Chapwani Island

Chapwani is a small hotel on a private island surrounded by white sandy beaches, small coves, sandy bays and crystal blue waters. This coral island is nearly a kilometre long and some 100 metres wide and situated just over 1,6 kilometres from the coast of Stone Town.

Along the South West Coast of the island runs the sea wall protecting the small but fascinating British seamen's graveyard. This is a historic monument of great interest and beauty and the graves through their inscriptions tell the stories of tall ships, battles with Arab slaving dhows during the slave wars and the sinking of HMS Pegasus, with the first shot fired in the First World War.

From here the long sandy beach stretches for over 500 yards all the way to the Northern tip of the island. At low tide, the coral reef surrounding the island is uncovered, revealing crevices and pools in the coral full of multi-coloured small shore life.

The two little coves at the North of the island provide perfect privacy and must be one of the most idyllic spots in the whole of Zanzibar to spend a day on the beach in total isolation.

On the North Eastern coast is a natural pool, emptied at each low tide through a small gap in the coral but refilled with fresh seawater with each tide. The trees above the pool are often the resting place of dozens of black heron.
This small island is home to duikers, giant coconut crabs and a colony of fruit bats that fly up from the trees at sunset, circle once and fly off to Stone Town in a dusky cloud.

How to get there
It is only 15 minutes with a boat from Stone Town. There is a free transfer boat that leaves the island for Stone Town at 9h00am and returns at 4h30pm. Private transfers can be organised at an extra cost.

There are only 10 rooms on the whole island, situated in 5 separate bandas on the beach.  Each room has its own terrace and lounge beds on the beach in front of the room. The rooms are simple with stone floors, whitewashed walls, a four-poster bed, a mosquito net, wardrobe, a traditional Zanzibari writing desk and ceiling fans. A banana leaf shutter closes the room from the light outside whilst letting through a fresh breeze. Each room has its own separate toilet and a large bathroom with wash basin and shower area.

The island has no natural water and all the water is brought by a water boat to meet the needs of guests.  Hot water is available in the evening, heated by a large wood-burning boiler. The only power on the island comes from the generator situated on the opposite side of the island out of ear shot.

The rooms have electricity during the day but the generator is switched off at mid-night and each room has a lantern on the porch for use during the night. 

The restaurant is on the waters edge on the north-eastern side of the island and is covered by a large makuti (local thatch) roof. The food is excellent and has a strong local flavour.  The menu is based around freshly caught fish and crustaceans.  The cuisine has a touch of Italian style. 

The island, whilst private, does have an obligation to allow visitors, given the presence of the historic monument.  Therefore there are sometimes outside guests at the restaurant at lunch times.  It should be noted that numbers are restricted and given the size of the island total privacy is guaranteed.