Jozani Forest is located in Chwaka Bay National Park on Zanzibar Island in Tanzania. It is home to the endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey. The forest covers an area of 50 square kilometers and is the only national park in Zanzibar.
The Zanzibar red colobus, sometimes called Kirk’s red colobus, is named after Sir John Kirk, who lived in Zanzibar and was the first to bring this monkey to the attention of scientists.
The park contains the largest area of near-natural forest on Zanzibar, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The forest includes coastal forests, mangroves, groundwater forests, and salt marshes along the coast.
The main activity at Jozani is a 45-minute walk along a nature trail. On the trail, you can see different wildlife, especially monkeys, as well as many types of trees, plants, and birds. Nearby, you can visit Paje village, which has beautiful beaches and lovely surroundings.
History
Jozani Forest was first set up as a conservation forest in the 1960s. It became a national park in 2004. From 1995 to 2003, Care International supported a development project to help the forest and the nearby communities.
The Zanzibar leopard, which is native to Zanzibar, was last officially reported in 1999. However, some men working on the coral rag lands of southern and eastern Unguja Island say the animal is not extinct, with the last sighting in 2003. No live photos of this leopard exist, but stuffed specimens are displayed in a Zanzibar museum. Some skins are kept in museums in Massachusetts and London. A 2018 American documentary showed trail footage of the Zanzibar leopard.
Entry Fee
The entry fee to Jozani Forest is $8 per person per day. Prices may change, so check the current fee before visiting.
Animals
Jozani Forest is home to the endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey. The forest also shelters other primates and wildlife such as bush babies, Sykes monkeys, tree hyrax, Aders duiker, Zanzibar servaline genet, and more. Along the coast of Zanzibar, you may see sharks, marlins, tuna, dolphins, and possibly the Zanzibar leopard.
Locals call the Zanzibar leopard “Chui.” While many believe it is extinct, some think sorcerers keep the animal as a pet and tell stories of it appearing and disappearing like a spirit.
Jozani Forest also has about 40 bird species. Some of these are Fischer’s turaco, blue-mantled crested flycatcher, chatty dark-backed weaver, forest batis, African paradise flycatcher, mangrove kingfisher, and others.
Location
Jozani Forest is located in the southeast part of Zanzibar Island.
Best Time to Visit
Jozani Forest can be visited all year. If you plan to visit other national parks in Tanzania, the best time to visit is from June to September or December to February when the weather is good. The best time for forest walks is early in the morning when the wildlife is most active.
Accommodation
There are few places to stay inside Jozani Forest. Some nearby hotels include Moment in Time Hotel, Zanzibar Bay Resort, Maars Resort, Chwaka, Coconut Tree Village Beach, Ahmumtum Unit 3, Menai Bay Beach Bungalows, Zan Oceans Resort, and Filao Beach Zanzibar.
