Jozani Forest is found in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park on Zanzibar Island, covering an area of 50 square kilometers.
The forest is home to 50 species of butterflies and 40 species of birds.
Jozani Forest attracts several visitors to Zanzibar annually.
Jozani Forest is the largest remaining stand of near-natural forest in Zanzibar, characterized by coastal forest, groundwater forest, salt marsh, mangroves, grasslands, and more.
Jozani Forest is home to Zanzibar endemic primate species such as the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, also known as Kirk’s colobus, whose population has increased over the years since the park was declared a reserve.
Other species found in Jozani Forest include Zanzibar’s syke, the rare Zanzibar leopard, bush babies, adder’s duiker, Suni antelope, Zanzibar servaline Genet, and the tree hyrax, which is the first hyrax species to acclimatize to the forest.
The Zanzibar leopard found in Jozani Forest was believed to be extinct, though some locals superstitiously believe that some sorcerers keep the leopard as a pet for their sorcery work.
On the other hand, two leopards were last sighted in 2002-2003, but some skins exist in museums elsewhere.
An American 2018 documentary television series showed camera footage of a small leopard that proves that the animals still exist.
Other wildlife found in Zanzibar includes humpback dolphins, sharks, marlins, tuna, green sea turtles, and many others.
The Zanzibar red colobus is named Kirk after a British man called John Kirk, who brought it to the attention of zoological science.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is on the tentative list for a Ramsar site in the world heritage sites.
From 1995 to 2003, Care International funded a project for the development of the wilderness area and the surrounding communities.
Locals benefit from conservation as part of the money collected from entry fees and other activities is used for building schools and hospitals in Jozani village.
The locals depended on the forest for many years until 1930 when the forest was bought by an Arab landowner who built a sawmill in the forest area.
The colonial government took over the forest in the late 1940s.
Jozani was gazetted as a forest reserve in 1952 and declared a nature reserve in 1960, though deforestation continued and poaching also existed despite being a reserve.
The park was declared a national park in 2004, and wildlife started to rejuvenate ever since then.
Birding in Jozani Forest
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park comprises two adjoining bird areas designated by BirdLife International.
The forest is the best place for birding in Zanzibar, and some examples of birds found include the Zanzibar red Bishop, Fischer’s turaco, mangrove kingfisher, greater sand plovers, east coast akalat, brown-headed parrot, mouse-colored sunbird, black-bellied starling, crab plover, crested guinea fowl, sombre greenbul, olive sunbird, dark-backed weaver, emerald-spotted wood dove, cardinal woodpecker, red-capped Robin chat, golden weaver, crowned hornbill, kingfisher, African goshawk, east coast batis, blue-mantled crested flycatcher, African paradise flycatcher, forest batis, dark-backed weaver, brown-headed parrot, Pemba sunbird, Pemba white-eye, green pigeon, black-tailed godwit, black-crowned night heron, little egret, common greenshank, great painted snipe, purple heron, common ringed plover, greater sand plover, and many others.
Nature-guided walks
There are many established trails that you can use to explore Jozani Forest with a very knowledgeable tourist guide who will guide you through the forest, showing medicinal plants, bird species, wildlife, and much more.
The Mangrove boardwalk
The Mangrove boardwalk is another way to explore Jozani Forest with beautiful views of mangroves.
The mangroves provide a breeding ground for marine life and some birds.
Tourism in Jozani Forest can be done in about 2-3 hours.
The park entrance is on the main road in Zanzibar.
The park is open daily from 7:30 am to 5 pm in the evening.
The park entry fee includes a guide and a nature-guided walk on the mangrove boardwalk or nature trail, which lasts about 45 minutes.
Jozani Forest can be visited all year round, but the best time is during the dry seasons of June to September and December to February when the walking trails are not muddy and slippery, and the vegetation in the park is not as thick, making it easy to see wildlife.
Zanzibar Packing list
When going to Jozani Forest, it’s essential to pack the following items:
waterproof hiking boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, water bottle, binoculars, hat, long-sleeved clothing, long socks, a light rain jacket, and a camera.
There is no accommodation at Jozani Forest, but you can stay at some nearby lodges in Zanzibar that range from budget to mid-range and luxurious.
Where to sleep will depend on the tourist’s budget.
Zanzibar has a lot of other activities to offer, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, sport fishing, sunbathing, boat rides, water surfing, kayaking, and water skiing, among others.
