Jozani Park, walk in the woods

Where others would see a risk of insect bites, bugs and others in a jungle, we see a beautiful walk in the forest, meeting with monkeys, crossing trees and mangroves.

After a journey of 60 km, we arrive in front of the entrance of the Park Jozani, there are a lot of people, the registrations take time, I think that we lost a good hour to have to fill out documents for the government.

This park is recognized by UNESCO since 2016 as a biosphere reserve. Its territory covers about 50km² and protects a breed of monkeys particular to the island: the Red Colobus, emblem of the park.

We have been walking for a hour, in a luxuriant vegetation when we discover these monkeys perched high in the trees, wandering from branch to branch with their young. An intense but short moment.

This monkey is rare species and there are only a few thousand individuals. Adults have a red coat and white belly as well as black legs. The Piliocolobus kirkii feeds mainly on leaves.

I advise to make this excursion alone, only accompanied by a guide because in group we could not stay longer to see this endangered species classified as endangered by the UICN.

After our little walk in this tropical forest, we head towards the mangroves. The forest has been arranged by footbridges to facilitate the walk and the crossing of this place.

The roots of the mangroves are so intertwined that we cannot see the bottom. We walk from footbridge to footbridge, hearing birds singing and monkeys calling. The damp and dense heat of the place does not allow us to go fast.

We keep moving forward and start to hear human songs from far away.

As we go along, the songs become louder. We come out of the forest and the rhythm becomes more and more frenetic and wild.

We arrive in front of a large hut where zanzibaris are doing a traditional dance.

Once out of the park, we headed towards Pingwe and its rock.

A small hour drive to see again the sun that we missed in the park. We arrive on a beach after having crossed a hotel and in front of us stands a rock. How did it get there?

This rock has been converted into a restaurant for about ten years and is rapidly becoming known throughout the world. The Rock Restaurant Zanzibar. Specializing in seafood and local products.

It’s lunch time, the sea is still quite low, we decide to go eat there. As we get closer, we realize how small it is!

We climb the stairs, we pass a corridor, so we discover a large room, a superb terrace that gives a sublime view of the ocean. The rock is on a part still coral, there must be about 200, even 250 m, of coral reef before the Indian Ocean.

We are installed near a window giving a sublime view of the ocean.

After dinner, we settle down with our drink on the terrace of the restaurant, it is extremely hot but what an incredible view we have!

The tide is rising, it’s time to leave, we already have our feet in the water coming down from the restaurant.

We spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the water so hot it feels like a bath.

At the end of the afternoon, we enjoy a drink before heading back to Michamvi beach, a place known for its sunset and dancers shows.

It’s getting late, our driver comes to pick us up to take us back to the hotel where a show is also being prepared!

That will be all for today, it was a magical day,

Ninve.