What You Need to Know: A Prison Island tour takes about three hours from Stone Town: a 30-minute private boat ride to Changuu Island, time with the Aldabra giant tortoises, a look at the old quarantine buildings and a swim or snorkel off the beach. It costs US$105 per person (children half), with the boat, guide and hotel transfers; a small island conservation fee is shown in your quotation. It pairs well with a Stone Town walk in one day.
What Do You Do on Prison Island?
- Meet the Aldabra giant tortoises in their sanctuary; you can feed them leaves and gently stroke their shells
- Walk through the old prison and quarantine buildings, with views back to Stone Town
- Swim or snorkel off the small beach; the water is clear on calm days
- Relax with a drink before the boat back
The tortoises descend from animals brought from the Seychelles in the early 20th century. A small conservation fee is charged on the island.
Timing of the Prison Island Half Day
About three hours from Stone Town and back, including the boat ride. We confirm the boat time based on the tide and the sea. Mornings are calmest; combine with a Stone Town walk before or after.
The Boat to Prison Island
We use private boat charters from the Stone Town waterfront, so the boat is for your group. On windy days the crossing can be choppy; tell us if you are prone to seasickness.
How Much Does a Prison Island Trip Cost?
A Prison Island trip is priced as one of our guided Zanzibar excursion days: US$105 per person, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel; children pay half. Activities run by other vendors, such as jet skis, are paid separately unless they are named in your itinerary.
- Private boat to and from the island
- Your guide
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel
Zanzibar requires every foreign visitor to buy the government's inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult with reduced rates for children; from October 1, 2026 mainland Tanzania has the same requirement. If your trip includes both, one policy is enough, bought for your first point of entry. We help guests buy it, or you can buy it on the official portal.
Can You Fly a Drone on Prison Island?
Drones need a permit in Tanzania and Zanzibar, so we don't recommend bringing one; ask us if you have a permit.
How to Book a Prison Island Trip
Tell us your hotel, your date and the number of travelers (with children's ages), and we confirm the pickup time. A 30% deposit confirms your booking, and the balance is paid on arrival.
The History of Prison Island (Changuu)
Changuu Island was bought by a British official in the 1890s and a prison was built on it, but it was never used as one. Instead it became a quarantine station for people arriving with infectious diseases. Today the old buildings, the tortoise sanctuary and the beach make it Zanzibar's most popular half-day trip from Stone Town.
Tips for a Prison Island Trip
- Go in the morning, when the sea is usually calmer
- Bring swimwear and snorkel gear if you want to swim
- Don't sit on or lift the tortoises; touch only their shells, gently
- Combine it with a Stone Town walk in the afternoon
Combining Prison Island with Stone Town
Prison Island is just 30 minutes by boat from Stone Town, so it fits perfectly with a Stone Town walking tour on the same day. A popular plan is the island in the morning, when the sea is usually calmer, lunch back in town, and the walking tour in the afternoon, ending at Forodhani Gardens for sunset and street food.
If you have more time, a morning on Prison Island and an afternoon at a spice farm show two sides of Zanzibar: its history as a trading island and its famous spices. The island is also a good choice for families, because the boat ride is short and children love the giant tortoises.
The Giant Tortoises of Prison Island
The Aldabra giant tortoises on Prison Island are the island's stars. They descend from tortoises brought from the Seychelles in the early 20th century, and some are believed to be well over 100 years old. They live in a protected sanctuary, where you can feed them leaves and gently touch their shells.
The sanctuary helps protect them after years in which numbers fell because of theft. Follow the keepers' guidance: don't sit on or lift them, and let them move at their own pace.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Prison Island?
Prison Island trips run all year. Mornings usually have the calmest sea and the softest light for photos; the dry seasons, June to October and December to February, bring the clearest water for snorkeling off the beach.
Common Questions About Prison Island
Can you touch the tortoises?
You can feed them leaves and stroke their shells gently. Don't sit on them or lift them.
Is Prison Island good for children?
Yes. The boat ride is short and the tortoises are a favorite with children, who pay half.
Can you snorkel at Prison Island?
Yes, off the small beach on calm days.
How long is the boat ride?
About 30 minutes each way from Stone Town.
How old are the tortoises on Prison Island?
Some are believed to be more than 100 years old; they descend from tortoises brought from the Seychelles.
Is Prison Island good for snorkeling?
The snorkeling off the beach is pleasant on calm days, though the best reefs are at Mnemba and other boat trips.
Can I feed the tortoises?
Yes, with the leaves provided at the sanctuary.
How long is the boat ride to Prison Island?
About 30 minutes each way from Stone Town.
Is Prison Island suitable for children?
Yes: the boat ride is short and children love the tortoises.
The Bottom Line
A short boat ride, a hundred-year-old tortoise and a swim: Prison Island is the easiest half day from Stone Town, and best paired with the walking tour.
Send us your dates, your hotel (or the area you'd like to stay in), the number of travelers and the trips you are interested in through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and our team will reply with a written quotation.