Zanzibar national parks

Zanzibar national parks
Jozani Chakwa Bay national park
Joanie Chakwa Bay national park is the only national park found in Zanzibar covering an area of 50 kilometers squared. Jozani Chakwa Bay national park was first gazette as a forest reserve in 1960 and later established as a national park in the year 2004 to protect the Zanzibar red colobus monkey. The mangrove forests in the park are an habitat to several marine species.
Jozani Chakwa Bay occupies the largest remaining stand of near natural forest in Zanzibar according to International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Birdlife international designated Jozani forest as an Important Bird Area. From 1995 to 2003, CARE international sponsored a development project for the wilderness area and surrounding communities.
Jozani Chakwa Bay national park is home to the Kirk’s colobus monkey, Zanzibar elephant, 49 species of birds and about 50 species of butterflies, 100 species of trees and 291 species of plants. The park is also home to Zanzibar tree hyrax, the first of its kind to acclimatize to the forest. Jozani Chakwa Bay is under way to becoming a Ramsar site and it’s on a tentative list of World Heritage sites.
The Zanzibar leopard lives in Jozani Chakwa Bay national park, although some believe that the leopard is extinct, many locals suggest that sorcerers keep the leopard as a pet and use it to scare others as they believe it appears as spirits and disappears to thin air. The people of Ungula Island believe that the animal is not extinct as they saw it in 2003 with evidence of a camera footage in 2018 American documentary television series captured proof of leopard existence.
The Zanzibar red colobus monkey is also known as Kirk’s colobus monkey named after Sir Kirk John who first brought it to the attention of zoological science. The Zanzibar red colobus monkey has now been adapted as a flagship species for conservation in Zanzibar. Part of the revenue collected from the park entry fee is used for supporting the local communities like building schools and hospitals.
Some of the animals you can see that the park include; bush babies, Zanzibar tree hyrax, Sykes monkey, dolphins, tuna, sharks, marlins, Adder’s Duiker, Zanzibar serialize Genet, African civet, African forest elephants and many others.
Jozani Chakwa Bay national park supports a good habitat of bird species and some of the examples of birds found in the park are; mangrove kingfisher, Fischer’s turaco, brown headed turaco, east coast akalats, black bellied starlings, Zanzibar red bishops, mouse colored sunbird, white faced whistling dove, eastern crested Guinea fowl, African pipit, northern grey headed sparrow, how sparrow, Richard’s pipit, pin tailed whydah, common wax bill, green backed twin spot, black and white Manikin, bronze Manikin, black winged bishop, forest weaver, village weaver, African Golden weaver, variable sunbird, scarlet chested sunbird, olive sunbird, red capped Robin chat, spotted fly catcher, bearded scrub Robin, pale nreasted illadopsis, pemba white eye, southern yellow white eye, common bulbul, sombe greenbelt, red rumped swallow, lesser swamp warbler, tawny flanked prinia, yellow breasted apalis, eastern nicator, pied crow, paradise fly catcher, common square tailed drongo, Zanzibar boubou, brown crowned Tchagara, African Golden oriole, green backed woodpecker, lilac breasted roller and blue checked bee eater among others.
Guided nature walks
Jozani Chakwa Bay national park has established several walking trails so that it’s visitors can explore the park on foot. You will be guided by an experienced ranger guide who’s well versed with the forest and its wildlife. One of the interesting trails is the one that takes you to the Mother Mahogany tree believed to be over 200 years old. The Mangrove board walk is also another interesting trail you shouldn’t miss while at the park.
When to visit
Jozani Chakwa Bay national park is an all year round destination but visiting during some months is better than other months. The best time to visit the park is during the dry months of June to September or December to February. During this time the nature walk trails are dry making it easier to walk through the forest and the vegetation is the forest is not thick making it easy to spot wildlife.
Where to sleep
Tourists can choose from a number of accommodations near the park and some of this include; Halas Bay beach bungalows, Fatima house, panorama ocean view resort, Deja Blue, Makuti Beach bungalows, evergreen bungalows, the Golden blue luxury hotel, five palms, paradise beach resort and spa, Zanzibar Bay resort and spa, filao beach by sansi, hotel riu palace Zanzibar, emerald Zanzibar resort and spa, the residence Zanzibar, Melia Zanzibar, Toa hotel and spa, zanbluu beach hotel, the Z hotel Zanzibar, ocean paradise resort and spa, royal Zanzibar beach resort, Tambo house hotel, zanzi resort and Sandies baobab beach Zanzibar to mention a few.
How to get there
Jozani Chakwa Bay national park can be accessed by road from Stone Town which is about 35 kilometers.
Things to do in Zanzibar
Visit spice farms
Zanzibar is often known as spice Islands to many due to many spice plantations found in Zanzibar. You can visit spice plantations and learn how they are planted, harvested and so much more. Some of the common spices in Zanzibar include; cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, nutmeg, white pepper, ginger, garlic and many others.
Snorkeling
One of the best activities you can do in Zanzibar is snorkeling. Zanzibar’s climate creates good snorkeling conditions and the best time for snorkeling is during the dry seasons of June to August and December to February. Several snorkeling locations can be found within the main island but you also explore other small islands.
Swimming with dolphins
One of the exciting activities at Zanzibar is swinging with dolphins. The ocean is renowned for over t species of dolphins