Zanzibar tour: Jozani Forest, Kuza Cave & Paje Beach

Track red colobus monkeys through mangrove boardwalks, then trace Swahili history inside a cave

A full-day private tour of Zanzibar visiting Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, Kuza Cave and Paje Beach. Start in the forest canopy spotting red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and elephant shrews along a raised walkway through mangrove swamps. Move to Kuza Cave to see local artifacts and learn the timeline of Swahili settlement. End the afternoon on Paje Beach watching the sunset over calm water and white sand.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore forest, culture, beach, and dining

• Visit Jozani Forest Park
• Walk through Mangrove Swamps
• Explore Kuza Cave Culture Centre
• Enjoy Seafood Lunch at The Rock Restaurant
• Relax at Paje Beach
• Watch sunset at Paje Beach

The experience

The day begins at Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, where a guide leads you into the high, dense groundwater forest to find red colobus monkeys: a species found nowhere else on earth except Zanzibar. The park also holds blue monkeys, elephant shrews and bushbabies. A raised bridge cuts through the mangrove swamps so you walk without disturbing the ground, and the vantage gives you sight lines into the marine species moving below.

From there you travel to Kuza Cave, where the walls hold local artifacts and a physical timeline of Swahili history carved into the rock. The cave serves as a cultural centre, and the guide walks you through how humans first settled East Africa and built the trade networks that shaped the coast. After Kuza, the tour moves to Paje Beach on the island's eastern shore: quiet, with clear water and hills rising behind the sand. You spend the late afternoon there and stay to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Private transportation picks you up and handles all movement between stops. The operator provides bottled water throughout the day. If you want to eat at The Rock Restaurant (a venue built into the ocean itself with panoramic views), you arrange and pay for that meal separately. The guide can help you order. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language.

What’s included

• Private transportation between all stops.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all fees and taxes.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by KHAMIS TAXI DRIVER ZANZIBAR

Is this one for you?Pickup is included from your hotel, so this tour works whether you have a rental car or not. The guide handles the route and you focus on the forest, the cave and the beach. The nine-hour span lets you move through three distinct landscapes in one day without rushing any of them.

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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 animals will I actually see at Jozani Forest?

Red colobus monkeys are the draw. They're endemic to Zanzibar and live nowhere else. The forest also holds blue monkeys, elephant shrews and bushbabies. The mangrove boardwalk gives you a raised view into the canopy and the water below, so sightings depend on the time of day and the season, but the habitat supports all of them.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included. The Rock Restaurant is a stop on the itinerary with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, but you order and pay for your meal there separately. The guide can help you choose and place your order.

How long does the whole day take?

The tour runs nine hours from pickup to drop-off, moving between Jozani Forest, Kuza Cave and Paje Beach with time at each stop to walk, explore and absorb the sites.

What is Kuza Cave and why is it worth visiting?

Kuza Cave functions as a cultural centre and holds local artifacts and a timeline of Swahili history on its walls. The guide walks you through how humans first settled East Africa and the trade networks that built the coastal civilizations, so you're learning the region's deep past while standing inside it.

Does the tour work if I don't have a car or I'm staying in a different part of Zanzibar?

Yes. Private transportation is included, so the driver picks you up from your hotel or accommodation and handles all movement between the four stops. You don't need your own vehicle or arrange separate rides.