Zanzibar Prison Island & Giant Tortoises Tour
We don't just show you Prison Island, we make you feel it. While others rush through, we give you more unhurried time to discover hidden ruins most visitors never see. Our local guides share real family stories, not rehearsed scripts, bringing the island's slave trade and quarantine history to life. You'll leave with more than photos, you'll carry the island's soul with you.
Next departure tomorrow at 09:00
Starts in 14h 46m
Our Tour Guide
What makes your tour different?
Most tours rush you through Prison Island in under an hour. We give you 1 hour and 30 minutes of unhurried time to explore hidden ruins most visitors miss, plus a local storyteller who shares real family history, not a script. Same island, deeper experience.
Overview
Step onto Prison Island—not simply as a tourist, but as a traveler through time.
Glide across the turquoise waters as your local guide shares the island’s layered history. It was once used to detain rebellious enslaved people, before a prison complex was built in the late 19th century. The prison was never used as intended, and the island later became a quarantine station.
Tour Itinerary
Insider story
Despite its name, the prison complex never housed prisoners. It was later used as a quarantine station during yellow fever outbreaks. Today, giant Aldabra tortoises roam an island whose famous prison was never used for its intended purpose.
Meeting point at Forodhani Park
Meet your friendly, experienced guide inside Forodhani Park at the bandstand for a greeting and an introduction to the Prison Island experience.
Take the boat/fiber boat
Your guide will already have arranged suitable transport in accordance with what our tour experience requires. Hop in and set off.
Arrive at Prison Island
After arriving, your guide will take you straight to the prison complex for detailed information about the island's secrets and a visit to the old quarantine station.
Meet the giant tortoises
Afterward, the guide will take you to the tortoise sanctuary. This is the moment when you will see them and enjoy taking as many pictures as you can, while admiring the beauty of these centuries-old creatures.
Swim in the pristine, turquoise water
No Prison Island tour is complete without swimming in its crystal-clear, mirror-like waters and relaxing on powdery white-sand beaches. The turquoise sea gleams like glass, an unforgettable tropical escape.
Departure
After all that relaxation, it's time to ride back by boat to Stone Town. Arrive in Stone Town and say farewell.
What's Included
- Round-trip transfer by local boat
- Professional local guide
- 90-minute guided Prison Island tour
- Guided visit to the tortoise sanctuary
- Life jackets
What's Excluded
- Government tax
- Prison Island entrance fee
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (available for an additional fee)
- Food and drinks
- Tips
Important Information
WHAT TO BRING
ADDITIONAL FEES
LANGUAGE
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our Tour Guide
Next departure tomorrow at 09:00
Starts in 14h 46m