Chole Mjini Treehouse Lodge
The Chole Mjini Treehouse Lodge is a lodging and activity area located in the Mafia Island off the coast of Tanzania, created by Anne and Jean de Villiers. Found in the largest marine park in East Africa, this lodging facility is intended as an island escape from the sights and sounds of urban life.
When creating this lodging, Anne and Jean wanted to preserve the natural beauty of the area and prevent any exploitation. They wanted to ensure that a hotel development wouldn't have a negative impact on Chole, as they often do for other remote paradises.
Ways the Chole Mjini Treehouses minimize their impact with sustainable tourism:
- Sustainable building materials and methods: The community's local craftsmen utilized antique methods and zero power tools to build the treehouses, and the all-natural materials used were sourced only from traders living on Chole.
- Off-grid: The lodging is completely run off of solar power, and the showers are taken outdoors with non-potable water. The toilets are also outdoors and are dry compost.
- Supporting the local community: Anne and Jean have aided in creating a primary school, functioning clinic, and other community development projects on the island. In addition to experiencing life off-grid, visitors to Chole can participate in planned activities.
These include scuba diving, snorkeling, boat trips, paddle boarding, and more. Guests can also go to the nearby Chole Village to mingle with the local population.
