Prison Island Tour in Zanzibar - Giant Tortoises, History and Snorkeling
Meet century old giant tortoises, walk the ruins of a 19th century quarantine station and snorkel calm coral reef waters, all in one easy half day trip from Stone Town with hotel pickup included.
What Is Prison Island (Changuu Island)?
Prison Island, also known locally as Changuu Island, is a small coral island sitting just off the coast of Stone Town in the Indian Ocean. Despite the name, nobody was ever actually imprisoned here. The island earned its nickname from a 19th century building that was constructed as a prison but never used for that purpose, and the name stuck long after the building took on a very different role. Today, Changuu Island is best known for two things: its colony of giant Aldabra tortoises and its calm, clear water that makes it one of the easiest snorkeling spots near Stone Town.
Where Prison Island Sits Off the Coast of Stone Town
The island sits roughly two and a half kilometers northwest of Stone Town, close enough that a small dhow or motorboat reaches it in well under half an hour. That short crossing is part of what makes Prison Island such a popular first excursion for travelers who have just landed and want an easy, low commitment day out.
by Boat
The History of Prison Island
Prison Island carries a layered history that most day-trippers never hear, since it takes more than a quick photo stop to piece together. Our guides walk you through all of it in person on the Prison Island Tour, where the ruins and the tortoises get equal time.
Why Is It Called Prison Island?
The name traces back to the 1860s, when the island's owner, an Arab slave trader, used it to hold enslaved people awaiting transport to Stone Town and beyond. Decades later, after the British took control of Zanzibar, they built an actual prison structure here in 1893. By the time it was finished, its intended use had already changed, so the building never held a single prisoner.
From Prison Building to Quarantine Station
Instead of housing prisoners, the newly built structure was pressed into service as a quarantine station. Ships arriving in Zanzibar with suspected yellow fever cases sent affected passengers to the island for isolation before they were allowed into Stone Town, a role the site continued to serve well into the 20th century.
The Prison Ruins and Cells You Can Still See Today
Walking around the island, you can still see the remains of the original structure, including sections of the cells built for a purpose they never served. Our guides cover this ground first, before continuing on to the Stone Town Walking Tour if you've booked it as part of the same day.
Meet the Giant Aldabra Tortoises
For most visitors, the tortoises are the real reason to come. Our Prison Island Tour includes guided time with a colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, one of the largest tortoise species on Earth, originally brought to the island as a gift from the Seychelles in the late 1800s.
How Old Are the Tortoises on Prison Island?
Several of the tortoises on the island are well over one hundred years old, with some individuals believed to be past one hundred and fifty. Their shells are marked with painted numbers and birth years, so you can actually work out which tortoises were alive during events like the First World War as you walk among them.
Feeding and Photographing the Tortoises Respectfully
Visitors are usually able to get close enough to feed the tortoises leaves and greens provided on site, and to take photos at close range. We ask every guest to move slowly around the tortoises and avoid touching their shells unnecessarily, since these are living animals in a conservation program, not props.
Conservation Status of the Aldabra Tortoise
The Aldabra giant tortoise is classified as a vulnerable species, which makes Prison Island's breeding and protection program more than just a tourist attraction. It is part of the same responsible, local-first approach we follow across every tour we run.
Ready to meet the tortoises and snorkel Prison Island's reef? Spots fill up fast in high season.
Book on WhatsAppSnorkeling and Marine Life Around Prison Island
Beyond the tortoises, Prison Island sits over a shallow coral reef that makes for easy, beginner friendly snorkeling. The water around the island stays calm most of the year, which means you don't need previous snorkeling experience to enjoy it. Expect to see colorful reef fish, sea urchins and occasionally sea turtles moving through the shallows near the reef edge. We provide snorkeling equipment as part of the tour, so there is nothing extra to arrange or rent once you arrive.
The Beach and Wooden Jetty Views at Prison Island
Prison Island's small beach is a quiet, uncrowded spot to relax once you have finished with the tortoises and the snorkeling. A long wooden jetty stretches out from the shoreline over the shallow water, and it has become one of the most photographed spots on the island, especially for the view looking back toward Stone Town's skyline in the distance.
Most visitors spend their final stretch of time here, either swimming from the beach or simply sitting at the end of the jetty with the Indian Ocean on every side.
Prison Island Tour Packages
Every package below includes hotel pickup, the boat transfer, island entrance fee and snorkeling equipment. The difference is how you get there, how much time you have, and whether you want to pair the island with another Zanzibar experience on the same day.
$35
per person
Shared Group Tour
Our Shared Group Tour is the most popular way to visit Prison Island, and the most budget friendly. You join a small group of other travelers, usually departing from the jetty near Forodhani Gardens, and follow a set schedule that covers the tortoise sanctuary, the prison ruins, snorkeling and beach time in around two to three hours. It is a well organized option for travelers who do not need full control over timing and are happy to share the experience with other guests.
