Prison Island Tour

Overview

Take a short boat trip from Stone Town to Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island, and spend time exploring the island, seeing the giant tortoises and walking around the historic site.
This tour is a good choice for visitors who want a short island trip close to Stone Town without committing to a full-day excursion.

Prison Island sits just off the coast of Stone Town and is reached by a short boat ride.
One of the main reasons people visit is to see the giant tortoises kept on the island. Visitors can walk around the tortoise area before exploring other parts of Changuu Island.
The island also has a historical side. Despite the name, the prison buildings were never used in the way originally intended, and the island later became connected with quarantine use. Some of the old structures can still be seen during the visit.
The tour gives you enough time to see the tortoises, walk around the island and enjoy the coastal setting before returning to Stone Town.
Depending on sea conditions and the arrangement for the day, there may also be time for swimming or snorkeling nearby.

Tour Highlights

Boat trip from Stone Town to Prison Island

See the giant tortoises

Walk around Changuu Island

Learn about the island’s history

See the old prison and quarantine buildings

Enjoy views back toward Zanzibar from the island

Swimming or snorkeling may be possible depending on conditions and the tour arrangement

Additional Information

The tour includes a boat crossing from Stone Town, so light clothing and sun protection are useful.
Comfortable footwear is recommended for walking around the island.
If you plan to swim, bring swimwear and a towel.
The sea can be different from one day to another, so swimming or snorkeling depends on conditions.
The Prison Island entrance fee is separate from the tour fee and should be paid as required at the site.
Hotel pickup and return can be arranged from other parts of Zanzibar. Transport is separate from the tour fee.

Alice M November 4, 2025

Amazing Stone Town Tour!

Mady gave us the best and most educational tour of Stone Town! It was a walking tour that went way beyond our expectations. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about the history and culture of Zanzibar, Stone Town, and Tanzania — basically the entire African continent as a whole. You can tell he truly loves what he does and takes pride in sharing his country’s rich heritage. We learned so much more than we ever would have on our own. Having someone who knows the backstreets and local spots made all the difference. We visited the spice market and the night food market, learned about local foods and customs, and shopped at a community center that supports local women and artisans. We had an amazing time and highly recommend Mady to anyone looking for an authentic, fun, and enriching experience in Zanzibar!

gracesmy November 14, 2025

Absolutely the best guide in Tanzania, nevertheless Stone Town

Mady was BEYOND fabulous in every sense of the word- we arrived on a delayed flight and with only a half hour’s notice he had us on a private Dhow sunset cruise (with a PLATTER of fresh fruits and fresh coconuts (water and then meat). Met up with us again the next morning for an AMAZINGLY informative walking tour of Stone Town, completely directing the tour based on our interests. Showed us the best spice vendor in town, the only textile vendor who still uses a loom, the best local restaurant, provided many suggestions for activities, food, and entertainment, and of course showed us the churches, mosques, slave Museum, and a devout and thorough history of Stone Town from its origins with Natives, colonizations and all the way up to today. After our walking tour he even set us up with a great snorkeling and beach trip to finish out our day, securing all our gear for fair prices. Mady’s understanding and communication of the English language is second only to his patience and answering all 10,000 questions we had for him. It was truly a wonderful experience getting to know Stone Town through Mady and I will recommend him to everyone I meet.

Tripp W November 2, 2025

Best tour guide in Zanzibar

Mady is a phenomenal tour guide who is extremely knowledgeable and doesn’t rush you through the city. He takes his time and answers all questions you may have about anything in Stone Town. He gives you the accurate prices from the vendors before you visit them. You’re missing out if you don’t book a tour with Mady. Avoid the guys who don’t give the true facts and book with him.

Maria G November 11, 2025

Informative, fun tour!

Amazing tour! Thanks Mady! We did almost three hours through stone town. We got an overview of the history, the culture, etc. We saw all of the sights and explored the small streets.

Prison Island Tour

Overview

Tour Highlights

What's Included

What's Not Included

Additional Information

Tour Photos