the nomad lab

Chole Mjini Treehouse Lodge.

I love this eco-lodge hideaway in Tanzania. 

Built on Chole Island, this lodge stays true to its environmental ideology while maintaining its own individual character and design.

Chole Mjini focuses on being green, and on contributing heavily to the local community.

The Chole Mjini Conservation & Development Company has actually built a primary school and an adult education center for the island, and they donate a portion of each night of your lodging costs to supporting the community. Definitely take the opportunity to tour the local village during your stay here.

While you shouldn’t expect certain modern conveniences here (like electricity and flushing toilets), the experience is well worth it.

You’ll stay in an open rustic treehouse, surrounded by wildlife and breathtaking scenery. I strongly recommend checking out the website and reading each treehouse description - they’re personally written by the man who built each of them!

There’s a wealth of water activities, which include snorkeling, swimming with whale sharks and jellyfish, watching turtles hatch, and sunset sailing. The food is, of course, freshly caught and locally grown. Meals are served in the dining room, an open-air room surrounded by fig tree roots and crumbling dirt walls, or with a candle-lit service right on the water.

This sounds like the perfect place to get away from it all. And you know, be one with nature, and all that. 

I probably don’t need to say it, but don’t expect internet or cellphone service here either. Take it as a blessing.

Visit the website here: Chole Mjini Lodge

(Photos from Afrika Afrika Safaris)

I think I begged my parents for a treehouse just like this when I was a kid. (Except mine had more rope ladders and swings and slides.) 

In the midst of the forest, just a few steps away from the Punta Uva Beach, this treehouse is built in and around an old 100+ year old Sangrillo tree using only sustainable wood obtained from fallen trees. 

This two bedroom split level house is basically open air, with sustainable wood furniture and surrounded by wildlife like sloths and monkeys. Other perks include a jacuzzi tub and an outdoor shower. Love it.

Lots of typical Costa Rican adventure tours nearby, like canopy ziplining tours, surfing, and white water rafting.

Find out more here: Tree House Lodge

Facebook: Tree House Lodge

The lodge also includes a Beach House, a Beach Suite, and a Garden House, in addition to the Tree House, each with their own character and personality.

(Photos from Tree House Lodge)