Prison Island Tour

Zanzibar Prison Island Tour - Half Day Excursion

Zanzibar Prison Island, also known as the Changuu Island, lies about thirty minutes by boat from the Zanzibar Island. The prison was never used to house prisoners. The island was once used by an Arab slave trader to contain the more troublesome slaves he had brought from the African mainland to prevent their escape before shipping them to the Arabian purchasers, or for auctioning in Zanzibar’s slave market.

Changuu Island was used as a penitentiary for rebel slaves by the sultans from the 1860s until the end of the slave trade. After this, the British took over the site. However, the ‘prison’ was only ever used as a quarantine centre for possible yellow-fever victims.

The island is a popular day-trip destination from Stone Town. About 20 minutes from the city by traditional dhow sailing boat, the island offers excellent snorkeling, a beautiful and quiet white sandy beach, giant turtle sanctuary, and coral rag forest.

What to do on Prison Island

One can take the footpath through the woodland, spotting birds, bats, various butterflies and duiker antelope. The Aldabra Giant Tortoise Sanctuary is not to be missed. Many of the tortoises on the island today are descended from four that were presented to Lloyd Matthews by the governor of the Seychelles. They are majestic creatures, weighing in at an average of 200 kg and some are as old as 100 years.

Other marine life is also rich and Changuu provides good snorkeling, giving you the opportunity to see some of the beautiful and diverse sea life of the Indian Ocean.
One can take the footpath through the woodland, spotting birds, bats, various butterflies and duiker antelope. The Aldabra Giant Tortoise Sanctuary is not to be missed. Many of the tortoises on the island today are descended from four that were presented to Lloyd Matthews by the governor of the Seychelles. They are majestic creatures, weighing in at an average of 200 kg and some are as old as 100 years