Prison Island
1 Day Trip -Prison Island
- 1 Day
- 2 Age
- Beach Adventure
Price: $105/ person. (Shared Transport)
A day trip to Prison Island, located just off the coast of Zanzibar, is an unforgettable experience that combines history, wildlife, and stunning natural beauty. Here’s what a typical visit looks like:
Day Trip to Prison Island
Departure/Return Location: Your Hotel/Lodge
Departure Time: Please arrive by 7:15 AM for a departure at 7:30 AM.
Return Time: Approximately 7:30 PM.
Dress Code: Lightweight, comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes are recommended. Neutral colors are best for wildlife viewing. Consider layers as the weather can change.
Included:
- Entrance fees (for non-residents)
- Guided
- Car Hire
- Boat Cost
TOUR ITINERARY
Morning: Departure from Stone Town
Your journey begins with a boat ride from Zanzibar’s Stone Town, a short 25-minute trip to the island. The boat ride offers beautiful views of the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, with the opportunity to spot dolphins and other marine life. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by the island’s unique charm, which is both serene and rich in history.
Exploring the Historical Prison
Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island, is famous for its former prison and quarantine station. The prison was built in the 19th century, initially intended to house rebellious slaves, but it was never used for this purpose. Instead, it became a quarantine station for yellow fever patients in the early 20th century. You’ll have the chance to explore the ruins, with a local guide explaining the island’s fascinating history.
Meeting the Giant Tortoises
One of the highlights of Prison Island is the chance to interact with the island’s famous giant Aldabra tortoises. These gentle creatures, some over 100 years old, roam freely around the island and are a conservation success story. Visitors can feed them and learn about the efforts to protect these rare species.
Snorkeling and Swimming
After soaking in the history and meeting the tortoises, the island’s clear waters offer a perfect opportunity to go snorkeling. The coral reefs surrounding the island are home to a diverse range of marine life, including colorful fish, sea turtles, and occasionally, rays. Snorkeling gear is usually provided as part of the trip, allowing you to explore the underwater world at your leisure.
Lunch and Relaxation
A picnic or light lunch is typically served on the island, allowing you to relax and take in the natural beauty surrounding you. The peaceful atmosphere makes it a great place to unwind, enjoy the view of the ocean, and listen to the sounds of nature.
Afternoon: Return to Stone Town
After a day of exploration, you’ll board the boat for the return journey to Stone Town. The return trip offers more chances to relax and take in the coastal scenery, completing a perfect day trip filled with history, wildlife, and the wonders of Zanzibar’s natural beauty.
Whether you’re a history buff, a nature enthusiast, or someone looking to relax on a picturesque island, Prison Island offers a memorable and enriching day trip from Zanzibar.
Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island, is a small island located just off the coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania. Known for its rich history and natural beauty, it was once used as a prison for rebellious slaves in the 19th century, though it was never fully operational for this purpose. The island later became a quarantine station for yellow fever patients. Today, it is famous for its population of giant Aldabra tortoises, some of which are over 100 years old. Visitors can explore the historical ruins, interact with the tortoises, and enjoy snorkeling in the surrounding clear waters, making it a popular day trip destination from Zanzibar’s Stone Town.
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Amazing experience seeing wild animals up close - Plex Africa arranged everything 100% perfect. We were in a two day trip in Nyerere National Park. Communication was smooth, taxi drivers were right in time for pick up, speak... read more good English and are polite and professional. We travelled with two heavy luggage full of diving gear. The luggage was too big to take in the small plane so our driver Morris offered to take them to his home and picked us up next day from the airport with the luggage and drove to our hotel. In Nyerere our guide Songoro went over and beyond for finding the best spots to see animals and action up close during the game drive. I can highly recommend!
Sightsee19279404172
October 16, 2024Great First Safari Experience! - What differentiated Plex from the other companies for us was their responsiveness during the booking process, also in the run-up to the safari starting and the transfer arrangements before and... read more after. Eddy always provided the required information and reassurance exactly when we needed it, regarding all of the key arrangements.
