Uncertainty surrounds controversial resort in Zanzibar forest reserve as work stalls

Work that began earlier this year on a luxury resort inside Zanzibar’s Ngezi-Vumawimbi Forest Reserve appears to have come to a halt.Details of the project remain opaque, but construction of a wall near the reserve’s boundary and land used by nearby communities sparked public outcry earlier in 2026.Last year, scientists published an open letter calling on the authorities to reconsider the development as it could pose a major threat to endemic plant and animal species. In March 2026, contractors built a wall along the edge of the Ngezi-Vumawimbi Forest Reserve on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, marking the boundary of what appears to be the site of the planned Mantuli luxury resort within the reserve. According to sources Mongabay spoke to, no further work has taken place since the wall was completed in the first half of 2026. It stands in the very northwest of the island, between a former rubber plantation and land used by local communities for homes, fields of crops like cassava and sweet potatoes, as well as for burial sites. The forest reserve boundary lies just beyond the community land. Ngezi-Vumawimbi is surrounded by 10 villages, with a combined population of more than 20,000 people, according to Tanzania’s 2022 census. Members of surrounding communities enter the reserve to perform spiritual practices as well as to collect firewood and wild fruit. Research has established that rural communities across Pemba Island derive around a third of their annual income from forest resources; around Ngezi, the forest notably provides residents with income from the bungo fruit (Saba comorensis), which locals harvest for sale between July and late September. The moist forests of Ngezi host unique species of animals and plants. Image courtesy of Emily Tanganelli. Risk to biodiversity In September 2025, a number of conservationists and researchers published an open letter opposing the Mantuli project in the journal Science. They said the project risked damaging the 1,500-hectare (3,700-acre) Ngezi-Vumavimbi forest reserve, one of East Africa’s most important remaining tropical moist forest areas. Tim Caro, an ecologist who has studied the island’s wildlife for many years, told Mongabay that the development will affect almost a quarter of Ngezi-Vumawimbi’s tall, mature trees with a closed canopy, including a stand of rare Intsia bijuga trees. The species is classified as near threatened on the IUCN Red List and was thought to be extinct on Pemba until recently. Botanists warn that the development of Mantuli could lead to the extinction of endemic orchid species and at least three species of endemic devil’s tongue plants (genus Dracaena). On top of that, vertebrates like the Pemba flying fox (Pteropus voeltzkowi), Pemba scops owl (Otus pembaensis), and Watson’s reed frog (Hyperolius watsonae) could also be at risk. Conservationists also say that if the government allows construction of a large tourism development here, it could lead to an increase in illegal logging by local communities. “The logic goes: ‘if someone else is going to destroy the forest, I might as well take the timber out first,’” anthropologist Monique Borgerhoff Mulder told Mongabay over email. Borgerhoff Mulder, who has conducted research in the area for 10 years and recently visited it, said she has already seen signs of what is sometimes referred to as a “race to the bottom” in the Ngezi-Vumawimbi reserve. Neither the Zanzibari government nor the Mantuli project’s owners have published detailed information about the project, adding to concern among both conservationists and people living around the reserve. Caro said it’s uncertain what will happen next. “It is clear that several important ministries oppose this project to downgrade the principal forest reserve in Zanzibar, but others see it as an opportunity to generate tourist revenue,” he told Mongabay over email. According to people familiar with the situation, heavy machinery and vehicles that were previously stationed at a site inside the forest reserve have been removed over the past months, with only some cars remaining. A South African architectural bureau contracted to design Mantuli has removed a page referring to the resort from its website, which now shows renderings of the same buildings labeled “location undisclosed.” Earlier in 2026, contractors built a wall marking the border of the proposed Mantuli resort. Image courtesy of anonymous. Local concerns According to a source on the ground who asked not to be mentioned by name, citing fear of repercussions, some residents have opposed the construction as the community was not involved in consultations before the wall was built. “There is a constant fear,” the source said, describing the uncertainty surrounding the project and its potential implications for residents. Borgerhoff Mulder told Mongabay that she believes a successful resolution to this conflict is an opportunity for Zanzibar: “Zanzibar can demonstrate that biodiversity protection, responsible ecotourism and community wellbeing could be pursued together through transparent and inclusive consultation.” Mongabay contacted the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA) for comment and an update on the current state of the project, but didn’t receive a response by the time this article was published. Banner image: The moist forest of Ngezi is home to endemic species like the critically endangered reed frog (Hyperolius watsonae). Image courtesy of Donyo Gabriel. Citations: Andrews, J., & Borgerhoff Mulder, M. (2022). Forest income and livelihoods on Pemba: A quantitative ethnography. World Development, 153, 105817. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105817 Caro, T., Baldesi, G., Borrini-Feyerabend, G., Clark, M., Clausnitzer, V., Dijkstra, K. B., … Vamberger, M. (2025). Tourism puts Zanzibari reserve at a crossroads. Science, 389(6767), 1301-1302. doi:10.1126/science.aeb5285 Works on planned luxury resort on Pemba island go ahead despite concerns Feedback: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page. Credits Topics