Located just a 20-minute boat ride from Stone Town, the tiny Island was once a prison and a quarantine location, hence its more well-known name of ‘Prison Island’. Now a tropical paradise that’s home to the giant Aldabra tortoise, the duiker antelope, and a variety of birds and butterflies. It is a decent swimming and snorkeling spot.
Note that part of the island is private property and thus inaccessible.
A relaxing day in the Zanzibar Channel of the Indian Ocean as we visit the small isle off the western coast of Zanzibar. This half day guided tour begins and ends at Stone Town of Zanzibar.
It is an important historical Island just off the coast of Stone Town and is a 20 minutes boat ride from the old town’s waterfront. It’s fringed with a lovely white sand beach and a small coral reef, making it ideal for a spot of snorkeling and sunbathing. You can hire masks and flippers before you depart Stone Town or once you have landed at the Island. The island also known as Changuu Island (Changuu means Sea Patch) the type of fishes which were mostly caught by fishermen while fishing around this Island.
It was first used by Arab slave merchants to detain unruly slaves. Before the British built it, it was intended to be a prison for Stone Town in 1890. However the building was never utilized as a prison though later it did become a quarantine station for the East Africa Territory on the eruption of cholera diseases.
Today Prison Island is known for its excellent views of Stone Town and for its giant tortoises brought from Aldabra in the Seychelles in the late 19th century. They stand up to a rather staggering one meter high, could easily have clocked hundreds of years, and are frequently seen copulating. The presence of peacocks enhances the beauty of the tour.
The island is recommended as an ideal area for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling, diving and other sea sports.