When we arrived in Neyere we were met off the plane by the Guide (Omary) and Driver (Keresa) and the safari began almost immediately as we drove into the National Park and began to observe a wonderful array of animals. Omary was extremely knowledgeable regarding their identification and behaviour (which included the stunning birdlife). He was also flexible and adapted to what we wanted to see (this included the wonderful old Baobab trees that he knew I loved). He also has great observational skills and was able to identify highly camouflaged rare birds from a long distance (e.g. Nightjar).
We stayed at the Selous Safari Lodge which we would also highly recommend. The staff were fantastic and made us feel so welcome. The rooms are well equipped and comfortable and we enjoyed swimming in the pool. Breakfast and dinner were also of a high standard.
Overall we had a great experience with Plex and would have no hesitation in recommending them to other people who are looking for a great African safari experience!BARRY L
November 18, 2024An unforgettable adventure! - We did a one-day safari with Plex Africa Safari. From the first communication everything went smoothly. The questions we asked for the organization of our day trip were answered quickly... read more and correctly. Everything was well organised, from the pick-up at the hotel, the safari and the return journey to our hotel. The safari was amazing. Jafari was our amazing guide and took our wishes into account. He answered all of our questions and was very patient when we took photos. Jafari also had a lot of knowledge of the animals that live in Nyerere and told us all about them with lots of enthousiasm. Breakfast at the Baobab tree was super nice and lunch was very tasty. We would definitely recommend this day trip and our guide to any nature lovers.
Wander435482
November 7, 2024 -
Wonderful experience - What am amazing experience our 2 day safari was. I spent ages researching and was pleased to choose Plex. Edward, was great in responding really quickly to any questions... read more I had, all the staff were so friendly and helpful from Morris who dropped and collected us to the airport, to our safari guide Jafari, our drivers Eugenio, G and captain Kasimi in the boat they all ensured we had the best experience. All arrangements were stress free and were seamless.
The safari day inside the park was one we’ll never forget, we saw Giraffes, Antelopes, Impalas, Warthogs, Wilderbeast, Zebras, Hippos , Crocodiles, Baboons and our favourite Elephants. Our driver Eugenio was fantastic at taking us off the main roads to have the best chance of seeing so many animals and Jafari our guide was very knowledgable and informative. All the food was delicious and drinks were provided on the jeep. We were met at 8.30am off the plane and were dropped at the Selous lodge at 6.30pm, it was a whole day driving vast distances around the park, and the scenery and animals were fantastic. The Selous lodge was lovely, with a pool so a wonderful place to unwind. All the staff again were so friendly and helpful. Day 2 Jafari picked us up again and we went on a boat safari seeing hippos, crocodiles, and lots of wonderful birds, followed by a village tour to get a feel of local life in Tanzania and a school visit with lots of wonderfully curious children keen to show us their English and counting skills.
We had such an amazing experience, the Plex staff really did do their utmost to ensure we had a fantastic time. We felt it was good value for money. Just bear in mind the extra tips for the drivers, guide, captain etc It’s been the highlight of our holiday and an experience we’ll never forget. Thanks Plex!waders10
August 15, 2024Unforgettable! - My family and I spent an amazing day at Nyerere national park with our excited and knowledgeable guide Jafari. He taught us a lot about the bigger and smaller animals... read more living inside of the national park and made the experience unforgettable. I would highly recommend this experience and guide to anyone who loves nature!
Count S
November 7, 2024Fantastic one-day safari to Mikumi National Park from Zanzibar - We booked a one day safari to Mikumi National Park from Zanzibar. Communication with Eddy beforehand was excellent, and everything was really well-organsed. The guides were great, really well-informed, and... read more we saw a good variety of wildlife, including lions. We would highly recommend Plex Africa Safaris.
Anna B
November 4, 2024
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