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Departures run in the morning and early afternoon. Once on the island, your guide leads the group through the tortoise sanctuary first, while the morning is still cool and the tortoises are more active, before moving on to the prison ruins for a short walk through the old cells and quarantine buildings. From there you have free time to snorkel over the shallow reef just offshore, with equipment provided, followed by time to relax on the beach or walk out along the wooden jetty.
This package suits solo travelers, couples and small families who want a reliable, well run half day out without arranging anything themselves. Group sizes stay small enough that you still get real interaction with your guide, and because pickup, boat, entrance fee and equipment are all handled for you, there is nothing to negotiate once you arrive at the jetty. It is also the easiest package to combine with an afternoon activity back on the mainland, since you are usually back at your hotel by early afternoon.
- Duration: 2-3 hours on the island, half day overall
- Group size: shared, small group departures
- Best for: solo travelers, couples, budget conscious families
- Includes: pickup, boat transfer, entrance fee, guide, snorkel gear
$65
per person
Private Tour
The Private Tour gives you your own boat and your own guide for the full visit, with no shared schedule and no waiting on other travelers. Pickup time is built around your morning, not a fixed departure slot, and once you are on the island you decide how long to spend with the tortoises, how much time to give snorkeling, and when to head back. It costs more per person than the shared option, but for families with young children, honeymoon couples or anyone who simply prefers a slower, unhurried pace, the flexibility is usually worth it.
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Your guide picks you up at a time that works for you, rather than a fixed group slot, and your boat departs as soon as your party is ready. On the island, the order of activities is flexible: if your children want an hour with the tortoises and only ten minutes of snorkeling, or if you would rather skip the ruins and go straight to the beach, your guide adjusts the visit around your group instead of a set itinerary. This also means less time standing around waiting for other travelers to finish photos or catch up on the walk.
We also use this package for travelers with limited mobility, since a private boat and guide make it far easier to move at a comfortable pace and skip sections of the walk if needed. Because it is just your group, this option also works well if you want a quieter, more personal experience with the tortoises, more one on one time with your guide for questions about the island's history, and a bit more privacy on the beach and jetty at the end of the visit.
- Duration: flexible, typically 2-3 hours on the island
- Group size: private, your group only
- Best for: families with young children, couples, limited mobility
- Includes: private pickup, private boat, entrance fee, private guide, snorkel gear
$90
per person
Prison Island + Nakupenda Combo
This combo pairs your Prison Island visit with a stop at Nakupenda, a sandbank that appears out of the Indian Ocean at low tide with some of the clearest water near Stone Town. It is a full morning or afternoon on the water rather than a single stop, and includes a fresh seafood lunch served right on the sandbank. If you enjoyed the snorkeling at Prison Island and want more time in the water, this combo extends the day with a second, very different setting.
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The day starts the same way as our standard Prison Island tour, with hotel pickup and a boat crossing to the tortoise sanctuary and prison ruins. After you have finished with the tortoises and had time to snorkel the reef, the boat continues on to Nakupenda sandbank rather than heading straight back to Stone Town. Depending on the tide, Nakupenda can appear as a thin strip of white sand surrounded entirely by turquoise water, and it is one of the more photographed spots near Zanzibar for exactly that reason.
Lunch is served on the sandbank itself, typically grilled fish, prawns and a simple side of rice or salad, weather and catch permitting. You get additional snorkeling time around the sandbank, which has different marine life and visibility than the reef at Prison Island, before the boat brings you back to Stone Town in the late afternoon. This package works well for travelers who want one full, memorable day on the water rather than splitting Prison Island and Nakupenda into two separate trips.
- Duration: 5-7 hours, full morning or afternoon
- Group size: shared, small group departures
- Best for: snorkelers, photographers, travelers wanting one full day on the water
- Includes: pickup, boat transfers, entrance fees, guide, snorkel gear, seafood lunch
$110
per person
Prison Island + Stone Town / Spice Farm Combo
This is our full day package for travelers who want to cover the highlights around Stone Town in a single, well organized outing. It combines your Prison Island visit with a guided Stone Town Walking Tour through the old coral stone streets, plus a stop at a local spice farm where you walk through growing cloves, vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom and learn how each one is used. It is a longer day, but it means you leave with a genuine feel for Zanzibar's culture, history and flavors, not just the island itself.
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Most days start with the Prison Island crossing while the morning is still cool, giving you time with the tortoises, the prison ruins and the reef before the sun is at its strongest. After the boat returns to Stone Town, your guide leads you through the old town on foot, pointing out the carved wooden doors, the old slave market site, the Sultan's Palace and the narrow alleys that make Stone Town a UNESCO World Heritage site. This part of the day moves at a relaxed walking pace, with plenty of stops for photos and questions.
