Jozani Forest Tour
Zanzibar red colobus monkeys and the mangrove boardwalk
- Location Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, Unguja
- Duration Half day, approximately 4 hours
- Tour type Private or shared
- Availability Daily, morning and afternoon departures
Price on request Send the form and we reply with a firm quote, usually within a few hours.
Overview
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is the only national park on Unguja, and the last substantial piece of the groundwater forest once covering much of the island. It is also the only place in the world where the Zanzibar red colobus monkey lives, an endemic species named after the British consul Sir John Kirk.
The monkeys are habituated and unafraid, so sightings are close and reliable. Troops feed and move through the canopy directly above the trail while your guide explains their social structure, their diet and the conservation work keeping the population stable. Sykes’ monkeys, bush babies, Ader’s duiker, butterflies and a long list of birds share the same forest.
The second half of the visit follows a raised boardwalk through the mangrove swamp on the edge of Chwaka Bay. The walkway carries you over the tidal channels and root systems, and your guide explains how the mangrove protects the coast and feeds the fishery the villages depend on.
The park sits about fifty kilometres from Stone Town on the road toward the east coast, so it combines easily with a spice farm morning or a Stone Town walk.
Highlights
- See the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey at close range
- Walk the only national park on Unguja with a park guide
- Cross the mangrove forest on a raised boardwalk
- Look for Sykes' monkeys, bush babies, duikers and forest birds
- Learn how the mangrove protects the coast and the local fishery
- A short, shaded walk suitable for most fitness levels
Itinerary
- 08:30
Hotel pickup
Collection from your hotel and the drive toward Chwaka Bay.
- 09:45
Forest trail and red colobus
A guided walk along the forest trails. Your guide finds the troops and explains their behaviour and the conservation programme.
- 11:00
Mangrove boardwalk
Cross the tidal mangrove forest on the raised walkway, with time for photographs.
- 12:00
Return transfer
Drive back to your hotel.
What is included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- National park entrance fees and taxes
- English-speaking guide and park ranger
- Bottled water
Not included
- Lunch and drinks, where not listed as included
- Personal shopping and souvenirs
- Gratuities for your guide and driver
- Travel insurance
- Anything not named under what is included
Pickup and meeting point
Pickup time: Around 08:30 or 13:30.
Meeting point: Hotel reception.
We collect from these areas:
- Stone Town
- Zanzibar City
- Maungani
- Nungwi
- Kendwa
- Matemwe
- Kiwengwa
- Pwani Mchangani
- Uroa
- Pongwe
- Chwaka
- Michamvi
- Paje
- Jambiani
- Makunduchi
- Kizimkazi
- Fumba
- Mangapwani
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes or sandals
- Sun cream, hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Small notes in Tanzanian shillings or US dollars
- Camera or phone
- Light rain jacket in the wet season
- Insect repellent
- Binoculars if you have them
Important information
- Park rules ask visitors to stay several metres from the monkeys. Feeding or touching them is not allowed.
- Trails are flat and mostly shaded. The mangrove boardwalk has handrails.
- Mosquitoes are present in the mangrove section, particularly late afternoon.
- Sightings are reliable but wild animals are never guaranteed.
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
How likely are we to see the red colobus?
Very likely. The troops near the main trail are habituated to visitors and are usually found within the first twenty minutes of the walk.
How long is the walk?
About ninety minutes in total across the forest trail and the mangrove boardwalk, at an easy pace.
Is the butterfly centre included?
It is a separate site next to the park. We run a combined Jozani Forest and Butterfly Centre trip if you would like both.
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