Jozani tortoise and reptiles park — Local services in Unguja

Staff are really nice and the guide was very frieindly. However, it is a terrible place. The turtles are kept in captivity indefinitely. They say they are trying to keep them away from fisherman, but then they pay the fisherman to bring turtles to them and they keep them in a sad little brown rocky pool. It’s difficult not think that they are part of the problem. They also have other animals in there for no conservation reason too. Just to try and sell more entry tickets. We did ask, and that’s what our guide told us. Nobody else seemed to see a problem with this though. There’s absolutely no effort to recreate the animals natural habitat in the environment and they are isolated in concrete 1 meter squared enclosures. To top it off, people handle the turtles as if they are toys and one guy even sat on the giant tortoise. It is honestly an awful place, which has no love for the animals they keep. It’s just for profit and a place where westerners can go to touch a turtle. Made myself and my partner feel a bit ill being here. I sadly recommend you don’t go here, stop giving these people money and maybe one day they’ll release the animals back into their natural environment… just to confirm, we are all for turtle conservation, hence visiting this place. But we were just shocked with what we found here. It really wasn’t acceptable. Have a bit of compassion and treat the animals with care. Exploitation...

We had an unexpectedly great time in this little-known gem right next to the Jozani Forest. A very knowledgeable employee of the community project introduced us to their work and showed us the animals they take in for shelter. As opposed to what we've seen a couple days earlier at Prison Island, the turtles were treated with a lot more respect. We were encouraged not to get too close, not to knock on their shells, not to sit on them – in short, not to annoy and stress them in any way. In addition to the turtles, they had some other animals including snakes, fish, and whatever reptiles these are on the photos I'm posting with this review. And these guys reportedly are also engaged in educating the local community about the importance of protecting wildlife and help finding compromises between the interests of the local farmers and conservation efforts.

I think this place should be way more popular. We went there mid-September and only met two other visitors. I believe we donated around 10 USD each to get a tour – it was...

Our visit to the Jozani Sea Turtle and Tortoise Sanctuary was a highlight of our trip to Zanzibar, offering a unique and comprehensive conservation and animal rescue experience. The $10 per person entrance fee plays a crucial role in financing this commendable program and supporting the local community.

The visit was not just informative but also appropriately slow-paced, allowing us to fully appreciate the diverse array of animals, including turtles of various species, snakes, chameleons, lizards, and fish. Our guide dedicated ample time to walk us through different areas, providing close encounters with the animals. The explanations were thorough, and our guide was adept at addressing all our questions. This sanctuary stands out for its educational value and the commendable conservation efforts in place.

Last, don't miss the chance to inquire about the nearby canoeing experience organized by local people, adding another layer to the overall...