Prison Island (Changuu): giant tortoises, entry fee, boat and tour from Stone Town
Prison Island, locally called Changuu, is a small island about twenty minutes by boat from Stone Town. A prison was built there in the late 19th century but, according to guidebooks, it never held prisoners: the island served mostly as a quarantine station. Today people come for the sanctuary of giant Aldabra tortoises, brought from the Seychelles, for the prison ruins and for a swim in clear water. It is the easiest and cheapest boat trip from Stone Town, as a half day. The prices below are ranges taken from booking sites and travel guides in October 2026: no recent official source was found, so confirm the price before paying.
Highlights
The giant Aldabra tortoises
They live loose in a wooded enclosure and let you come close. You can feed them leaves (the keeper provides them) and stroke the shell on their back, but not the head. The oldest ones are among the oldest animals on the island.
The island from the sea
A wooded islet with a long jetty, surrounded by turquoise water. The prison ruins take a few minutes to see; most of the time goes to the tortoises and to swimming or snorkelling off the beach.
Practical info
Tips
- The price has two parts: the boat and the island entry. For the boat, one guide gives about 30 to 40 USD return on a shared boat, often negotiable. For entry the sources disagree: 4 to 5 USD for foreigners according to several guides, up to about 10 USD (25,000 TZS) according to one operator, sometimes paid in dollars on the spot. Half-day packages online range from about 15 to over 100 USD per adult; check whether the island entry, lunch and snorkel gear are included. For a full day, the most common package combines Prison Island with the Nakupenda sandbank and a seafood lunch. Avoid touts at the harbour: compare two or three prices from established agencies. Bring sunscreen, a hat and swimwear; there is little shade on the beach.
How to get there
By boat from the Stone Town waterfront (near Forodhani Gardens), about 20 to 30 minutes depending on the offer. Agencies also offer hotel pickup from Stone Town, and sometimes from the north or east coast with a transfer supplement (allow over an hour by road).
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
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