Tours n Excursions 
Zanzibar Prison Island Tour - Half Day Excursion
Zanzibar Prison Island also known as the Changuu Island lies about 30 minutes by boat from the Zanzibar Island. The prison thereon was never used to house prisoners. This part of your holiday mainly focuses on a tour to the island. 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. The slaves were dumped on the island.
- The Activities
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The Activities - the Zanzibar Prison Island Tour
A Visit to Lloyd Mathew's Architecture
In 1893, Lloyd Mathews built the prison. The prison idea was to send violent criminals from the Tanganyika mainland to the Prison island. The Prison Island ended up being used as a quarantine center, instead of a prison, for yellow fever epidemics that once raged through the region. The old prison’s crumbling cells can still be seen on the island and provide occasional shelter for the giant tortoises which are conserved upon the Prison Island.
Zanzibar Prison Island tour photo: The old prison at Prison Island in Zanzibar.
Prison island remained in the ownership of the government which converted the newer quarantine buildings into a guest house. This ceased to function but has since been reopened as a hotel by a private company.
The Giant Tortoises
Prison Island is still owned by the Zanzibar government. The old prison still remains standing, providing shelter for some of the giant tortoises which can now only be found on this island, and the cells. All these would also be visited on this Prison Island tour.
- Tariffs
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Zanzibar Prison Island Tour Rates
Standard Option from
USD 30 p.p.
in a Group of 6 or more. Price increases as the # of people lowers!
This Price Includes
- Excursion fee
- Entrance fees
- Return transport from Stone Town
- A 500mL bottle of water
Budget Option from
USD 25 p.p.
sharing with a different group.
This Price Includes
- Excursion fee
- Entrance fees
- Return transport from Stone Town
- A 500mL bottle of water
29°C