Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, in the south-centre of the island, is Zanzibar’s only national park. It protects around 50 square kilometres of groundwater forest, coral-rag thicket, salt marsh and mangrove — the last sizeable piece of the vegetation that once covered Unguja.
Its best-known residents are the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey with a russet back, a black face and a shock of white hair, found only on this island. A few thousand survive, and the troops at the edge of the park are so used to people that you can watch them feeding a few metres away.
Top things to do at Jozani Forest
Watch the red colobus
A park guide leads you to the troops. Keep a few metres back, do not feed them and avoid visiting if you have a cold — the monkeys can catch human illnesses.
Walk the forest trail
A shaded path loops through tall mahogany and palms. Look for Sykes’ monkeys, bush babies’ nests, butterflies and the tiny, shy suni antelope.
Cross the mangrove boardwalk
A raised walkway runs over the tidal creek, where the guide explains how mangroves protect the coast. Crabs and small fish are visible at high tide.
How to get to Jozani Forest
- From Kendwa: about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, via the outskirts of Zanzibar City.
- On a tour: the practical choice. A private day combining Jozani with a spice farm and Stone Town picks up in Kendwa; another pairs the forest with swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave.
Insider tips
- The park fee includes a mandatory guide; a tip at the end is customary.
- Mornings and late afternoons are best for the monkeys.
- Wear closed shoes and insect repellent — it is humid under the canopy.
Best tours & tickets for Jozani Forest
These well-reviewed experiences are the simplest way to see Jozani Forest from a Kendwa base:
Wildlife from $80 Zanzibar: Jozani Forest & Salaam Cave with Pickup & Entry Fees
Two wildlife encounters in the south of the island in one outing, with the fees already in the price. Almost 450 reviews at 4.8 make it one of the best-regarded nature trips on Zanzibar.
- Rare red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest
- Swim with sea turtles at Salaam Cave, Kizimkazi
- Pickup and entry fees included
Private tour from $70 Zanzibar: Jozani Forest, Spice Farm & Stone Town Private Tour
A private car and guide for the whole day, which is the comfortable way to cover Zanzibar’s long distances from the north. Forest in the morning, spices at midday, Stone Town in the afternoon — and you decide where to linger.
- Red colobus monkeys and the mangrove boardwalk at Jozani
- Smell and taste your way round a spice farm
- Stone Town with your own guide, at your own pace
