Chapwani Private Island|Stonetown Harbour Zanzibar|

Chapwani Private Island may not be the best hotel in Zanzibar, but it is unique, and an amazing place to stay and best of all one of the cheap holidays in Zanzibar. Staying here is really a bit of an adventure from your arrival until you depart. Chapwani Island is about as far away as you can get from the traditional package holiday.

Where is Chapwani Private Island

Chapwani Island sits about a mile offshore of Stonetown the capital of spice island Zanzibar

How do I get to Chapwani.

If you are an independent traveller, it is also a little tense standing on the edge of the water in Stonetown surrounded by the locals, protecting your cases, hoping the boat will turn up, which of course it does.

On flying into Zanzibar, if you are a little nervous in small planes then the best advice we can give you is not to take the short hop from Dar es Salaam, but come in on a larger plane from Nairobi.
Having said that arrival at Dar es Salaam with no experience of Africa is an adventure in itself. To connect to Zanzibar you have to leave the international airport, and as you walk out you will be faced by dozens of taxi drivers running towards you. It's not scary just amazing, but turn left and you will find the local flight office, and they will ensure you make the short transfer safely.

What is Chapwani Private Island Like

The first thing to say is that going to stay on Chapwani sets you apart from most holidaymakers.

From the photographs it appears to be an idyllic tropical island, although the reality is slightly different.It sits on old dead coral, but has a beauty all of its own. There is a huge colony of fruit bats which fly off spectacularly at dusk, and a number of small antelope.

Chapwani also contains a British Military cemetry from the first world war, and a graveyard containing the graves of men who died fighting the slave trade.

Chapwani Island is about a kilometre long and 100 metres wide and relatively easy if muddy to get round at low tide.

The great thing about Chapwani is that it is about a ten minute boat ride from the absolutely fascinating Stonetown. There is a regular shuttle boat, so you have the best of both worlds here. The peace of Chapwani and the always noisy and busy Stonetown.

The only people on Stonetown are guests and staff, so you won't be disturbed by daytime visitors.

Accommodation at Chapwani

There are five thatched bungalows called bandas, each has two rooms which are ensuite. The accommodation can best be described as basic, but attractive. A Zanzibar four poster with a mosquito net dominates the room, and there is a ceiling fan. Outside, and the banda is right on the beach is a Zanzibar day bed on the terrace and sun loungers under a thatched umbrella. The beach will almost vanish when the tide is very high.

Food at Chapwani 

The food is very much fish based, and local delicacies,extremely well cooked, but with limited choices. If you have young children, this may prove a problem. What you have to remember is that absolutely everything including water has to be brought onto the island.
What is exciting is the atmosphere when at night the paths to the restaurant are lit by paraffin lamps. You discover very quickly that electricity is very limited, and is switched off altogether at night which can make it pretty opressive and hot.

On your first evening you will be aware of security guards by the pathways, which might be a bit disconcerting. They are employed by the hotel for your additional safety.

As you walk to the restaurant and bar, which has open sides so you can see the lights of Stonetwon glittering in the distance on one side, and the lights from ships in the Roads on the other. If you hadn't realised how narrow the island is, it is brought home by the view. 

You will be on half board automatically, but you can decide to take lunch, and take the boat to Stonetown for dinner, returning no later that 11pm. You need to book the shuttle boat and it does coat extra.

Things to do on Chapwani Island

There really isn't a whole lot to do on the island, which is part of its charm.

Spotting fruit bats, bird watching, and watching out for the dik-diks the tiny antelopes.
Exploring the island, which won't take long, or enjoying the beach. You could borrow a canoe and go round the island at high tide.
For historians the military cemetery, and the slave trade graveyard are fascinating.
You can take a boat trip to nearby islands like Bat and Changuu.
Take the free shuttle boat to Stonetown in the morning, and go exploring. Just make certain to get yourself an official guide, otherwise you will get lost and miss important sites particularly relating to the slave trade.

OR

Relax and do nothing. The addition of a swimming pool has made a huge difference at both high and low tide

Staff at Chapwani

Chapwani is well staffed and well managed, and the smiling faces will live with you long after you have left 

When should you visit Chapwani

It is closed between mid April and early June because of the long rains

Costs.

 Late October to early December can have short sharp showers, and because of that it is cheaper at this time. 

How to beat your travel agent's holiday quotes which will show you exactly how to organise the best deal at Chapwani Island

AND

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about Chapwani Private Island at TripAdvisor

Conclusions

Chapwani is a very interesting place to stay. Probably best of all on arrival, to get a real feel for Zanzibar. The lack of electricity, whilst annoying does give one a greater sense of adventure than staying in an anonymous five star resort.
A stay of three or four nights is probably long enough to have the opportunity to see Stonetown and then escape.

Chapwani is basic possibly a half way point between a safari and a hotel, but everyone who has stayed there would not have missed it for anything and neither should you if you have any sense of adventure at all.

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