JOZANI-CHWAKA BAY NATIONAL PARK

Jozani Forest, a conservation project aimed at preserving some of the last indigenous forest on the island, lies at the heart of Jozani-Chwaka National Park, straddling a narrow belt of land linking the east and west coast of the island. It is the largest area of mature indigenous forest on Unguja (Zanzibar Island), and home to possibly the island’s most famous and photographed resident, the Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey. The diverse range of natural habitats to be found in the national park supports a variety of rare, endangered and endemic species, including the Ader’s Duiker, as well as Sykes Monkeys, bush babies, African civet, giant elephant shrews, and chameleons as well as more than 100 species of brightly coloured butterflies and around 83 species of birds. South of the forest, a thin long creek juts in from the sea, and is lined with mangrove trees. A marvelous boardwalk has been constructed, so you can easily and harmlessly go deep into the mangrove to experience this unique ecosystem. Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park makes an excellent day-trip wherever you are staying on the island, though the best time to go is in the dry season, from July to February, when there is little chance that the forest will be flooded.