Prison Island Tour
Giant tortoises, prison ruins and a quiet reef
- Location Changuu Island, off Stone Town, Zanzibar
- Duration Half day, approximately 4 to 5 hours
- Tour type Private or shared
- Availability Daily, morning and afternoon departures
Price on request Send the form and we reply with a firm quote, usually within a few hours.
Overview
Changuu Island lies about thirty minutes by boat from Stone Town, and almost everyone knows it as Prison Island. The name is a small historical joke. The island was bought by General Lloyd Mathews and a prison was built there in 1893, but no prisoner was ever held in it. Instead the buildings became a quarantine station during yellow fever outbreaks, and the ruins still stand today.
What draws visitors now is the tortoise sanctuary. A colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, originally a gift from the Seychelles, lives on the island under the care of a conservation team. The oldest animals are well over a century old. You are able to walk among them, feed them and photograph them at close range with a keeper present.
After the sanctuary and the prison ruins, the rest of the visit belongs to the water. The island is ringed by a shallow reef and a small white beach, so there is time to snorkel, swim or sit in the shade before the boat returns to Stone Town.
Prison Island runs as a half-day trip and pairs naturally with Stone Town, the spice farm or Nakupenda Sandbank for a full day.
Highlights
- Meet Aldabra giant tortoises, some more than a century old
- Walk the 19th-century prison and quarantine buildings
- Snorkel the shallow reef ringing the island
- Swim from a small, quiet white beach
- Short, calm crossing suitable for families
- Excellent photographs on the boat ride back
Itinerary
- 09:00
Hotel pickup
Transfer to the Stone Town seafront where your boat and crew are waiting.
- 10:00
Crossing to Changuu Island
A calm thirty-minute crossing with views back over the old town skyline.
- 10:30
Tortoise sanctuary and prison ruins
A guided visit to the tortoise enclosure, with time to feed and photograph the animals, then the prison and quarantine buildings.
- 12:00
Beach and snorkelling
Free time to snorkel the reef, swim or rest in the shade.
- 13:30
Return to Stone Town
Sail back and transfer to your hotel.
What is included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Return boat transfer to Changuu Island
- Island and sanctuary entrance fees
- English-speaking guide
- Snorkelling gear and life jacket
- Bottled water
Not included
- Lunch and drinks, where not listed as included
- Personal shopping and souvenirs
- Gratuities for your guide and driver
- Travel insurance
- Anything not named under what is included
Pickup and meeting point
Pickup time: Around 09:00 or 13:30.
Meeting point: Hotel reception, then the boat departs from the Stone Town seafront.
We collect from these areas:
- Stone Town
- Zanzibar City
- Maungani
- Nungwi
- Kendwa
- Matemwe
- Kiwengwa
- Pwani Mchangani
- Uroa
- Pongwe
- Chwaka
- Michamvi
- Paje
- Jambiani
- Makunduchi
- Kizimkazi
- Fumba
- Mangapwani
What to bring
- Swimwear and towel
- Reef-safe sun cream
- Hat and sunglasses
- Camera
- Small notes for the island shop
Important information
- Tortoise feeding is supervised by the sanctuary keepers. Please follow their instructions.
- The beach is small and shaded areas are limited at high tide.
- The crossing is short and generally calm, but the boat is open to the sun and spray.
- A seafood lunch on the island is available as an extra. Tell us when you book.
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
Were prisoners really held on the island?
No. The prison was built in 1893 but never used to hold prisoners. The buildings were used as a quarantine station during yellow fever outbreaks.
How old are the tortoises?
The colony includes animals well over a hundred years old. The keepers mark ages on the shells of the oldest individuals.
Is snorkelling gear provided?
Yes, mask, fins and life jackets come with the trip at no extra cost.
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