Prison Island Zanzibar Tour 2026 | Half-Day Boat Trip

Half-day Prison Island Zanzibar tour: scenic boat ride, giant tortoises, coral snorkeling & history. Perfect family trip from Stone Town. Book instantly!

Prison Island Tour Overview

Imagine stepping off a traditional wooden boat, the warm turquoise waters lapping at your feet. Towering Aldabra giant tortoises, some over 150 years old, roam lazily under the shade of palm trees. The ruins of an old quarantine station whisper stories of Zanzibar’s past. And just a few meters offshore, colorful coral reefs invite you to snorkel among tropical fish.

That’s what awaits you on our Prison Island Zanzibar Tour – a perfect blend of history, wildlife, and relaxation.

Prison Island Zanzibar Tour Highlights

Scenic Boat Ride: Enjoy a picturesque 30-minute boat ride from Stone Town to Prison Island.
Historical Exploration: Discover the island’s intriguing history as a former prison and quarantine station for yellow fever.
Giant Tortoises: Meet and interact with the island’s famous giant tortoises, some over 100 years old.
Beautiful Beaches: Relax on the pristine white sandy beaches and swim in the crystal-clear waters.
Wildlife Spotting: Encounter various wildlife, including peacocks and diverse bird species.
Architectural Sites: Explore the remnants of the old prison and quarantine buildings.
Nature and Relaxation: Enjoy the lush greenery and tranquil environment of this small, charming island.

Want to upgrade your experience? Discover our Luxury Boat Prison Island Tour, combining the history of Prison Island with the comfort of a private, stylish boat transfer.

Practical Information

Duration: 3–4 hours (half-day)
Best time to visit: All year round – mornings are calmer for boat rides
What to bring: Swimwear, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water shoes (optional), and your camera!
Good to know: Life jackets are provided. Tour is family-friendly and suitable for children.

Booking Your Prison Island ZanzibarTour

Booking your Prison Island boat trip is simple and hassle-free. You can use our convenient booking form on our website, or you can call or WhatsApp us directly.

We accept various payment options to accommodate our guests’ preferences, including credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), bank transfers, and cash.

For your convenience, we provide comfortable transportation options directly from your accommodation.

Tour Gallery

Prison Island Tour Itinerary

Pick-up from your hotel in Stone Town (or meeting point at the seafront).
Depart by traditional boat towards Prison Island (30-minute ride).
Guided walking tour of the old prison and quarantine station.
Visit the giant tortoise sanctuary. Feed, take photos, and learn their conservation story.
Free time for swimming, snorkeling, or relaxing on the beach.
Scenic boat ride back to Stone Town.
Drop-off at your hotel or free time to explore Stone Town.

Where is Prison Island Located?

Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island, is situated in the Mjini Magharibi Region of Tanzania, approximately 5.6 km northwest of Stone Town on Unguja Island in the Zanzibar Archipelago.

It’s located on the western part of Zanzibar Island, just off Stone Town, and the boat ride from there takes around 30 minutes.

The island itself is small, measuring about 230 meters wide and 800 meters long, making it easy to explore in a few hours.

Why is it Called Prison Island Zanzibar?

Prison Island gets its name from its intriguing history.

Originally known as Changuu Island, it was uninhabited until the 1860s when the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, gifted it to two Arab slave owners who used it as a detention site for rebellious slaves.

In 1893, under British administration, a prison was built on the island intended for violent criminals, but it was never used for that purpose.

Instead, it served as a quarantine station for yellow fever cases.

Also referred to as Kibandiko or Quarantine Island, its “prison” moniker stuck due to the ruins of the unused prison buildings that remain today

Prison Island Zanzibar Tortoises

One of the island’s star attractions is its population of Aldabra giant tortoises, which have turned Prison Island into an unexpected sanctuary.

In 1919, four of these tortoises were gifted by the Governor of the Seychelles, and their numbers grew to over a hundred before poaching reduced the population—now protected and thriving again.

Many are over 150 years old, with an average weight of 200 kg, and visitors can interact with them, feed them, and take photos for a truly memorable experience.

