Chwaka

Chwaka is a town on Unguja Island, part of the Zanzibar archipelago in Tanzania. It is located on the southeast coast of the island, near Chwaka Bay, a shallow tidal estuary that opens into the Indian Ocean. The bay area features extensive mangrove habitats and supports local fisheries as well as birdlife.

Nearby is the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, a protected area that includes the Jozani Forest and surrounding mangrove ecosystems. The park is known for its populations of Zanzibar red colobus monkeys and a variety of birds, and it offers guided forest and mangrove tours that attract visitors to the region.

The local economy of Chwaka is primarily based on fishing and small-scale farming, with tourism growing due to the park's proximity and the appeal of coastal ecosystems. In addition to residents, visitors come to the area to experience Swahili coastal culture and the natural environment. The community is predominantly Swahili-speaking and Muslim, reflecting broader cultural patterns of coastal Tanzania.

Chwaka serves as a gateway for travelers exploring the southeast coast of Unguja and the Jozani-Chwaka Bay ecosystem. It is connected by road to other settlements on the island and is part of the Zanzibar autonomous region within Tanzania.