Prison Island Tour: Tortoises and History

Embark on a thrilling adventure in Zanzibar’s Prison Island and Jozani Forest. Discover the island’s intriguing history and explore the tortoise sanctuary. Then, delve into the lush forest, encounter Red Colobus monkeys, and stroll along the mangrove swamp boardwalk.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Prison Island - Changuu Private Island - Experience the habitat of the giant land tortoises and explore the historical prison, which is no longer in use. Gain insights into the island’s past. Starting from January 15, 2024, the entrance fee for Prison Island will be $22 USD.
  • Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park - Discover the natural forest home…
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Boat transportation to Prison Island
  • Prison Island entrance fees and guided tour
  • Jozani Forest entry tickets and guided tour
  • Experienced driver and tour guide
  • Bottled water
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Tip(optional)
Additional Information

Experience a unique place called Prison Island and learn more about its history. It gets its name from the prison built to condemn Zanzibari citizens to be isolated from the island. The prison was previously owned by an Arab to house his rebellious slaves, the prison was never actually used, and the island is now home to a tortoise sanctuary and a…

Location
Prison Island - Changuu Private Island
Off the Coast From Stone Town, Shangani
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.0
(2 Ratings)
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Beverley_w
Jun 18, 2025
Fab! - Great correspondence with Beach Safari Holidays from the go. Received a WhatsApp immediately with clear instructions. So pleased we booked this trip through Viator! Jozani was fab, well worth the trip. We saw loads of Red Colobus Monkeys, which are only native to Zanzibar. Shout out to our guide Sultan, he was absolutely fantastic! So passionate about wildlife, as are we. He made the excursion, and we're so thankful we had him as our guide! Also a special shout out to our driver Cholo! What a top bloke. He gave us so much local knowledge and insight to Zanzibar life. We're so grateful to have spent this time with such fab people. Prison Island is o.k. Really enjoyed the boat trip over. There's not a lot to do on the Island, but the beach is Amazing! You'll get pestered in Stonetown for excursions, but really I would advise to go through Beach Safari Holidays. It was seamless, well organised and turned our excursions into a complete experience :)
Review provided by Viator
Heather_r
Jul 23, 2025
Poor experience and disappointed - Company that supplied very disorganised. Turned up very late,no water, poor English and boat ride totally dangerous. This was not necessarily the guides fault but management at a higher level. Far better value and organised if we had booked it on arrival as we discovered next day after doing another tour with another company. Great to see the monkey's but that's all. Now in considerable pain from the boat ride back. Well over priced
Review provided by Viator
From $70
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).