Duration
Half day (about 3 hours)
Difficulty
easy
Departure
07:30 AM Daily
Group Size
Small Group / Private
Best Months
Year-round (Peak: Jun - Oct)
Prison Island Tour
A boat leaves from the Stone Town waterfront and takes about 30 minutes to reach Prison Island, also called Changuu.
The Expedition Narrative
A boat leaves from the Stone Town waterfront and takes about 30 minutes to reach Prison Island, also called Changuu. A guide shows you the giant tortoises and the old ruins, and there is time to swim or snorkel in clear water before the boat returns.
You can combine the island with the Nakupenda sandbank and a Stone Town walk in one day. The island is small, so it suits a half day more than a full day.
Daily Itinerary & Travel Movement
Your step-by-step journey from departure point to arrival and return.
Pickup
A driver collects you and takes you to the Stone Town waterfront. Times are approximate.
Board the boat
The boat leaves the waterfront and takes about 30 minutes.
Giant tortoises
A guide shows you the giant tortoises. The island is busy in mid-morning, so we go early.
Ruins and a swim
You see the old ruins and swim or snorkel in clear water.
Boat back
The boat returns to Stone Town.
Back in Stone Town
The driver takes you back to your hotel.
Activity Specifications & At-A-Glance
Prison Island (Changuu)
East Africa Reserve
easy
Comfortable Pace
Half day (about 3 hours)
Roundtrip Experience
100% Protected
Flexible Reschedule
Who This Experience Is Best For
Carefully designed to be seamless, comfortable, and tailored to diverse travel styles.
Equipment & Services Provided
What's included
What Travelers Should Bring
Recommended personal clothing, gear, and essentials for maximum comfort and safety during your experience.
Timing, Schedule & Pickup Protocol
Scheduled daily departure: 07:30 AM Daily.
Runs all year. Morning departures are cooler and quieter. The island is busy in mid-morning, so go early. Pickup time: we confirm it by WhatsApp the evening before.
Exact hotel or resort pickup time is confirmed the evening before departure by your local safari coordinator via WhatsApp and verified at your hotel front desk.
Complimentary pickup from Stone Town and major coastal beach resorts across Zanzibar and Tanzania.
Frequently Asked Questions & Guarantees
What is the weather cancellation & reschedule policy?expand_more
Are park fees, permits, and conservation levies included?expand_more
How does hotel or lodge pickup work?expand_more
Price on request
Choose your date and guests and send an enquiry. We reply with the price and availability.
Custom Safari Coordination?
Our local desks can connect this excursion seamlessly with your lodge and safari transfers.
Complementary Experiences in Tanzania & Zanzibar
Half day (about 4 hours)Michamvi PingweLunch at The Rock Restaurant
The Rock is a restaurant built on a rock in the sea at Michamvi Pingwe, on the east coast. You arrive by a short boat ride at high tide, or on foot across the sand at low tide, and sit down to a seafood lunch with the water all around you. The menu is built on seafood with Zanzibar ingredients and an Italian touch: grilled seafood platters, lobster, the fish of the day and a coconut tiramisu. The tide decides how you arrive, so we check it before we set the time. Tables need a reservation, and we make it for you. Meals are paid at the restaurant, and the prices are higher than in the beach cafes. Many guests follow the lunch with a walk on the quiet beach at Pingwe.
Full dayBwindi Impenetrable National ParkBwindi Gorilla Trek
A trek starts early with a briefing and a guide. You walk through thick forest on steep paths to find a gorilla family, which can take from a couple of hours to most of a day. When you find them, you spend one hour with them from a safe distance. Porters can carry your bag. The walk can be hard, wet and muddy. Visitors must be at least 15 years old and healthy, with no cold or flu, because gorillas can catch human illness. Permits are limited and cost a lot [ADD: current UWA permit price]. Sightings are very likely but never guaranteed.
Full dayVolcanoes National ParkVolcanoes National Park Gorilla Trek
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