Prison Island Tour

Zanzibar, Tanzania

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Take a break from bustling Stone Town on this half-day tour to Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, with two-way boat transfer included. Learn more about the island’s history as you explore its old prison buildings, meet giant tortoises at the island sanctuary, and get a glimpse beneath the calm waters with plenty of time for swimming and snorkeling around the island’s coral reefs.

Take a break from bustling Stone Town on this half-day tour
Small-group tour size ensures personalized service
Learn more about the island’s history from your guide
Enjoy a close encounter with resident tortoises and marine life

What's Included

Boat from Stone Town
Bottled water
Use of Snorkeling equipment

Use of Snorkelling equipment
Snacks

Lunch in the island’s restaurant
Food and drinks
Transportation to/from other parts of Zanzibar
Parking Fees

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Mizingani Road
Mizingani Rd, Zanzibar, Tanzania
The meeting point will be in front of the main entrance of the Old Fort in Forodhani, Stone Town at 09:00AM.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Prison Island - Changuu Private Island

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Prison Island - Changuu Private Island

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Infants must sit on laps

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

3.9

based on 34 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Beautiful Experience at Prison Island – Great Guide and Stunning Views

Louise_A, Nov 2025

I did this tour as a solo traveller and had a brilliant experience with my guide, Mohamed. He was extremely polite, very knowledgeable, and gave great information throughout the visit to Prison Island. The tour starts with a speedboat ride to the island, which is home to a tortoise reserve as well as peacocks, peahens, and chicks. The tortoises were incredible — the oldest is 200 years old! Mohamed shared lots of interesting facts about the wildlife, including the tortoises, the deer, and even the fancy pigeons (definitely not your typical British pigeons!). After spending time with the tortoises, we walked around to the main prison complex. There’s a café/bar, some lovely gift shops, and a beautiful panoramic view across the sea. There’s also a small museum with helpful information about the building’s history. Next, we headed to the snorkelling spot. I was under time pressure to get to another tour, and there was a bit of rain, so I didn’t end up snorkelling — but the water was crystal clear and full of visible sea life, including starfish, fish, sea urchins, and more. We were also given cassava chips as a snack, which were great. A practical note: if you plan to snorkel, you usually arrive in your swimwear as there isn’t a clean changing area on the island. Most people head back to their hotel to change afterwards. Since I had a walking tour immediately after, it didn’t work out for me this time. On a hot day you might dry quickly, or you could bring spare clothes and use a restroom if needed. Overall, this was a fantastic tour — beautiful scenery, a very knowledgeable guide, and Mohamed is also highly skilled at taking great photos! For solo travellers: the website says it’s suitable for individuals, which it absolutely is. The team were very accommodating, but there weren’t others in the group on this occasion, so it ended up being a private tour. This made it more flexible for me, though it does mean you may or may not meet other travellers. Highly recommended

Tour of Island

Zanele_M, Jan 2024

The tour company accommodated my schedule change and the tour guide was very knowledgeable. There were plenty of photo opportunities and the Museum on the Island was very impressive.