Discovering Jozani Forest and the Red Colobus Monkey

In the heart of the island lies Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, Zanzibar's only national park and a protected haven of towering trees, mangrove swamps, and rare wildlife. The park's star resident is the red colobus monkey, a primate found nowhere else on earth. These striking creatures, with their reddish-brown coats and long tufted tails, are a delight to observe as they leap gracefully between branches. Boardwalks wind through the dense forest and out over the mangrove flats, home to electric-blue tree crabs and a variety of herons and kingfishers. A local guide will bring the ecosystem to life, explaining the delicate balance of this ancient woodland. Jozani is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon, when the animals are most active and the light filters beautifully through the canopy. A visit to Jozani is a wonderful counterpoint to Zanzibar's beaches – a chance to discover the island's wilder, greener side.