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. 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 individuals in the world, of these include rare creatures that reside within Jozani Forest.
Jozani Forest is geographically lying at the Centre of Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park on Zanzibar Island. From the Historic Stone Town, Jozani Forest lies in the South-Eastern part and it is about 38kms away. This indigenous forest reserve originally extended to cover Central Zanzibar, lying between the Chwaka Bay and Uzi Bay, bordered by the Jozani village. 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. 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, Ader’s duikers, red colobus monkeys, birds etc.
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. This was initially a hunting area for most travelers who used to come to hunt for Zanzibar Leopards at the time.
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. 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.
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.
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. While on Jozani Forest tour, it is possible to also combine visits to Stone Town a designated UNESCO Site, Spice Tours, Snorkeling experiences, Beach holidays, Scuba diving, dolphin tour and others.