Prison Island Best Combinations

Maximize your Zanzibar adventure by pairing Prison Island with our curated combinations for a full, value-packed day. These popular bundles are designed to give you more for less, blending history, nature, and relaxation seamlessly:

Stone Town, Prison Island & Nakupenda Sandbank Tour: Wander Stone Town’s UNESCO-listed alleys, commune with Prison Island’s tortoises, and bask on Nakupenda’s idyllic sandbank—ultimate variety in one epic day. Book This Combination
Prison Island & Stone Town Tour: Combine the island’s wildlife and ruins with Stone Town’s cultural treasures for a deep dive into Zanzibar’s soul. Join this Tour
Spice Farm, Prison Island & Stone Town Tour: Awaken your senses at a spice farm, interact with giant tortoises, and explore Stone Town— a sensory overload of flavors, sights, and stories. Book Now

These combinations are our guests’ favorites for a reason—they save time, money, and hassle while delivering unforgettable experiences.

Prison Island tour price 2026

Tour Price

Starts from $60 per Person

Price Includes

Why Choose Us for Your Prison Island Zanzibar Tour?

Experienced Guides: Our knowledgeable guides provide in-depth insights into the island’s history and wildlife.
Seamless Experience: We handle all the details, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable trip from start to finish.
Personalized Service: We tailor the tour to your interests, offering a personalized and memorable experience.
Comfort and Safety: Our well-maintained boats and safety measures guarantee a comfortable and secure journey.
Local Expertise: As seasoned tour operators in Zanzibar, we offer authentic and enriching experiences.

Choose us for a captivating and hassle-free Prison Island Zanzibar tour, creating unforgettable memories.

Prison Island Zanzibar Tour FAQs

Why is it called Prison Island, Zanzibar?

Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island, gets its name from a prison that was built there in the late 19th century. Although the prison was never actually used for its intended purpose of housing criminals, it was later repurposed as a quarantine station for yellow fever cases.

Stone Town Tour: Explore the rich history and vibrant culture of Stone Town before or after your Prison Island visit.
Spice Tour: Discover Zanzibar’s famous spice farms and learn about the island’s spice trade.
Snorkeling and Diving: Combine your trip with a snorkeling or diving excursion to explore the vibrant marine life around Zanzibar.
Jozani Forest Tour: Visit the Jozani Forest to see the rare Red Colobus Monkeys and other wildlife.

Combining tours allows you to make the most of your time in Zanzibar and experience a variety of attractions in one day. Please contact us to customize your tour package.

Learn More: Complete Guide to Visiting Prison Island Zanzibar

Related Tours

Stone Town Tour

Spice Farm Tour

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Listen to Our Happy Clients

    
 
 
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   ABDULAZIZ A 
 4 September 2024
 
 
 Verified The Best Tour Company in Zanzibar!!! Said is the best tour guy!!!! We stayed for 9 days in Zanzibar me and my friend. He is a very friendly and honest person. He managed our trip and prices was very fair for the private tours and activities. It’s was a pleasure to meet him. I recommend to deal with him because he will give you the best plan that satisfied you for your vacation. And his English very good!!
  
 
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   Khaledalh 
 3 September 2024
 
 
 Verified Amazing. I recommend it a lot The trip was amazing. We stayed in Zanzibar for 9 days.and he made it more fun than we expected.Every activity we take was amazing.He even goes overboard to make it perfect
  
 
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   Beatriz B 
 24 August 2024
 
 
 Verified Mnemba island tour was amazing. We did the Mnemba island tour. The tour was super nice, since the booking time until the end. Said booked the tour for us, explained everything and accommodated our requests also. Adam was with us in the tour and he was so nice, very flexible answered all the questions and provided the needed support. I would definitely book a tour with them again.
  
 
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   Getaway38949169698 
 21 August 2024
 
 
 Verified A warm "karibu" Zanzibar tour company Great tour, we had a very kind and knowledgable driver and guide Wiseman! Did the spice tour, prison Island and stonetown tour.. lots of information and a good chat/laugh during the rides and boat ride. Would definitely book again! Pickup/drop-off wasnt an issues! Great value for money !
  
 
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   Navigator610758 
 20 August 2024
 
 
 Verified Great service from Said, reliable and on time Said is a great bloke with excellent English and a fantastic service through his punctuality and reliability. His car is top notch and provides helpful information about your visit. Definitely recommend him for travel.
  