From Stone Town, the tour continues to a working spice farm just outside the city, where a local farmer walks you through the plants themselves rather than a lecture hall. You touch, smell and sometimes taste cloves, nutmeg, vanilla pods and cinnamon bark straight from the source, and most farms finish with a small tasting of fresh tropical fruit. Lunch is included on this package, typically a simple Zanzibari meal served either at the spice farm or a local restaurant on the way back, before you are dropped back at your hotel in the late afternoon.
- Duration: 8-9 hours, full day
- Group size: shared or private option available
- Best for: first time visitors, culture and history focused travelers
- Includes: pickup, boat transfer, entrance fees, guides, snorkel gear, spice farm visit, lunch
What's Included in Our Prison Island Tour
We keep this simple and transparent, since knowing exactly what you are paying for matters more than a long list of add ons. Our Prison Island tour includes hotel pickup and drop off from Stone Town and nearby areas, and everything else you need for a complete day on Changuu Island.
Hotel Pickup & Drop Off
Boat Transfer to Changuu Island
Island Entrance Fee
Guided Walk: Tortoise Sanctuary & Prison Ruins
Snorkeling Equipment
English Speaking Local Guide
What to Know Before You Go
A little planning goes a long way on Prison Island. Here's how much time to set aside, when to go, and why it works well for travelers with kids in tow.
How Much Time Do You Need?
Most visitors need two to three hours on the island to see the tortoise sanctuary, walk the prison ruins, snorkel and relax on the beach. With boat transfers and hotel pickup included, the whole experience runs as a half day tour rather than a full one.
That leaves the rest of the day free to pair it with a Stone Town walking tour beforehand, or a relaxed afternoon back at your hotel.
Best Time of Day and Season
Morning departures tend to be quieter and cooler, with calmer water for snorkeling before the afternoon wind picks up.
- June – October
- December – February
These dry season windows generally offer the clearest water, though the island's short, protected crossing keeps it a reliable trip outside peak season too.
Good for Families and Children?
Yes, Prison Island is one of the more family friendly excursions in Zanzibar. The boat ride is short, the island itself is small and easy to walk, and the tortoise sanctuary is a genuine highlight for children who rarely get this close to an animal this size anywhere else.
The shallow water near the beach also makes it manageable for children who are not confident swimmers, while older kids and teens usually enjoy the snorkeling over the reef just offshore.
Want to combine Prison Island with more of Stone Town?
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What to Bring for Your Prison Island Visit
A swimsuit, reef safe sunscreen, a hat and a towel cover most of what you need for this tour. Bring a dry bag or waterproof phone case if you plan to take photos near the water, and wear closed or sturdy sandals for the short walk around the prison ruins and tortoise enclosure.
- Swimsuit
- Reef safe sunscreen
- Hat and towel
- Dry bag or waterproof phone case
- Closed or sturdy sandals
Cash in small denominations is useful if you want to tip your guide or buy a drink from the small kiosk on the island.
How to Reach Prison Island from Stone Town
Reaching Prison Island starts with a short boat ride from Stone Town, usually departing near Forodhani Gardens, one of the main jetty points along the waterfront. From there, the crossing to Changuu Island takes about twenty five to thirty minutes by traditional dhow or motorboat, depending on sea conditions.
Boat Ride Duration and Departure Point
The water between Stone Town and Prison Island is generally calm, though it can get a little choppy depending on the season and time of day. We handle the boat arrangement directly as part of the tour, so you are not left negotiating a price with a random captain on the beach, which is a common frustration for travelers who try to arrange this trip independently.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prison Island Tour Zanzibar
A prison building was constructed on the island in the late 1800s to hold rebellious slaves, but it was never used for that purpose. The name stayed even after the island became a quarantine station instead.
By boat from a jetty near Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town. The crossing takes about twenty five to thirty minutes by dhow or motorboat.
Several of the Aldabra giant tortoises on the island are over one hundred years old, with some believed to be past one hundred and fifty.
The boat ride typically takes twenty five to thirty minutes each way, depending on sea conditions.
Yes. It combines an easy short boat trip, a genuine wildlife encounter with giant tortoises, calm water snorkeling and a piece of Zanzibar's colonial history, all within a half day.
Yes. The island sits over a shallow coral reef with calm water, making it a good spot for beginner snorkelers. Snorkeling equipment is included on our tour.
Our Prison Island tour starts from $35 per person for a shared group tour, with a private tour option available at a higher rate.
Yes. The short boat ride, manageable walking and close up tortoise encounters make it one of the more family friendly half day tours in Zanzibar.
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