Wildlife

Bushbaby, genet, turtle & co.

The fauna and geology of Zanzibar document the island's land bridge to the African continent during the last ice age.

The red colobus monkey, one of Africa's rarest species, is endemic here. About a third of the population lives in and around Jozani Forest, Zanzibar's oldest national park.

For a long time, the Zanzibar Leopard was thought to be extinct, until its survival was proven with a camera trap in 2018.

The existence of the Zanzibar servaline genet was also revealed in 2003 with a game camera as a specific subspecies under the name of its discoverer Zanzibar servaline genet.

Animals in the rainforest

A visit to Jozani Forest takes you to the border between rainforest and mangrove thicket, inhabited by a variety of bird and butterfly species. The not very shy Colobus monkeys can be seen up close, as can Sykes monkeys, a species of guenon.

The Zanzibar Tree Hyrax resembles a guinea pig in appearance, but is rarely seen due to its nocturnal and solitary lifestyle.

Bushbabies are nocturnal primates from the Galago family. They only reach a size of 20 centimetres without their tails. During the day they sleep in tree hollows and nests. At night, they can also be observed in the garden of the SeVi Boutique Hotel Zanzibar while searching for insects and fruits.

Animals in the sea

Zanzibar has several marine parks that are protected for the benefit of biodiversity.

Mnemba Marine Park is located opposite our hotel in the north-east of the island. It stretches over a length of 7 by 5 km. The oval-shaped atoll is formed by flat coral rock. The island in the middle is private property and may not be entered. The atoll, which is especially popular with divers and snorkellers, is home to a variety of corals and over 600 different species of coral fish.

The green sea turtle is also native here and can often be seen swimming. Rarer species include endangered genera such as hawksbill turtles, leatherback turtles and the Oliv Basterd turtle.

Some schools of bottlenose dolphins like to approach people and invite them to swim with them. Whales pass through in August and September. From the hotel, you can spot the fog fountains that they launch up to 8 m into the sky.

Cuttlefish, lionfish, rays, trumpetfish, moray eels, octopuses and many seahorses are often seen underwater.