 
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   Hawraa A 
 19 August 2024
 
 
 Verified Everything was excellent One of the most beautiful trips was with Sayed Ali ,Thank you very much for everything , He was very concerned about our safety. Thank you
  
 
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   Thomas K 
 17 August 2024
 
 
 Verified Great service, very helpful and responsive. We were 6 people (parents, 3 adult children and a 13 y old son) and did all our tours with GoSmart Zanzibar: Stone Town, Spice Tour and Prison Island, Mnemba and Turtle, Jazani Forest and Safari Blue. We also used their services for sone transfers. Said has been incredibly responsive, at all times, and flexible when one of us got sick and he allowes us to postpine the tour by one day at no cost even if only notified the evening before. Ali, our driver, very polite, helpful, and a very good driver in not always easy driving conditions. Amazing people and amazing week!
  
 
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   Janet S 
 15 August 2024
 
 
 Verified Amazing experience with go smart Zanzibar Tours and safari The excursion was amazing with professional and kind staff. The driver picked us up on time and allowed us to enjoy every spot. Started with mnemba island for dolphins and snorkeling, then the aquarium swimming with turtles, then kendwa beach. And awesome long and wide beach with very clear water, white sandy beach with lots of water sport activities and finished with sunset cruise which was epic. The driver waited patiently the while day and back to out hotel in the evening. I would recommended this your company and looking forward to doing another excursion with them.
  
 
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   Companion35767739589 
 14 August 2024
 
 
 Verified Excellent service We received excellent and timely transportation services from Mr. Said. Pick up from the airport to our hotel , tours around the island were all done excellently, we highly recommend him to any one planning a trip to Zanzibar.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Ron C 
 31 July 2024
 
 
 Verified Relaxing Sunset boat cruise with Siad The Visit to the Aquarium and the sunset boat cruise were fantastic. Thanks to Siad who was made it happen. Siad was courteous, professional and a very good communicator.
  
 
  
  
 
 
      Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Thomas Keil 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. GoSmart helped us with multiple transportations and organized several tours for us, customizing the tours to our needs. Said provided amazing organization from the office, was always super responsive and flexible to adjust to our needs. We had to change some tours and adjust the schedule last minute when one of our group fell sick and Said saved our trip helping to reorganize everything. All drivers and guides were very professional. In particular, Ali excelled being extremely polite, sympathetic and ever helpful. Thank you all for making our trip to Zanzibar memorable and a pleasure! Can only highly recommend them if you go to Zanzibar.
  
 
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   Ron Collier 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Siad transported us around Zanzibar and helped booked our tours and activities. These include Sky diving, Sunset boat cruise ,etc. He was very experienced,great communicator and above all pleasant to work with. Siad made our trip very memorable .
  
 
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   Ascent_ Realtors_ug 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing driver and comfortable rides.. was a nice time had with Said.. definitely recommend..
  
 
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   Muhammad Patel 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing amazing experience…very warm welcoming and cheerful person…
  
 
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   Keolebogile Nampa 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The owner is very professional and ever so humble. He is also very helpful and knowledgeable when it comes to accommodations and activities . I highly recommend his services
  
 
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   Oke Oghenekaro 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a very wonderful travel experience courtesy of Gosmart tours. Said is an exceptional service provider with great communication skills, impeccable timeliness and an overall friendly disposition. And Ali took wonderful photos throughout the tour. 😊
  
 
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   Steve Onoherhe 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. SAID..... Too organized...For a 10am appointment... He sends you a confirmation text the previous day and later at night.. a 9am text,.. Then a 9:50am text that's he is at the car park.. I felt he was born in Japan... Gave us Japanese service.. *Unlimited Added Value {UAV} ✌️✌️✌️* Thank you GoSmart Zanzibar 🇹🇿 _Steve
  
 
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   Ibrahim Zlatan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly Recommended, well organized, good driver and easy commication.
  
 
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   ruben fiameni 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We met Said at the Airport and we did all the activities with him (nakupenda, prison Island, dolphins, sea turtles, juizani forest and spice farm). We loved every activity, especially nakupenda in which we were just us on the boat/lunch and not a big group as often happen. He is very punctual and friendly. I would recommend him!!
  
 
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   Ntsieleni Nkhanedzeni 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We were planning a trip but didn't want to get into the hassle of booking everything ourselves. We were recommended to Said from GoSmart Zanzibar Tours and Safari. He made our Zanzibar vacation enjoyable. He took care of most of our traveling needs. He was professional, friendly and approachable from the first day he pick us up from Airport until the last day we came back. He has all travelling expertise and he was able to answer all our questions patiently. I really recommend GoSmart Zanzibar Tours and Safari if traveling to Zanzibar. Their services is the best. We visited a lot of places like Nungwi beach, Prison island, Kuza carve, Stone town and many more.
  
 
  
  
 
 
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