AFROTROPICAL
Monsoon Forest
(coastal east Africa)

Along the east coast of Africa are small patches of native forest. These areas are heavily cleared by humans and populations of Homo continue to increase. The remaining bits of jungle are one of several habitats in what is sometimes classified as the 'Zanzibar Inhambane (Swahili) coastal forest mosaic'. This includes taller lowland monsoon forest, shorter scrubby forest 'coral rag' on coralline limestone, and open Miombe woodland in drier areas. It is adjacent to mangroves where the estuarine waters invade, but it is now mostly dominated by human modified areas such as farms, gardens and urban areas.

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There are some subpsecies and full species of primates endemic to these coastal areas. The best known is the 'Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey' Procolobus kirkii (image below). There are thought to be less than three thousand individuals left on the planet, and this species is only found on the main island of Zanzibar. 

Another subspecies to look for is Cercopithecus mitis albogularis, the Zanzibar subspecies of the Sykes Monkey, which in turn is a subspecies of the widespread 'Blue Monkey' (image below).

Places to explore the Monsoon Forest of coastal east Africa

One of the more popular tours and the main way to see the endemic Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey is to visit the small Jozani (forest) Chwaka Bay National Park, on the island of Zanzibar. This is the only national park on the island, and is only a hour drive from Stone Town. This park also contains mangroves, with a boardwalk. The park has a network of small trails for finding the Blue Monkey and the endemic Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey, and because the monkeys are surrounded by humans and their farms, they are used to people and you may have some close encounters! I have been here a few times with Silversea and Noble Caledonia.

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