photos on flickr!
On the way to Chumbe (how great that the pick-up point for the boat was at Mbweni Ruins resort?)
A hermit crab on the beach at Chumbe - these were everywhere on the island.(We also stumbled across - literally - a huge coconut crab on our way home from dinner. I don't know who was more surprised, him or us!)
Our home for the night, bungalow #7 (left) and the Chumbe lighthouse (right).After our night in paradise, we sadly had to pack back up and make our way to our last big stop, Matemwe resort on Zanzibar's east coast. This was a small but luxe all-inclusive place that again had wonderful food, a relaxing atmosphere and wonderful service - we were treated like stars!
Nathan enjoying the sunrise coffee & tea service on the oceanfront veranda of our bungalow.
Not only were we treated every morning as we watched the sun come up and the fishermen set out, but on our last night the manager surprised us with a private meal to celebrate our honeymoon. Champagne, rock lobster, prawns and more - so much more than we could possibly eat! It was a wonderful end to a relaxing few days.
Women on the beach at Matmwe, while fishermen sail by.
On the beach at Matemwe at low tide.
For Matemwe village, everything happens on or near the beach!
Too soon, though, our last day was upon us and it was time to start the slow return back to civilization. Our original plan had been to take the ferry back to Dar es Salaam the day before our 9am flight. Once again, though, luck was with us and we managed to find a small charter flight from Zanzibar that was scheduled specifically to leave at dawn to connect with our BA flight home - and there were two tickets left for the day we were leaving! - allowing us one more day on the island.
Since Mbewni Ruins hotel is right next to the airport, we decided to stay there as a base for our final day as we headed back to Stonetown for one last visit. There we had a wonderful lunch at a coffee house (cardamom coffee, delicious), did some final shopping (wait until you come visit us and see the lintel post we shipped home as luggage!) and came across a sign that Nathan will hopefully keep in mind from here on out:
We stayed in Stonetown until evening, going to the Fordhani evening market for what was probably the best food of our whole trip, cooked fresh on the seafront from the catch of the day served to us by an entertaining group of vendors all certain that theirs was the freshest and tastiest option, and eaten by the light of gas lamps and flashlights:
(Too bad that by the time we got to this feast, we were still too full from all the food we'd eaten over the course of our holiday that we could hardly take in anything at all!)Then, sadly, it was back to the hotel to pack and get ready for our 6am flight to Dar and home. We brought back lots of mementos and memories, though - and we're already looking for our next trip that will give us a chance to relax like this!
Love,
Megan
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