Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs D from Lancashire

"I have always wanted to see the white sands, turquoise seas that you see in films, Shooting Star Lodge lived up to this, its position on the cliff is breathtaking, with the beautiful long white beach, the lagoon so blue, the waves breaking gently over the reef in the distance! It is one of the places that no description can live up to it you have to see it yourself.

The cottages are cool, clean and very comfortable with plenty of room to relax in. The patio area looking into the garden was interesting as the Bush Babies liked our tree, so we where entertained every evening. I liked the idea of the basket and sarongs for the beach and plenty of towels.

The staff are all very friendly and made you feel most welcome, even though the management where having one or two teething problems with them it didn't spoil our stay.

Eli, and Charlie are aware of the problems and are in trying to sort them out and where very apologetic when things didn't go according to plan.

The food is excellent, with a good variety of local produce. With a varied and interesting menus.

Charlie was very helpful in arranging trips for us so that we could see more of the life on the island, the taxi driver, even though his English was a little sparse did his utmost to take us where we wanted to go and get any information we wanted. The other guide to the Spice Farm was excellent. We really enjoyed ourselves on both trips."

"Everything about this island was wonderful.

I am not the best person in water particularly big expanse like the sea, so for me to snorkel is amazing, Juma my guide and diver was brilliant. He was so kind, patient and so encouraging that i felt really safe in the water with him. the coral reef is so beautiful and the fish!!

The whole team of staff are friendly, helpful and willing to do anything you ask. The eco-lodges are very comfortable and well designed, even though some people would think they are very basic being made out of wood etc. Having the flap down in the bedroom (natural air conditioning) and watching the sun rise is a moment not to be missed. To lie in bed and watch all the birds flying about so close and the morning chorus!! All now very special memories.

The food was very simple, very tasty and a lot more variety than I thought would be possible, (the chocolate cake is delicious).

The hermit crabs are very amusing, just all over the place, the coconut crabs are well Big!! Starfish colorful the list goes on and on.

We have got a couple of suggestions that they might want to consider. At night the stars are breathtaking, as there is no light pollution (not like at home) and are of course closer to the equator, under the milky way. This is a very different aspect of the sky most people from Europe would see and I am sure like me, they would like to know which is the great bear etc or any other information about the stars above Chumbe.

The other suggestion, is it possible to make another forest walk as we enjoyed the forest walk we did (but a little short for us) with our guide and also we walked around the island when the tide was out (This was great fun). We had noticed there use to be an old path through to the other side of the island and thought it could make another alternative activity.

We wish the whole team at Chumbe well and congratulate them on what they have achieved over the last ten years it is a beautiful and enjoyable place to stay."

"The room was comfortable, clean, nicely decorated and we did appreciate the fact we had air conditioning, but we had no hot water while we were there as our hot water heater did not work, so cold showers etc.

There also was a lack of information regarding the hotel, such as how we got in at night when the coffee shop was closed, also that we had a honesty fridge upstairs (which at first was not stocked) to help ourselves to soft drinks, or beers. Also the morning we left early, they said they would provide coffee and a sandwich but they didn't say where or what time.

The breakfast lounge up on the roof the only place you could sit apart from your room or coffee shop, was suppose to be available in the evenings, but the night watchman had locked up by 9.00pm so was not available. We can understand if nobody is around they would tidy up but if you are out for a meal , which since it is only B & B you would only get back to the hotel about this time.

Disappointing as I am sure this could be a really comfortable haven in a busy, dusty town, as we where only here two nights it didn't matter to much but I wouldn't like to stay here longer."