Prison Island Tour

Cruise from Stone Town to Changuu Island on a private Prison Island Tour. Meet the island’s famous Aldabra giant tortoises, discover its fascinating prison and quarantine history, and explore this small Indian Ocean island with a knowledgeable local guide.

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OVERVIEW

Take a private half-day Prison Island Tour from Zanzibar to Changuu Island. Cruise from Stone Town, meet the island’s famous Aldabra giant tortoises, explore its historic prison and quarantine buildings, and learn about this fascinating island with a knowledgeable local guide.

Quick Facts

No. of Travellers Prijs
1 Traveller $150per person
2 Travellers $113per person
3 Travellers $100per person
4 Travellers $88per person
5 Travellers $88per person
6 Travellers $88per person
7 Travellers $88per person

Rates shown are per person in USD and vary by group size.

ROUTEBESCHRIJVING

Begin your private half-day Prison Island Tour with a boat journey from Stone Town across the Indian Ocean to Changuu Island, better known as Prison Island. The crossing typically takes around 25 to 30 minutes, offering views back towards Zanzibar’s historic coastline.
On arrival, visit the island’s famous Aldabra giant tortoises. Spend time observing these remarkable animals while your local guide explains more about their history and their connection with Changuu Island.
Continue exploring the island’s historic buildings and learn how Changuu became known as Prison Island. Although prison facilities were developed on the island, Changuu later became particularly associated with its use as a quarantine station. The surviving structures provide an interesting glimpse into this lesser-known chapter of Zanzibar’s history.
Take time to enjoy the island’s tropical setting and views of the clear Indian Ocean before boarding your boat for the return journey to Stone Town.

What's Included?

What's Excluded?

Booking & Travel Information

Morning or Afternoon Tour

You can choose a morning or afternoon Prison Island Tour, making it easy to fit the experience around the rest of your Zanzibar holiday plans.

Pick-Up from Stone Town Hotels

If you are staying in Stone Town, hotel pick-up and drop-off are included in your tour rate.

Pick-Up from Zanzibar Beach Hotels

If you are staying at a beach hotel elsewhere in Zanzibar, return vehicle transfers between your hotel and Stone Town are included.

Boat Journey to Prison Island

Prison Island is reached by boat from Stone Town. The journey generally takes approximately 25 to 30 minutes, depending on sea conditions.

What to Wear

Wear lightweight, comfortable clothing and suitable footwear for walking around the island. A hat and sun protection are recommended.

What to Bring

Bring sunscreen, a hat, your camera or phone and some cash for personal purchases. If you would like to spend time near the beach, you may also wish to bring swimwear and a towel.
Abandoned prison at Prison island. Zanzibar Tanzania

What to Expect on a Prison Island Tour

A Prison Island Tour combines wildlife, history and an enjoyable boat journey just off the coast of Stone Town.

The experience begins on the water as you travel to Changuu Island. Once ashore, the island’s Aldabra giant tortoises are usually the main attraction. Prison Island has become particularly well known for its tortoise sanctuary, while its historic structures tell a very different story about the island’s past.

With a local guide, you can learn how the island developed over time, explore its historic buildings and understand why Changuu became known as Prison Island.

The combination of giant tortoises, Zanzibar history and an Indian Ocean island setting makes this one of the most distinctive half-day excursions from Stone Town.

Young Adult Man Petting an Aldabra Tortoise

Aldabra Giant Tortoises on Prison Island

For many travellers, meeting the Aldabra giant tortoises is the highlight of a Prison Island Tour.

The tortoises found on Changuu are linked to the Aldabra giant tortoise population of the Seychelles. Historical accounts record that four Aldabra tortoises were sent from Seychelles to Changuu Island in 1919, after which the population increased on the island.

Today, these gentle giants have become closely associated with Prison Island and are one of Zanzibar’s best-known wildlife attractions.

Visiting with a guide allows you to learn more about the tortoises rather than simply seeing them, adding another dimension to your time on the island.

Why Is It Called Prison Island?

Changuu Island is commonly known as Prison Island because of its association with prison facilities developed during the nineteenth century.

However, the island’s history is more complicated than its name suggests. Prison buildings were constructed, but Changuu later became particularly associated with quarantine use. Surviving historic structures remain part of the visitor experience today.

Learning this history with a local guide helps explain why the island has carried several identities over the years, including Changuu Island, Prison Island and Quarantine Island.

Why Visit Prison Island with a Local Guide?

A trip to Prison Island is more interesting when you understand the stories behind what you are seeing.

Your local guide can introduce you to the island’s giant tortoises, explain the history behind the surviving buildings and help connect Changuu Island with Zanzibar’s wider maritime past.

Instead of simply taking a boat across to see the tortoises, the guided experience brings together the wildlife, history and character of the island.

Boat Transfer to Prison Island, Zanzibar

Best Time for a Prison Island Tour

Prison Island can be visited throughout the year.

Easy Travel offers both morning and afternoon departures, allowing you to choose the time that works best with your Zanzibar itinerary.

As the excursion includes a boat journey, weather and sea conditions can influence the experience. Lightweight clothing, sun protection and a hat are useful throughout the year.

Why Choose Easy Travel for Your Prison Island Tour?

Easy Travel Guide Explaining Facts About Giant Tortoises to a Tourist Couple

Lokale kennis

Explore Prison Island with a knowledgeable local guide who can introduce you to the island’s giant tortoises, history and natural surroundings.

Tourists Enjoying the View During a Boat Transfer to Prison Island Zanzibar

Carefully Planned

From hotel transfers to your boat journey and island visit, we take care of the arrangements so you can enjoy the experience.

Easy Travel Guide with a Tourist Group at Prison Island

Private Experience

Enjoy a private Prison Island Tour with personal attention, flexibility and plenty of opportunity to ask your guide questions.

Easy Travel Guide Helping a Tourist Wear His Life Jacket

Support from Start to Finish

Easy Travel supports you from your first enquiry through to the end of your Prison Island Tour.

Veelgestelde vragen

A Prison Island Tour is a boat excursion from Stone Town to Changuu Island, where visitors can see Aldabra giant tortoises, explore historic buildings and learn about the island’s prison and quarantine history.
The Prison Island Tour is a half-day private experience.
Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island, lies just off the coast of Stone Town in Zanzibar and is reached by boat.
The boat journey from Stone Town generally takes around 25 to 30 minutes, depending on sea conditions.
The Aldabra giant tortoise sanctuary is one of the principal attractions on Changuu Island and is included in the scheduled Prison Island Tour.
The name comes from its historical association with prison facilities developed on the island. Changuu later also served as a quarantine station.
Yes. The tour is always operated privately for you and your travelling party.
Yes. You can choose either a morning or afternoon departure according to your Zanzibar holiday plans.
Yes. Pick-up and drop-off from Stone Town hotels are included. Return transfers are also included for guests staying at Zanzibar beach hotels.
Yes. Prison Island entrance fees are included in the tour price.
Yes. Bottled drinking water is included during the tour.
No. Lunch is not included in the Prison Island Tour.

Ready to Discover Prison Island?

Cruise across the Indian Ocean to Changuu Island, meet its famous Aldabra giant tortoises and discover the fascinating history behind one of Zanzibar’s best-known island excursions.

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