Zanzibar Prison Island Tour: Snorkeling Giant Tortoises Ruins

Share laughs and stories with friends while exploring Zanzibar’s hidden shores

A group tour to Prison Island (Changuu Island), 5km from Stone Town, combines a guided walk among giant tortoises and the remains of a never-used prison compound with snorkeling in the surrounding waters. The tour runs about three hours and includes snorkeling equipment and bottled water. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language. Hotel pickup near Stone Town is available for an extra fee.

The experience

Prison Island sits 5km offshore from Stone Town, and the boat ride there is your first stretch of the morning. Once you land, the island itself spans roughly 800 metres in length and 250 metres across: small enough to walk in a few hours, but dense with history. The main compound holds a collection of giant tortoises, a gift from Seychelles that arrived in 1919 and still live on the island today. You'll move through the grounds on foot with your guide, who narrates the animals' presence and the island's past.

The prison structure itself dominates the compound, though no prisoners were ever actually held there: the building stands as ruins now, a physical reminder of plans that never came to pass. Walking through it is part of the day's rhythm, a moment to absorb the architecture and the guide's account of why it was built and abandoned. The island's history is woven into the stone, and your guide will fill in the details as you move through.

Snorkeling happens in the waters around the island, and the equipment (mask, fins, snorkel) is provided. You'll have time in the water to explore the reefs before the boat returns you to Stone Town. Bring a towel of your own. Bottled water is supplied throughout the tour. The whole outing takes about three hours from start to finish, which means you can book it in the morning and have the afternoon free, or slot it into a day that includes other stops.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel).
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Saving Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling with friends or a small group and want a morning that mixes history, wildlife and water in one outing. The three-hour pace means you're not committed to a full day, and the guide handles the route and the stops, so you just show up and follow along.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

What are the giant tortoises on Prison Island?

The tortoises on Prison Island arrived as a gift from Seychelles in 1919 and have lived on the island ever since. They roam the main compound, and you'll see them during the guided walk through the island's grounds.

Was anyone ever imprisoned in the prison ruins on the island?

No prisoners were ever housed in the prison building on Prison Island. The structure was built but never used for that purpose, and it now stands as ruins that you'll walk through during the tour.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear?

Snorkeling equipment is included in the tour: mask, fins and snorkel are provided. You'll need to bring your own towel. Bottled water is supplied.

How far is Prison Island from Stone Town?

Prison Island is about 5km from Stone Town. The boat ride out is part of the morning, and you'll return by boat at the end of the tour.

Can I arrange hotel pickup for this tour?

Yes, private pickup is available for groups of up to six passengers from hotels near Stone Town (within 2km to 10km of the town center) for $20, or from locations in North Zanzibar for $45, or South Zanzibar for $45. The pickup is round-trip and must be arranged when you book.