Zanzibar: Stone Town, Prison Island & Nakupenda Snorkelling

Three stops, one boat ride, lunch in the middle of the ocean

You visit Stone Town's colonial quarter with a guide, take a 30-minute boat ride to Prison Island to see giant tortoises and a museum, then snorkel at Nakupenda sandbank before eating lunch on the sand. Transport, guide, snorkelling equipment and a seafood meal are all included, and you return to your hotel in the evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Stone Town3h
2. Changuu Island2h · entry included
3. Nakupenda Beach3h · entry included

Explore Stone Town and nearby islands

• Visit Stone Town historic district
• See Old Fort and House of Wonder
• Explore Old Dispensary and Mercury House
• Take 30-minute boat ride to Prison Island
• Learn history and see giant tortoises
• Visit Prison Island museum
• Boat ride to Nakupenda sandbank
• Snorkel in clear Indian Ocean waters
• Enjoy tropical fruits, drinks, and seafood lunch

The experience

You're standing in Stone Town and realizing you've only got one day to see it all: the old fort, the House of Wonder, the layers of Portuguese, Omani, Indian and Swahili history stacked into narrow streets. Your guide walks you through the oldest part of East Africa, pointing out the buildings that actually matter instead of just the ones on the postcard. The colonial architecture is there, but so are the stories: which doors belonged to merchants, which rooms held prisoners, how the city changed hands and never quite forgot any of it.

Then you're on a boat for 30 minutes, watching Stone Town shrink behind you, heading toward Changuu Island: Prison Island, as locals call it. Built as a prison in 1893, it became a quarantine hospital, and now it's home to giant tortoises that were moved here decades ago because the city got too crowded for them. Your guide introduces you to the animals, walks you through the museum full of Zanzibar's actual history, and you get the sense that this island is less a tourist stop and more a place where something real happened and still does. The museum isn't polished. It's just there, holding what people need to remember.

The last leg is Nakupenda: the sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and yes, the name really does mean "I love you" in Swahili. You arrive at what looks like a vanishing island: white sand, clear water so shallow you can see the bottom, and nothing else around you for miles. This is where you snorkel. The marine life is actually there, not a promise, an actual thing you see. After you're done in the water, lunch arrives: seafood platter, tropical fruits, soft drinks, all served on the sand while you're still wet and the breeze is coming off the ocean. It's the kind of meal that tastes different because of where you're eating it.

The whole day runs on one schedule, one guide, one boat. You don't arrange transport between stops, don't negotiate with drivers, don't figure out how to get snorkelling gear. It's all included: the equipment, the lunch, the fees, the person who knows what you're actually looking at. You get picked up from your hotel and dropped back when it's done.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a private guide, all entrance fees and taxes, bottled water throughout the day, snorkelling equipment at Nakupenda, and a seafood platter lunch with tropical fruits and soft drinks served on the sandbank.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (24 to 73 years) · Senior (74 and older) · Youth (11 to 23 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Wise Tour Guide

Is this one for you?Book this if you want Stone Town, Prison Island and snorkelling all in one day without arranging three separate transport routes and managing timing yourself. The fixed itinerary is what makes all three stops fit into a single afternoon and evening.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 23 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

How long is the full day tour?

The itinerary covers three main stops (Stone Town, Prison Island and Nakupenda) with a 30-minute boat ride between Stone Town and Prison Island. Total duration is a full day, with return to your hotel in the evening.

What's included in the tour?

Private transportation, a guide, bottled water, snorkelling equipment, lunch (seafood platter with tropical fruits and soft drinks), and all fees and taxes.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes, snorkelling equipment is included. You use it at Nakupenda sandbank during the afternoon portion of the tour.

What is Prison Island and why is it called that?

Prison Island (Changuu Island) was built as a prison in 1893, later used as a quarantine hospital, and now houses giant tortoises. A museum on the island covers Zanzibar's history and culture.

What is Nakupenda?

Nakupenda is a sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The name means "I love you" in Swahili. It's where you snorkel and eat lunch during the tour.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility concerns?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, with accessible transportation and surfaces. However, the boat rides and snorkelling involve water activities that may not suit all mobility needs. Check specific requirements with the operator.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen, a hat, a towel, and swimwear. Snorkelling equipment is provided. Water and lunch are included.