The Jozani forest National Park area in southern Zanzibar is the best spot for eco tourism on the island! Besides the actual Jozani Forest National Park, which is the largest near-natural tropical rain forest in Zanzibar and home to the endemic Red Colobus Monkey, within a radius of 20 km you can reach the protected areas of Chwaka Bay and Menai Bay with its sandbanks, uninhabited islets, coral reefs and marine habitats, which are home to dolphins, sea turtles, whales and dugongs, and Uzi Island, which is surrounded by Zanzibar’s largest mangrove area, breeding ground to many birds and sea animals. Within this heaven of nature there are a few villages that haven’t changed a lot during the last centuries, with the villagers still being primarily small-scale farmers and fishermen.

The following ecotourism package is offered by the Muungoni Community Tourism Initiative, a group of locals who have understood that the nature around their villages and their local culture are valuable assets to attract tourists, and that conservation of their environment and local culture can guarantee them an income and contribute to the sustainable development of the area. 50% of the profits made through the ecotourism activities are used for the improvement of the living conditions in the village of Muungoni, such as improvements to water supply, and to operate the community kindergarten and school. By coming to Muungoni you will directly support the development of the village. The ecotourism packages and services delivered by the Muungoni Community Initiative have been developed in close cooperation with World Unite!.

The 2 days/1 night package provides you the opportunity to experience the most beautiful nature, the traditional way life in a remote Zanzibar coastal village, and to interact with the friendly locals.

After your arrival in Muungoni you can check in at „Komba Nest“ from 12 am. You will receive a welcome drink of fresh tropical fruit juice.

Depending on your arrival time you will first visit Zala Park, which is a little park where Mohammed, the biology teacher of the village keeps local reptiles for educational purposes. He invites school classes from all over Zanzibar to provide them a scientific approach to animals in order to bust superstitious beliefs, which unfortunately still today often result in the killing of wildlife.

After this, you will do a Cultural Tour of the village. During this varied tour you will get an insight into the life in the village which hasn’t changed a lot over the centuries. Learn how the local live in close relation with the nature around them, which provides them with a lot of what they need in their daily lives. You will also see the water supply system and the school which have been financed through the revenues of ecotourism. You get the opportunity to participate in activities such as weaving baskets and tasting local fruits and sweets.

If you arrive late, you will only visit Zala Park today and do the cultural village tour the next day.

The Community group will serve dinner at your accommoation where you will experience an exciting night in the middle of nature, where you can hear the sound of animals such as nocturnal birds, bush babies, and Red Colobus Monkeys.

After your arrival in Muungoni you can check in at „Komba Nest“ from 12 am. You will receive a welcome drink of fresh tropical fruit juice.

Depending on your arrival time you will first visit Zala Park, which is a little park where Mohammed, the biology teacher of the village keeps local reptiles for educational purposes. He invites school classes from all over Zanzibar to provide them a scientific approach to animals in order to bust superstitious beliefs, which unfortunately still today often result in the killing of wildlife.

After this, you will do a Cultural Tour of the village. During this varied tour you will get an insight into the life in the village which hasn’t changed a lot over the centuries. Learn how the local live in close relation with the nature around them, which provides them with a lot of what they need in their daily lives. You will also see the water supply system and the school which have been financed through the revenues of ecotourism. You get the opportunity to participate in activities such as weaving baskets and tasting local fruits and sweets.

If you arrive late, you will only visit Zala Park today and do the cultural village tour the next day.

The Community group will serve dinner at your accommodation where you will experience an exciting night in the middle of nature, where you can hear the sound of animals such as nocturnal birds, bush babies, and Red Colobus Monkeys.

After breakfast at the accommodation you will go on a guided Mangroves Canoe Trip* through Zanzibar’s largest mangrove area between Muungoni and Uzi Island. You will be surrounded by the quiet, natural environment of this special forest, able to get close to birds and other animals in their natural habitat. The mangroves have an important role in the conservation of many animal species that depend on the mangroves for their existence, and their protection is paramount.

If the Cultural Tour of the village has not been done the day before, you will also do this activity on this day. The order of the activities will depend on the tide.

Lunch will be served after the Canoe Trip (or in between the two activities).

* If you don’t wish to go on the canoe trip there is an alternative option of going on a half-day Bicycle Tour to Makunduchi Village in the south of Zanzibar. Some visits of this trip include an impressive cave with stalactites and stalagmites, a visit to a real traditional voodoo priest who will demonstrate some of his magic, climbing up the highest lighthouse of Zanzibar, and entering Zanzibar’s second biggest mosque in Makunduchi. This tour takes about 5 hours, including a 1-hour lunch break at the beach.

After breakfast at the accommodation you will go on a guided Mangroves Canoe Trip* through Zanzibar’s largest mangrove area between Muungoni and Uzi Island. You will be surrounded by the quiet, natural environment of this special forest, able to get close to birds and other animals in their natural habitat. The mangroves have an important role in the conservation of many animal species that depend on the mangroves for their existence, and their protection is paramount.

If the Cultural Tour of the village has not been done the day before, you will also do this activity on this day. The order of the activities will depend on the tide.

Lunch will be served after the Canoe Trip (or in between the two activities).

* If you don’t wish to go on the canoe trip there is an alternative option of going on a half-day Bicycle Tour to Makunduchi Village in the south of Zanzibar. Some visits of this trip include an impressive cave with stalactites and stalagmites, a visit to a real traditional voodoo priest who will demonstrate some of his magic, climbing up the highest lighthouse of Zanzibar, and entering Zanzibar’s second biggest mosque in Makunduchi. This tour takes about 5 hours, including a 1-hour lunch break at the beach.

The Muungoni Community Tourism group runs an accommodation in the nature near Muungoni village: Komba Nest. You will stay there, depending on availability. The accommodation is simple standard, but it is the location and their natural eco-friendly style that makes it special.

At Komba Nest you will stay in the middle of a tropical rain forest. You are always surrounded by plain tropical nature.

The accommodation was built using only local natural construction materials that completely blend with and in tune with their natural surroundings. They have basic solar lighting. You can communicate with the members of the Community Tourism Group via a walkie-talkie and they will assist you whenever you need them.

Komba Nest is a three-storey wooden house in between the trees. „Komba“ in Swahili means „bushbaby“ (also called galago), which is a small and shy nocturnal primate living here inside the trees. Staying at Komba Nest you can feel just like being one of them:-)! Even if Komba Nest appears deep inside the forest, it is just a 3 minutes’ walk from Zala Park and the village. A maximum of 6 people* can stay at Komba Nest and have their unique jungle experience. The beds are fitted with mosquito nets.

(Also if your group size is less than 6 people you will have Komba Nest for yourself – we don’t accommodate other guests with you at Komba Nest at the same time)

See image gallery of Komba Nest:

Your meals will be served at your accommodation during the time you are checked in. The meals all consist of locally produced home-made food and the menu is chosen depending on season and availability. For breakfast you can expect toast with jam, pancakes and coffee. Lunch and dinner can include rice, ugali (African cornmeal mash), boiled potatoes with fish or chicken and/or different kinds of vegetables (like carrot or spinach) in coconut sauce. It is possible to request vegetarian and vegan meals.

There is a terrace to have your additional meals if you book an additional lunch/dinner after you check out from your accommodation. You can store your luggage at Zala Park.