Prison Island-Changuu Private Island Travel Guide and Map

Experience the most incredible wildlife spectacles, beach life, accomodation & safaris with us.

Prison Island-Changuu Private Island is home to incredible wildlife

Overview

Changuu Island is also known as Prison Island. It is located about 5 km from Zanzibar. It is about 800 meters long. It is about 230 meters wide. In the mid-1800s, this small island was not habited. It was sold to Arabs to hold enslaved people. In the late 19th century, the British colonial governor bought it to build an isolated prison. But it never served this purpose. After its completion, the institution was used as a quarantine center for yellow fever. Today, the government owns the institution and it serves as a tourist attraction.

Featured Prison Island-Changuu Private Island Trips

Our trips are crafted with an idea of leaving you with great memories. Guided by your budget, interests and the season of the year, we will create an amazing tour plan. Our tour consultants are ready to make your travel dream come true.

FAQs

Where is Prison Island located? Prison Island or Changuu Island is located on the island of Zanzibar. It is about 3.5 miles northwest of Stone Town. This is about 30 minutes boat ride to the island. It is situated at 6.1195° S and 39.1664° E. It is easily accessible from Stone Town via boat trip.

When is the best time to visit Prison Island? Amazing Prison Island-Changuu Private Island tours and safaris are okay at any time of the year. But the best time to visit is during the dry season. This is between June and October. This season receives less or no rainfall making it possible to enjoy most activities on the island. January to February is also a great time to visit the island.

How to get to Prison Island; To get to Prison Island, you need to fly to Zanzibar Island from your country or location. From here, you enjoy a drive to Stone Town. Then, you will enjoy a boat trip to Prison Island. Your tour operator will take care of transfers from the airport to the island.

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Things to do at Changuu Island

See the giant land tortoises of Prison Island or Changuu Island

In 1919, Seychelles gifted Changuu four tortoises. By the 1950s, these animals had reproduced to more than 200. They quickly started to be more than the human population on the island. Today, Changuu has become one of the best places to see giant tortoises. They can be as heavy as 250 kg. These animals can be about 122 cm in length. They have a longer lifespan. They can live up to 200 years. You can see their ages on their shells. Many tourists flock to the island to see the rare Aldabra tortoises. Don’t forget to carry a good camera. You will have a lifetime chance to take up-close photos with the giant tortoises.

Swim

After exploring the island, you can go for a refreshing dip in crystal clear waters. You can enjoy swimming to refresh your body.

Snorkelling

During amazing Prison Island-Changuu Private Island tours and safaris, you can spend time snorkelling. This is a great chance to search for vibrant coral reefs and colourful tropical fish. You can enjoy a private snorkelling trip or a group tour. Snorkelling equipment is available on the island.

Sunbathing

You can also just relax on the sandbanks. This is a popular activity during amazing Prison Island-Changuu Private Island tours and safaris. Prison Island is usually peaceful and quiet. This makes it a great destination for sunbathing. Choose an activity that makes you feel better while on the island.

Walking Tours

Tourists enjoy beach walks while visiting Prison Island. This involves taking a stroll along the beautiful beaches on the island. Apart from beach walks, you can enjoy walking tours in the forest area. It is a great chance to see many species of wildlife. For instance, you will see many species of butterflies. You will also see peacocks and duikers among other species.

Your Accommodation Options in Prison Island-Changuu

We have several accommodation options in Prison Island-Changuu Private Island which you can choose fromm depending on your budget and other interests. We have incredibly good hotels, lodges, and camps that offer good services which we believe all meets your expectations. With our fantastic relationships with these facilities, we can assure you that you’d definitely get value for your money in the facility that we’ll book you for your accommodation. Among others, some of them include the following:

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