JOZANI FOREST TOUR EXPERIENCE IN ZANZIBAR WITH AFRICANMECCA

The Jozani Forest is a conservation area established in the 1960s in the core of Zanzibar Island. Covering an area of 50 square kilometers, this reserve also includes a section of the Jozani Chwaka National Park and was set up for the conservation of the kirk’s red colobus monkey, a beautiful and rare primate. Subsisting on leaves and living most of their lives in the trees and bushes, evolution has more or less eliminated their opposable thumbs so they now have only a stub left.

As you go primate viewing on your exploratory vacation in Zanzibar (reasons to visit), you will be delighted to watch these lively creatures in their natural habitat as they feed, groom one another and care for their young. They are used to seeing humans around and will forage close to you allowing you to take lots of pictures.



Learn more about their behavior from the AfricanMecca guide accompanying you and also about the dedicated efforts that were directed at saving this fast-disappearing species. Thanks to conservation drives, these monkeys now number close to 2500. The diversity of woodland landscape this lush forest covers is truly incredible. It includes a tidal water-washed area between the Uzi and Chwaka Island bays, teeming with mangrove trees and other marine vegetation.

The woodland itself is sited in an ancient coral bed that creates a shallow depression with coral rag forests and thick bushes covering the higher ground around it. There are also sand marshes that lie to the north of the forest. At the bay, you will be able to view distinct varieties of colorful fish in the water along with crabs and mollusks. There is also on-site turtle sanctuary initiated by the local community.

A highlight of your flora tour, your guide will take you to see the Mama Mtondoo, a stately mahogany tree that is believed to be more than 200 years old. Then, there are the fascinating twins, one strangler fig, and the other sycamore, growing together. You could also view a raffia fern tree that has the distinction of sporting the largest leaves in the world.



Together, this landscape supports a stunning variety of flora that in turn hosts more than 100 species of butterflies. You will be awestruck to see that few of these can be as big as a human hand. You can also view millipedes, lizards and amphibians like frogs. Look out for the brilliantly colored sunbirds as they flit among the elegant tropical flowers, sipping nectar from them. Follow the forest trails when on your adventure tour of Zanzibar and you can watch other creatures such as sykes monkey, shrew, galago, chameleon and many more. If you are lucky, you may even spot a traversing shy Ader's duiker or suni antelope.

Originally, the reserve was set up with the support of international organizations but now a major part of the revenue earned from park entrance fees is used for a wide range of preservation initiatives from replanting trees to educating communities about the importance of conservation. Do your bit in preserving this unique and fragile ecosystem by visit this rare primate world on your AfricanMecca trip in Tanzania.