Zanzibar is full of beauty, life, and history; and its famous capital, Stone Town isn’t just any town either. As such, visitors can expect to be treated to a sensory experience that is simply hard to find anywhere else in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once a flourishing trading hub that saw Africans, Arabs, Indians, and even Europeans coming together to exchange not just goods and services, but also their unique cultures. Today, there are several tours and activities around Stone Town with two of their most prominent being the Jozani Forest and Spice tours at the Spice Island. Here’s what you need to know about them:

The Jozani Forest tour usually starts by visiting the natural forest where the smaller trees and bushes make several sub-canopies under the highest canopy. The vast diversity in this incredible woodland landscape is truly incredible. You will get to see the Mama Mtondoo, an intriguing mahogany tree that is believed to be over 200 years old. There’s also the fascinating twins — two separate tree species (one strangler fig and the other sycamore) growing together. You could also catch a glimpse of the massive raffia fern tree that boasts the distinction of having the largest leaves in the world.

As you progress further into this lush forest, you might come across its other residents — large butterfly species, millipedes, lizards, amphibians, and brilliantly colored sunbirds as they flit among the elegant tropical flowers. The forest trails also lead to sightings of other wildlife, such as Sykes monkey, shrew, galago, chameleon, and the shy Ader’s duiker or Suni antelope. There is an on-site turtle sanctuary initiated by the local community while further towards the bay, you will be able to view distinct varieties of colorful fish in the water along with mollusks and crabs