Jozani-Chwaka Bay is Zanzibar's only national park and the largest patch of native forest left on the island. The reason to come is the Zanzibar red colobus — a monkey that lives here and nowhere else on earth. Just a few thousand remain, and Jozani is where you are almost guaranteed to see them, close and unbothered.
The red colobus
The red colobus troops around Jozani are used to visitors and carry on eating, grooming and leaping overhead while you watch from the path. They are strikingly built — reddish backs, dark faces, a pale ruff — and endearingly clumsy jumpers. Guides ask you to keep a few metres back (for the animals' health, not your safety), which is easy because the monkeys come to you.
What else is in the park
- The forest walk. A guided loop through tall groundwater forest — giant trees, butterflies, birdsong, and Sykes' monkeys alongside the colobus.
- The mangrove boardwalk. A raised walkway out over a tidal mangrove, which explains how the coast actually works far better than any beach does.
The whole visit is gentle and short — a couple of hours on flat, easy paths — which makes it good for almost anyone, including families.
Visiting from Paje
Jozani sits in the middle of the island, close to the east coast, so from Paje it is one of the shortest excursions there is — a short drive rather than a cross-island trek. Early morning is best: cooler, quieter, and the monkeys are most active. Bring closed shoes and insect repellent; the forest floor is damp.
Put this tour in your plan.
We arrange it with guides we know — one request, one quote, nothing charged here.
One honest note
It is a park, not a zoo — sightings are near-certain but never staged, and you should never feed or touch the monkeys, however close they come. A good guide keeps the encounter respectful, which is part of why we arrange it rather than leaving it to the gate.
In short: Short, easy, and the only place on earth to see the Zanzibar red colobus. Go early. We arrange Jozani as part of your plan. See experiences and pricing →