The Jozani Forest, the heart of the Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, is the last large patch of the ancient forest that once covered much of Zanzibar, and the island’s only national park. It is home to the Zanzibar red colobus, a striking monkey with a russet back, black arms and a pale, tufted face, found only on this island and one of the rarest primates in Africa. Families of colobus feed in the trees beside the paths and are surprisingly relaxed around quiet visitors, which makes this one of the best wildlife encounters in the Indian Ocean. Sykes’s monkeys, bushbabies, butterflies and birds share the forest. A second trail follows a raised boardwalk through the mangroves, where crabs scuttle over the mud and small fish swim among the roots at high tide. You can only enter with a park guide. This page links to a Jozani Forest tour on Viator, rated by more than fifty travellers, that brings you from your hotel to the park and back.
How it works: the tour is run by Paradise Tours and Safaris and lasts about four to five hours including the drive, priced per person and varying with group size. At the park, a ranger guide leads the walk through the forest to the colobus groups and along the mangrove boardwalk. Visitors are not allowed in without a guide, so the guided format is part of the experience rather than an extra.
About the monkeys: the red colobus live in family groups and spend much of the day feeding on leaves. Keep a few metres away, do not feed or touch them, and keep your voice low; they are wild animals and the rules protect them. Morning and late afternoon visits catch them at their most active.
Making the most of it: the park lies in the centre-south of the island, roughly an hour from Stone Town by road and on the way to the south-east beaches of Paje and Jambiani. Bring insect repellent, closed shoes and a hat. Many visitors combine Jozani with a spice farm, or with a beach lunch on the south-east coast.
What to expect
The experience
A drive to the national park, then a ranger-guided walk to the red colobus monkeys and along the mangrove boardwalk.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon, when the monkeys are most active and the forest is cooler.
How long
About four to five hours including the drive, with around one to two hours walking in the park.
Tips
Wear insect repellent and closed shoes, keep your distance from the monkeys and never feed them.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Wildlife lovers and photographers who want to see a primate found nowhere else on earth.
- Families
- Flat, short trails and monkeys at close range make it one of the best family outings on the island.
- Couples
- A peaceful nature walk that fits neatly into a day heading to the south-east beaches.
- Pair with
- The spice farm tour the same morning, or a beach afternoon in Paje.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
What monkeys live in Jozani Forest?+
Jozani is famous for the Zanzibar red colobus, which is found only on Zanzibar. Sykes’s monkeys also live in the forest.
Do I need a guide in Jozani Forest?+
Yes, visitors may only enter the national park with a guide. The guide leads you to the monkeys and along the mangrove boardwalk.
How far is Jozani Forest from Stone Town?+
It lies in the centre-south of the island, roughly an hour from Stone Town by road. It is on the way to the beaches of Paje and Jambiani.
Can I feed or touch the monkeys?+
No, the red colobus are wild and protected, so keep a few metres away and do not feed or touch them. Quiet visitors see the most.
What is the mangrove boardwalk?+
It is a raised wooden walkway through tidal mangroves, where you can see crabs on the mud and fish among the roots. It is part of most guided visits.
