Zanzibar City Tour: Prison Island, Stone Town & Spice Farm

Three islands and a working spice farm in one day: tortoises, history, and a Swahili lunch

A full-day guided tour from Zanzibar City visiting Prison Island (Changuu Island) to see giant tortoises and wildlife, Stone Town for its Arab Fort and slave trade history, and a spice farm where you taste exotic fruits and eat lunch among the plants. The tour includes hotel pickup, an experienced guide in your choice of language, entry fees, and lunch. Stone Town involves nearly two hours of walking through narrow streets and alleyways.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Prison Island, Stone Town, Spice Farm

• Explore Prison Island history and tortoises
• Take photos of wildlife and scenery
• Walk historical Stone Town sites
• Shop for souvenirs in Stone Town
• Tour spice farm and taste exotic fruits
• Enjoy traditional Swahili lunch

The experience

The day starts at Prison Island, where Aldabra giant tortoises roam and peacocks move through the grounds. You'll get the island's history (what it was, what it holds now), and time to photograph the animals and the landscape. On a lucky day, you might spot the small antelopes that live there. After the island, you return to the mainland for Stone Town, the old city where Arab, Hindu, British, Portuguese and French influences left their mark in the architecture, the doors, the museums and the streets themselves. The walking tour covers the House of Wonders, the former slave market where East African slaves were traded, and the Arab Fort, moving through the winding alleyways and past the ornately carved doors, two cathedrals and countless mosques. The market is still there, bustling and full of gift shops and handicrafts. This part of the day takes almost two hours on foot.

The spice farm comes last, reached by a guided walk through villages and working plantations. You'll see the workers climb trees and cut bark to harvest the spices, and you get to see, feel and taste them as they come off the plant. The farm decorates visitors with palm-leaf accessories (ties, rings, bracelets, glasses) as part of the experience. Before you leave, you taste some of Zanzibar's exotic fruits. Lunch is a traditional Swahili meal served by locals right there on the farm, cooked with the spices you've just seen growing. The farm also sells fresh spices directly, and cash (USD, euros or local currency) is the way to buy if you want to take some home.

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Zanzibar City are included, as are all entry fees at Prison Island and the Spice Farm. Your guide is an experienced professional who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of two other languages. The full day runs nine hours. Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes suitable for walking Stone Town's narrow streets. See-through clothing is not permitted there. Bring insect repellent for the spice farm visit.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Zanzibar City.
• an experienced professional guide fluent in your choice of language.
• entry to Prison Island and the Spice Farm.
• a traditional Swahili lunch at the farm.
• time to photograph wildlife and explore the markets.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Youth (6 to 14 years) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Mo Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this full-day tour if you want three distinct experiences (prison history, wildlife encounters, and Stone Town's heritage) covered in one itinerary with included transport between sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 14 years); Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What animals will I see at Prison Island?

Aldabra giant tortoises and peacocks live on the island year-round. On some days, small antelopes also appear, though they're rare to spot. You'll have time to photograph all of them.

How much walking is involved in Stone Town?

Stone Town is a walking tour through narrow alleyways and winding streets that takes almost two hours. The route passes the House of Wonders, the former slave market, the Arab Fort, two cathedrals and many mosques, plus the market and gift shops.

What happens at the spice farm?

At the spice farm, you walk through working plantations and watch workers harvest spices by climbing trees and cutting bark. You taste the spices fresh, try Zanzibar's exotic fruits, get decorated with palm-leaf accessories, and eat a traditional Swahili lunch cooked with the spices you've seen growing.

Is lunch included, and what if I want to buy spices to take home?

Lunch at the spice farm is included in the tour price. If you want to buy fresh spices directly from the farm, bring cash in USD, euros or the local currency: the farm doesn't accept cards.

Does the tour include entry fees to Stone Town's museums and attractions?

Entry to Prison Island and the Spice Farm is included. Museum and attraction fees in Stone Town are optional and paid separately if you choose to visit them.