Private Stone Town & Prison Island tour in Zanzibar: 8 hours

Eight hours threading Stone Town's maze with a guide who knows every corner

A private eight-hour tour of Zanzibar's Stone Town and Changuu Island (Prison Island) with a live guide in English, French or German, hotel pickup, and all entrance fees included. The guide tailors the route to your interests (history, architecture, local textiles or everyday life), and navigates the narrow streets so you don't get lost. You'll see the House of Wonders, Old Fort, Darajani Market with its fish, meat and spice vendors, the former slave market and chambers, the sultan's hammam, and Freddie Mercury's birthplace, then take a wooden boat to Changuu Island to explore the prison ruins and interact with giant tortoises.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Changuu Island1h · entry included
2. Darajani Market10m
3. Old Fort10m
4. House of Wonderspass by

Stone Town and Prison Island tour

• Visit Prison Ruin
• See and touch tortoises
• Explore local fish market
• Visit meat market
• See spice and fruit market
• Visit former slave market and Anglican church
• See slave chambers
• View slave monument
• See former Sultan's haman
• View Freddie Mercury's birth house
• See Old Fort
• Visit Open-Air Theater
• View House of Wonders from outside
• See Garden and old custom history
• View White Arch

The experience

Eight hours is long enough to move at a pace that lets you absorb the layers. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built on narrow, winding streets that loop back on themselves: easy to get turned around without someone who knows the layout. Your private guide has deep knowledge of local history, cultural heritage and architecture, and shapes the day around what interests you most: if you want to shop for textiles, linger at the markets, or focus on the slave trade history and its monuments, the route flexes. You'll see the House of Wonders and Old Fort from outside, visit the Darajani Market where fish, meat, spice and fruit vendors work side by side, and stand in front of the Anglican church built on the site of the former slave market, where you can enter the slave chambers and see the monument.

The second half crosses to Changuu Island by wooden boat. The prison ruins sit on the island, a place with heavy history, and you'll have time to see the structures and learn what happened there. Giant tortoises live on the island now, and you get to watch and touch them. The boat ride itself is part of the day: you're on the water, seeing Zanzibar from the approach. Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport to the starting point.

All entrance fees for Changuu Island and the boat are covered. Bottled water comes with you during the tour. Stone Town museum entry is not included if you want to go inside any of them. That's a choice to add at the time. The guide speaks English, French or German depending on your option.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from your Stone Town area hotel or beach resort.
• eight hours with a private guide who speaks English, French or German.
• all entrance fees for Changuu Island and the boat.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• a wooden boat ride to and from Prison Island.
• time to see and touch the giant tortoises.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup from the Stone Town areaGuide in English, French or German · 09:00Lasts 5 hours

Pickup from any beach hotelGuide in English, French or German · 08:30 and 09:00Toyota Alphard: a private air-conditioned car provides pickup and drop-off from any beach hotel

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (21 to 65 years) · Senior (67 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Zan Irah tours & safaris

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to understand Stone Town's history and architecture without getting lost in the narrow streets, and if seeing the prison ruins and tortoises on Changuu Island matters to you. The private guide tailors the route to what interests you most, whether that's the slave trade history, local markets, or the buildings themselves.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

63 verified traveler reviews

5 ★60

4 ★1

3 ★1

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the House of Wonders and why do we see it on this tour?

The House of Wonders is a historic palace in Stone Town and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Zanzibar. You'll see it from outside and hear its history as part of the walking route through the old town's architecture and heritage sites.

Can I actually touch the tortoises on Changuu Island?

Yes, you have time on the island to see and interact with the giant tortoises that live there now. It's one of the memorable moments of the day.

Will I get lost in Stone Town's streets, or does the guide keep us on track?

The guide knows the maze-like layout and keeps you oriented so you see the key highlights without getting turned around. That's the main reason to go private rather than trying to navigate on your own.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included, though you'll pass through the Darajani Market where you can see food vendors and grab something if you want. Bottled water is provided during the tour.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

All entrance fees for Changuu Island, the boat to the island, hotel pickup, the guide, and bottled water are included. Stone Town museum entry is separate if you choose to go inside any of them.

Do I need to be fit for this tour, or is it mostly walking and looking?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You're walking through Stone Town at a pace set by the group, and the boat ride to the island is relaxed.