Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is Zanzibar's only national park and the best place on the island to see wildlife. Established in 2004, it covers about 50 square kilometres of forest and mangroves between Jozani and Chwaka Bay in the south of Unguja, and it is a regular half-day or full-day excursion from Stone Town. Entrance fees help fund local schools and health clinics, which makes it a straightforward ethical choice for an animal experience.

The star is the Zanzibar red colobus, an endangered monkey found only on Zanzibar and named after Sir John Kirk. Around 1,000 survive, and they have been the island's flagship conservation species since the mid-1990s. Guides know where the troops are likely to be found along the forest trails. The park also shelters Sykes' monkeys, bush babies, the Zanzibar tree hyrax and Aders' duiker, more than 50 species of butterfly and around 40 species of bird.

Visits are guided. ZanTours describes its Jozani trip as a guided walk among the monkeys and the mangroves on a wooden trail, often followed by a stop at the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre nearby. Wear closed shoes and insect repellent, bring water and keep your voice low on the trails. Do not feed or touch the monkeys, and keep a few metres away even if they approach; the guides will advise. Mornings and late afternoons tend to be cooler and better for activity. The park receives roughly a tenth of Zanzibar's visitors each year, so an early start also helps you avoid the busiest times on the trails.

The park suits families, nature lovers and photographers, and the trails are fairly flat, though the mangrove boardwalk and forest paths can be uneven or muddy after rain. Allow two to three hours on site, plus the drive. Many visitors combine Jozani with a spice farm tour on the same day; Fisherman Tours, for example, offers a combined spice and Jozani day trip.

Jozani lies in Kusini District in the south of the island, a drive from Stone Town, so most people go with a tour operator or a pre-booked driver. If you are heading on to the beaches of the south or east coast, it makes an easy stop on the way.