Stone Town & Prison Island Day Tour 2026–2027

This full-day tour combines Zanzibar's two most popular short visits in one unhurried itinerary. The morning is spent in Stone Town, the UNESCO-listed old quarter of Zanzibar City, where your guide explains how Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influences shaped the town. Landmarks include the Old Fort, Christ Church Cathedral on the site of the former slave market, the carved wooden doors and the house on Kenyatta Road linked to Freddie Mercury, who was born in Zanzibar in 1946.

From Stone Town you walk to the harbour for a short dhow ride to Prison Island, officially Changuu Island. Built as a prison in the 1890s but never used as one, it later served as a quarantine station and is now home to a sanctuary of Aldabra giant tortoises, some over 100 years old and weighing up to 250 kilograms. You can walk among them, feed them leaves and hear about the conservation programme. Snorkelling in the bay is optional.

Lunch is at a local restaurant before the drive back to your hotel. The tour suits first-time visitors, families and anyone interested in both history and wildlife, and it is one of our four Zanzibar day tours.

Prison Island (Changuu) is a small, low island a short boat ride from Stone Town, and for most visitors it is worth the trip: it combines close encounters with giant tortoises, a quiet beach and a little-known chapter of Zanzibar's history in about two hours. It is best for families and first-time visitors; if you only want beach time, the northern beaches suit you better.

The Giant Tortoise Sanctuary

The island's Aldabra giant tortoises arrived in 1919 as a gift from the Seychelles. Several dozen now live in a protected enclosure, some more than 100 years old and weighing up to about 250 kilograms. Staff provide leaves for visitors to feed them, and the tortoises are calm and used to people, which makes this one of the easiest wildlife encounters in Zanzibar for young children.

A Prison That Was Never Used

Despite its name, the island never held prisoners. The prison building was completed in the 1890s under the British administration, but it was used instead as a quarantine station for travellers suspected of carrying yellow fever. Your guide shows you the remaining buildings and explains how the island fitted into Zanzibar's trading history.

Beach and Snorkelling

Around the island the water is usually shallow, clear and calm, and there is a small beach for a swim. Snorkelling gear can be hired on the island for about $10; it is a relaxed spot for a first snorkel, and for a full day on the reefs see our Safari Blue trip.

This tour suits travellers who want Zanzibar's history and an easy wildlife encounter in a single, gently paced day. It works especially well for:

• First-time visitors who want to see Stone Town properly with a guide
• Families, since children usually enjoy feeding the tortoises and the walking is easy
• Cruise passengers and travellers with one free day between flights or a safari
• Travellers staying in Stone Town, who have the shortest transfer times

If you would prefer a spice farm to the island, choose the Stone Town & spice farm tour; for more wildlife, the Prison Island & Jozani Forest tour adds the red colobus monkeys.

Dress modestly for Stone Town, with shoulders and knees covered, and pack swimwear in a day bag for the island. The day mixes a walk through a conservative old town with time on a boat and a beach, so plan for both.

• Light clothing that covers shoulders and knees, or a scarf or shawl to cover up
• Comfortable shoes for uneven streets, plus sandals for the boat and beach
• Swimwear, a small towel and a dry bag for your phone
• Sun hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen
• Cash in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings for snorkel hire, optional museum entry and tips

Visiting Respectfully

• Feed the tortoises only the leaves provided, and never sit on or lift them
• Ask before photographing people in Stone Town's markets and lanes
• During Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in the street during daylight hours

The tour runs year-round. The drier months, June to October and January to February, offer the most comfortable walking and the calmest boat crossings. In the long rains, roughly April and May, expect showers and occasionally rougher water, but the tour normally still runs.

If you are planning a longer stay, our Zanzibar tours page compares every day trip and package.

Choose this tour for a balance of history and wildlife. The table shows how it compares with our other day tours.

Lower prices apply to groups of four or more; the higher figure is for a solo traveller. All four tours are private and include hotel pick-up, a guide and lunch. See every option on our 1-day Zanzibar tours page.