Prison Island (Day Trip from Zanzibar)
Just a short boat ride from Stone Town, Prison Island, also called Changuu, named after the Changu fish found near its shores. Floats quietly in the Indian Ocean, hiding a past much darker than its stunning beaches suggest. Though only 800 meters long, this little island holds stories of human suffering and colonial ambition beneath its turquoise waters and swaying palms.
In the 1860s, the Sultan of Zanzibar gifted the island to two Arab slave traders, who used it to imprison rebellious slaves. Later, in 1893, the British built a prison here, but ironically, it never held a single inmate. The grand stone structures stood empty, watching over the sea in haunting stillness.
By the 1920s, the British turned the island into a quarantine station for people arriving in East Africa. Travelers were kept under observation for weeks before being allowed to continue their journey. Today, the old hospital buildings still stand, weathered by time, as reminders of an island with many lives.
Facts About Prison Island.
- You can still visit the old quarantine building and the ruins of the original prison, which now serve as a small museum and a reminder of the island’s layered history.
- Besides tortoises and history, Prison Island offers crystal-clear waters ideal for snorkeling, sunbathing, and swimming.
- Prison Island is only about 6 km from Stone Town, making it a perfect half-day trip, just a 20–30-minute boat ride.
- The island is famous for its giant Aldabra tortoises, some of which are over 150 years old. These gentle giants were gifted from the Seychelles in 1919, and the oldest ones weigh over 200 kg!
