Zanzibar City tour: Jozani Forest, starfish snorkel, Paje Beach

Red colobus monkeys live only in Zanzibar's Jozani Forest.

A private, guided tour of Zanzibar City covers Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, where you see the rare red colobus monkey and learn the forest's ecology, then moves to Kuza Cave to explore Swahili history through local artifacts. The day includes snorkeling with starfish in the Indian Ocean near the Rock Restaurant, a stop at Paje Beach's white sand and calm waters, and panoramic views from the restaurant perched in the ocean. Transportation, snorkeling equipment and a guide in your choice of language are included. Lunch at the restaurant is optional and booked separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jozani Forest and Zanzibar Coast

• See red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest
• Explore Kuza Cave cultural center
• Visit serene Paje beach
• Snorkel with starfish in coral garden
• Enjoy panoramic views at Rock Restaurant

The experience

Your guide picks you up and drives you into Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, where the red colobus monkey (a species found nowhere else on earth) moves through the canopy. You'll also spot blue monkeys, elephant shrews and bush babies among the mangrove and mahogany trees. The guide walks you through the forest and explains what you're seeing, so you understand not just the animals but how the ecosystem holds together.

From there, you head to Kuza Cave, a cultural center where local artifacts line the walls and the guide traces the timeline of Swahili history through what the cave holds. The cave itself is the story. You're standing in a place that shaped the people who lived here. Then you drive to Paje Beach, where the sand is white and the Indian Ocean sits calm and clear. The day's main event happens next: you get in the water with snorkeling gear and swim among starfish in their natural environment, in the shallow coral gardens near the Rock Restaurant. The restaurant itself sits on a rock in the middle of the ocean, and the views from there (across the water and down to the coral) frame the whole afternoon.

The tour runs eight hours total. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language you choose at booking. Bottled water, all fees and taxes, snorkeling equipment and private transportation are included. If you want to eat at the Rock Restaurant, you book and pay for that meal separately on their website. Otherwise, bring your own lunch or eat elsewhere.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• bottled water.
• snorkeling equipment.
• a guide fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language of your choice.
• all fees and taxes.

Information

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 155 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (25 to 74 years) · Senior (75 and older) · Youth (11 to 24 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Sweet Apple Tours and Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private guide and driver who set the pace: ideal for combining the red colobus monkeys and Kuza Cave's Swahili history with Paje's beaches in one day without switching between operators.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★Exceptional6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 24 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What are the red colobus monkeys like, and where exactly do I see them?

Red colobus monkeys are found only in Zanzibar, and you see them in Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, where your guide walks you through the forest and points them out in the canopy. You'll also encounter blue monkeys, elephant shrews and bush babies in the same park, along with mangrove and mahogany trees.

Can I actually swim with the starfish, or do I just look at them?

You snorkel in the water with the starfish in their natural environment near the Rock Restaurant, swimming among them in the shallow coral gardens of the Indian Ocean.

What is Kuza Cave, and what will I learn there?

Kuza Cave is a cultural center of Zanzibar where local artifacts are displayed on the walls. Your guide walks you through the timeline of Swahili history using what the cave holds, so you understand how the people who lived here shaped the region.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. If you want to eat at the Rock Restaurant, you book and pay for the meal separately on their website before your tour. You're welcome to bring your own lunch or eat elsewhere.

How long is the whole tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs eight hours. Your guide will confirm the pickup time when you book, based on your hotel location in Zanzibar City.