JOZANI FOREST

Jozan Forest National Park Tour.

3 Hours 5 Stars

Overview

Jozani Forest, officially known as Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park located at Chwaka Village Zanzibar East Coast of Unguja Island, largest Island of Zanzibar. This is the largest forest of Zanzibar which is famous for its high population of the Red Colobus monkeys. One among the oldest and rarest Monkey species in the world. Not only Monkeys, the forest has a lot to offer such as rare medicinal plants and a natural Mangroves reserve which is part of the Forest. Zanzibar red colobus Monkeys (Pili colobus kirkii), locally known as ‘Kima Punju’ only live in Jozani Forest. The monkeys are one of the rarest primates in the African continent and found only on Zanzibar island. Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park was established in 2004, for the purpose of protection of Red colobus monkeys and other Species and flora found in the forest. Jozani Forest is one of the beautiful sites worth visiting on Tanzania safaris or Zanzibar holiday. This natural forest reserve was gazetted in the 1960s and it forms part of the Jozani – Chwaka Bay National Park which spans in an area of only 50sq.kms (19 sq. mi). Jozani Forest Reserve is presently one of the treasured natural sites and remarkably one of a few existing sanctuaries in Africa with unique primate species.

Jozani Forest is incredibly a vast indigenous forest reserve suitably lying on magical Zanzibar Island. It is a compact indigenous forest, most famous for its red colobus monkeys (Procolobus Kirkii). These apes derive their name from Sir John Kirk and till today they remain fewer than 6000 in the world, of these include rare creatures that reside within Jozani Forest. Jozani Forest is a splendid place of its own. During heavy rains, it is easier to witness the unique swamp forest, moisture trees, palms, ferns offering holidaymakers a feeling of tropical rain-forest. As you move to the high altitudinal area, a dry coral rag forest and dense mangrove thrives. The sea grass beds make up the larger portion of the mangrove forests and these the best breeding spots for diverse marine species like the open sea fish. Chwaka Bay alone is a designated Ramsar Site on Zanzibar Island.

Jozani was initially a hunting area for most travelers who used to come to hunt for Zanzibar Leopards at the time. Initially, Jozani Forest was founded as a Forest Reserve in 1960 before upgrading into a National Park 1984. It was in 1984 when it was designated as Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. Jozani Forest presently protects an estimate of 6000 Kirks red colobus monkeys and other mammal species including duikers, bush babies, African civets, Sykes monkeys among others. Jozani Forest is one of the Important Birding Areas (IBAs) on Zanzibar Archipelago. In Jozani Forest itself shelters over 40 bird species including the Little green bull, African goshawk, Fischer’s turacos, Mangrove kingfishers, Somber greenbul, Zanzibar red bishops, East coast Akalat, Mouse-colored sun birds, Crowned hornbill, Olive sun birds etc. Within the vast Mangrove forest of Jozani, the possible bird sightings to expect include Saunders’s terns, Sand and Crab plovers. Jozani Forest Reserve is an important area on Zanzibar Island mostly treasured for its distinct faunal and floral species. The reserve is a host to an estimated population of about 100 tree species, 50 butterfly species, 291 species of plants and others. The Jozani Chwaka Bay Conservation Project was purposely initiated to offer refuge to remaining portion of indigenous ground water forest. The Jozani Forest today protects diverse habitats ranging from the swamp forests, the evergreen thickets to mangroves. Each of these habitats inhabit diversity of wildlife species especially Sykes, bush pigs, Adder’s duikers, red colobus monkeys, birds etc.

The Zanzibar red colobus, Procolobus kirkii (its population count is about 1000) found in the park, a rain forest species (unlike the black-and-white colobus found in other regions of Africa), is also known as Kirk's red colobus, named after Sir John Kirk, the British Resident of Zanzibar who had first brought it to the attention of zoological science. It is now adopted as the flagship species for conservation in Zanzibar, from the mid-1990s. The nocturnal Zanzibar tree hyrax, which has four ‘toes’ on its front feet and three on its back, is said to be the first hyrax species that has acclimatized to the forest. As part of the tourism circuit, the park attracts 10% of the over 100,000 visitors to Zanzibar every year. Another animal in the forests of the Unguja Island unequaled elsewhere is the Zanzibar leopard (Panthera pardus adersi), which was believed to be extinct. In Swahili, a leopard is called 'Chui' and is part of the superstitious beliefs of the people. People believe that sorcerers keep this animal as their pet and scare people by spinning stories that the animal appears like spirits and disappears into thin air, which most likely comes from the fact that Leopards are very shy of humans and elusive. It was last reported in 1999 and officials, and men working on the “coral rag” lands of the southern and eastern Unguja Island are assertive that the species is not extinct, though it has not been sighted since 2003. The last sighting reported in 2002-2003 was of two leopards. Photographs of live examples of the species are not known to exist, although a stuffed example is a museum display in Zanzibar Museum, and a few skins exist in museums in London and Massachusetts.

There is a lot to enjoy, explore and experience while on Jozani Forest visit. All visitors on Jozani Forest trip are led by experienced guide while on Forest/Nature walks, wildlife viewing or bird watching. Jozani Forest holidays are possible to be arranged at any time of the year. But the dry season is considerably perfect time for you to experience the best of Jozani Forest. There are 2 significant dry season that you should mark on your travel calendar; meaning, you can plan your trip to Jozani Forest in June, July, August, September, October, December, January, February and March. These dry months are the perfect months to experience the best of guided nature walks or forest walks, wildlife viewing. Due to heavy rains that are experienced during wet/rainy season, nature walks in Jozani Forest can sometimes be challenging as the trails tend to be slippery.

Highlights

Explore Jozani rain forest only habitant of the red colobus monkeys in the world. Jozani Forest, officially known as Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park located at Chwaka Village Zanzibar East Coast of Unguja Island. This is the largest forest of Zanzibar which is famous for its high population of the Red Colobus monkeys. Jozani Forest presently protects an estimate of 1000 Kirks red colobus monkeys and other mammal species including duikers, bush babies, African civets, Sykes monkeys among others. The nature trails are lined with mahogany and eucalyptus trees, but the environment changes in the mangrove forest which attracts lizards, reptiles, and birds such as Fischer's turacos, mangrove kingfishers, brown-headed parrots, black-bellied starlings, east coast akalats, mouse-colored sunbirds, Zanzibar red bishops, sand plovers, crab plovers and Saunders's terns and is important for the prevention of coastal erosion. Discover the secrets of the mangrove forest as you cross the boardwalk above the murky waters which are an important feeding ground for numerous tropical fish as well as crabs. Look out for the Zanzibar leopard which was last spotted in 2003 and is reputed to be extinct. Enjoy the tales of the forest and get a chance to play with the red Columbus monkeys that can only be found in Zanzibar. Take a beautiful time wander in the mangrove forest boardwalk a beautiful place to take pictures and create wonderful unforgettable memories.

Jozani Tour Video Highlights