Jozani Forest and home cooking with the Zanzibari Mamas private tour

If you're curious about the Zanzibar beyond the coastline, this private tour brings together two sides of island life in one memorable day. Start in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, a lush pocket of forest filled with native plants, mangroves and rare wildlife, including the Zanzibar red colobus monkey. As you walk the forest trails with your guide, you'll learn how local conservation work is giving these monkeys, and the entire ecosystem, a fighting chance. From the forest, head to a nearby village for a warm welcome from the Zanzibari Mamas. As you explore the community, you'll find out about local traditions and daily life before joining a cooking session centred around classic Swahili flavours. Learn how coconut is transformed into fresh milk, grind spices by hand and help prepare dishes such as coconut rice, chapati and vegetables, with fish, chicken or vegetarian options available. The day ends around the table, sharing the food you've helped prepare with your hosts. Between browsing handcrafted goods made by local women and unwinding with a cup of spiced tea or coffee, there's plenty of time for conversation and connection. It's a relaxed and rewarding way to discover Zanzibar's wildlife, culture and community spirit while directly supporting local communities.