Prison Island
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Port
Zanzibar, Tanzania
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$210
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Transfer from the quayside to a beach close to Stone Town. Here you will board a traditional dhow for a leisurely sail to Prison Island, once used as a transit base by Arab slave traders.
In 1893, a British General - Lloyd Matthews was ordered to build a jail on the island. The purpose of the prison was to detain criminals from the Tanganyika (now Tanzania) mainland and also from the Zanzibar archipelago. However, the prison ending up as a quarantine center for the people from Zanzibar, Kenya and Uganda who were suffering from a yellow-fever epidemic. It was also a treatment center for persons suffering from leprosy.
Visit the ruins of the prison, complete with crumbling walls. Barrack-type hospital rooms and parts of a boiler for boiling the bed-sheets are still in place.
The island has spectacular coral reefs which, depending on the weather pattern, offer snorkeling in crystal-clear waters. Set out in search of the colorful tropical fish or just relax on the white-sand beach. For the more active, hiking one of the trails is an option worth taking. Also to be found on the island is a family of giant tortoises imported from the Seychelles in the 19th century. The original tortoises were brought from Aldabra, and the island was identified as the best sanctuary to assist in the preservation of the species, as they came under threat from poachers and hunters alike.
Re-board the dhow and sail back to the main island. Settle in for a panoramic drive through Stone Town en route back to the pier.
Please note:
Once the dhow boat arrives at the sandbank, guests must be able to disembark via a small ladder and wade ashore. Expect water to be up to knee-level. Wear your swimsuit under your clothing; bring a towel, sunscreen and a hat. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Tour requires walking on unpaved, uneven surfaces. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. In the tropics, the temperature and humidity can be quite high. Wear light, layered cotton clothing; bring a sunhat and sunglasses. Zanzibar is a very special place and keeping it so means that change will happen only at the pace that suits the people that live here. You can show your respect for local custom by dressing conservatively. The local people are very appreciative when visitors are respectful of this dress code: bare shoulders, midriffs and thighs are not acceptable; wearing long sleeves and minimum of capri-length pants or skirts is optimal. Photography of police officers or persons in uniform is not allowed. The order of sights visited may vary. Please obtain permission before taking photographs of the local people. Your guide will assist you with this.