Jozani Forest & Red Colobus Monkey Tour
A half-day nature tour into Zanzibar's only national park, home to the rare Zanzibar red colobus monkey found nowhere else on Earth, plus a mangrove boardwalk through Chwaka Bay.
Zanzibar's Only National Park
Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park is Zanzibar's only national park and the last significant stand of native forest on the island, home to the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, a subspecies found nowhere else on Earth and classified as endangered, alongside Sykes monkeys, bushbabies, over 40 bird species and a rich diversity of butterflies and reptiles.
This half-day tour combines a guided forest walk to observe the red colobus troops at close, respectful range with a walk along the park's mangrove boardwalk through Chwaka Bay, an easy, rewarding morning that pairs well with a spice farm visit or beach afternoon.
The Zanzibar Red Colobus
The Zanzibar red colobus (Piliocolobus kirkii) is one of Africa's rarest primates, found only on Zanzibar Island, with a total wild population estimated in the low thousands. Distinguished by its reddish-brown back, black limbs and white underside, the species is highly habituated within Jozani Forest, allowing for close, respectful viewing without disturbing natural behaviour.
Beyond the colobus, Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park protects a mosaic of groundwater forest, coral rag thicket and mangrove ecosystems, together supporting Sykes monkeys, Aders' duiker (another rare endemic species), bushbabies and dozens of bird and butterfly species, making the park an important conservation priority for the island.
Your Day-Trip Experience
The excursion starts with collection from the guest's Zanzibar accommodation and a drive through the island's rural interior to Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. A licensed ranger leads the forest walk, explaining the native vegetation, the pressures on this protected habitat and the ecology of the endemic Zanzibar red colobus. Troops are often observed in the area, but the animals move freely and no sighting or close photograph is guaranteed; visitors keep the distance and follow the ranger's instructions. The route may also reveal Sykes monkeys, forest birds, butterflies and other wildlife according to natural conditions. Where the boardwalk is open and accessible, the visit continues into the mangrove ecosystem toward Chwaka Bay, giving guests a clear contrast with the inland forest and an opportunity to learn how mangroves protect the coast and support crabs, mudskippers, birds and young marine life. Time is allowed for questions and careful photography without rushing between labelled time slots. After completing the authorised trails, guests return to the vehicle for the drive back to their hotel, with any brief roadside photo stop made only when safe and respectful of local residents.
Included & Excluded
- Licensed local guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park entrance fee
- Local park ranger fee
- Bottled water
- 24/7 Haven Trails ground support
- Lunch or additional refreshments
- Gratuities for your guide and ranger
- Personal items and souvenirs
Why Haven Trails Adventures
Based in Moshi, Tanzania, not a booking platform abroad. Our Zanzibar partners are deeply embedded in the island's hospitality and activity networks, with real-time knowledge of the best guides, boats and conditions throughout the year.
Every guide and boat operator working with Haven Trails is licensed by the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism and personally vetted for safety, professionalism and knowledge of the island's history, culture and marine environment.
Choose a small shared group departure or book the tour privately for your party alone. Either way, you get an unhurried, personal experience rather than being herded through a crowded, oversized tour bus itinerary.
A Haven Trails ground team is reachable throughout your Zanzibar stay for any change, question or unexpected situation. You are never navigating the island alone from pickup to drop-off.
Haven Trails prioritises locally-owned operators, community guides and marine conservation partners. A portion of every booking supports coral reef protection and community tourism initiatives on the island.
No hidden extras, no last-minute upsells at the dock. What you see at booking is what you pay, with clear notes on anything genuinely excluded, such as the Zanzibar marine park conservation fee.