A swift boat ride from Stone Town brings you to Changuu — Prison Island — where colonial ruins, a tortoise sanctuary and modest coral reefs make for a compact half-day adventure. Expect short walks, wildlife encounters and optional snorkeling close to shore.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step off the skiff onto pale sand and the breakers seem to pull back in surprise, the ocean nudging you ashore as if to make room for the island’s slow residents. Mangroves give way to a short path through open scrub and the low silhouette of the 1893 jail looms—its stone walls more museum than prison now, sun-bleached and patient.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
3 hours
Fitness Level
Light fitness; short walks on uneven ground and brief boat transfer. Swimmers should be comfortable in shallow reef conditions.
Wildlife
History
Built in 1893 under General Lloyd Mathews, the stone ‘‘prison’’ never housed many inmates and later served as a quarantine station; the tortoises arrived as a colonial-era gift from Seychelles.
Conservation
A local foundation manages tortoise welfare while guides encourage low-impact snorkeling—visitors are asked to avoid touching coral and to use reef-safe products.
Reserve your spot on the Prison Island Half-Day Tour from Zanzibar today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Bring cash for tortoise fees
Feeding the Aldabra tortoises usually requires a small on-site fee—carry Tanzanian shillings or small bills.
Use reef‑safe sunscreen
The reef around Changuu is shallow and easily damaged—choose reef-safe sunscreen to protect corals.
Wear water shoes
Rocky shorelines and coral flats make water shoes useful for entering and exiting the water safely.
Mind the tortoise’s beak
Aldabra tortoises can bite unexpectedly—feed them only as instructed and keep fingers flat.
Reef‑safe sunscreen
Protects your skin and Zanzibar’s coral reef ecosystems under strong equatorial sun.
summer
Snorkel mask and fins
Optional—brings close-up views of reef fish and coral in the shallow snorkel zones.
Water shoes
Protects feet on coral flats and rocky shores during entry and exit points.
Light rain shell or wind layer
Quick squalls are common in transition seasons—keeps you comfortable between sun and sudden showers.
spring