Jozani Forest National Park (approx. 3½h)

Departure possible anytime

 

Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park (50 km sq) is the only National Park in Zanzibar and is situated between Chwaka and Uzi, approximately 40 minutes from Michamvi by taxi. 80% of the entrance fee is used to ensure the conservation of the rainforest and it's surrounding environment. Additionally, there are different projects with the local communities that aim for sustainable conservation. One of these projects that you can visit is the butterfly centre, about 1km away from the park entrance.

The excursion involves 3 parts that you will be guided through: the nature trail, the mangrove board walk and the sighting of the Zanzibarian Red Colobus Monkey. The Red Colobus is endemic to Zanzibar with Jozani Forest population counting around 1000 – 1200 animals. As they can’t digest sugar, they feed mainly on seeds, leaves flowers and unripe fruit.

The mangrove boardwalk starts about 1km south of the park entrance, in the shade of an old tamarind tree. The brackish water here is a breeding ground for all sorts of tropical fish, crabs, mollusks, reptiles and amphibians. The nature trail is a 7km loop through the last remaining patch of rainforest in Zanzibar. Grown to enormous size are dragon trees and raffia fern, a mahagony tree (Mama Mtondo) said to be over 200 years old, or then the strangler fig and it's partner, the sycamore fig.

We recommend good shoes, mosquito spray and don’t forget your camera!