Zanzibar Nature Tour: Jozani Forest & Rock Restaurant

Red colobus monkeys in the forest, then lunch on a rock surrounded by ocean.

A half-day guided tour of Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park in Zanzibar, where you walk the forest with a guide to see red colobus monkeys, then travel to the Rock Restaurant perched on a stone in the Indian Ocean. Hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide in English, park entry, and bottled water are included; the guide adjusts the route as the day unfolds, and you can book a meal at the restaurant in advance if you want to eat there.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Jozani Forest and Rock Restaurant

• Pick up from hotel
• Walk in Jozani National Park
• Visit Rock Restaurant on the ocean

The Experience

The driver picks you up from your hotel and takes you to Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, Zanzibar's only national park. You walk the forest with a guide who points out the red colobus monkeys—a species found nowhere else—and explains the ecosystem as you move through the trails. The park is manageable on foot and suited to all fitness levels, so the pace stays comfortable whether you're moving slowly or keeping up with the group.

After the forest, you're driven to the Rock Restaurant, an actual seafood restaurant built on a rock in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It's the kind of place where the setting is the whole point—you can eat there if you book ahead, or simply walk around and take photos with the water and sky behind you. The guide can shift the route or timing throughout the day if something interests you more or if the light is better at a different hour.

The tour runs half a day, either morning or afternoon, and includes the vehicle, the guide, park entry, and water. You'll need to arrange a meal at the restaurant separately if you want one, though the setting alone makes it worth the stop.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a guide in English who walks you through Jozani Forest.
• Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park entry.
• bottled water.
• and a visit to the Rock Restaurant on the Indian Ocean.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beach & Safari

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want the forest light and the clearest ocean views for photos at the Rock; the afternoon works if you prefer a later start and don't mind the sun lower in the sky by the time you reach the restaurant.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Rock Restaurant, and can I eat there or just visit?

The Rock Restaurant is a seafood restaurant built on an actual rock surrounded by the Indian Ocean. You can visit and take photos, or book a meal in advance if you want to eat there; food and drinks are not included in the tour price, so you arrange and pay for them separately.

Will I definitely see red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest?

Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park is home to the red colobus monkey, and the guide will look for them as you walk the forest trails. The guide knows where they're usually found, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

How long does the whole tour take, and when can I do it?

The tour takes about five hours and can run either in the morning or the afternoon, depending on what suits your schedule. Hotel pickup is included, so the driver collects you and brings you back.

Is this tour physically demanding, or can anyone do it?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You walk around Jozani Forest with a guide, but the pace is manageable and there's no climbing or difficult terrain involved.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay extra for?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, the air-conditioned vehicle, the English-speaking guide, Jozani Forest entry, bottled water, and the visit to the Rock Restaurant. If you want to eat at the restaurant, you book and pay for the meal separately.