Jozani

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Jozani is a small farming village in Kusini District, Unguja South Region, on Zanzibar’s main island of Unguja. It sits in the southeast part of the island, about 5 km south of Chwaka Bay and near the Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. The community has around 800 residents who rely on farming and forest resources for fuel, building materials, and other needs.

The village is about 35 km southeast of Zanzibar Town, along the road to Paje. It’s accessible by public buses (309 and 310), dala-dalas (309, 310, 324, 326), taxis, or organized tours from Zanzibar Town. Tours are sometimes combined with dolphin watching in Kizimkazi, a historic village with a 12th‑century mosque open to visitors.

Jozani is one of six rural communities surrounding the park. The area is closely tied to the Jozani Forest, which provides wood, resources, and tourism opportunities. The village operates ecotourism in the forest, including a 1 km boardwalk through mangroves at the southern entrance to the park, and many residents work as authorized guides for tours to the forest’s southern areas.