ChanguuChanguu Island (also known as Kibandiko, Prison or Quarantine Island) is a small island 5.6 km northwest of Stone Town, Unguja, Zanzibar. The island is around 800m long and 230m wide at its broadest point. The island saw use as a prison for rebellious slaves in the 1860s and also functioned as a coral mine.

Changuu Island - Prison Island

A prompt departure at 7:00 AM.

Approximately 4:00 to 6:30 PM.

Comfortable clothing and hiking boots/rubber

Village & waterfall fees

Local guide

Private Transport

Lunch box

1,5l bottle of water

All required taxes

Gratuities

Tips

Any personal items of nature

Prison island, also known as Changuu Island, lies about 30 minutes by boat from Stone town. This island was once owned by Arabs and saw use for confinement of refractory slaves, but no prisoners were housed here at the time. Instead, the island was used as a quarantine station for yellow fever epidemics.

This island was later sold to Lloyd Matthew, who built the prison. The reason for building the prison was to send violent criminals from Tanganyika mainland to the prison island, which later ended to be used as quarantine facility. This island with rich history is ideal for a walking safariThe view of the stone town from the island is breathtaking, especially at night.

Currently the island is occupied by an Aldabra giant tortoise sanctuary, which is a major tourist lure. The oldest tortoise is 192 years old! These turtles are not indigenous and are magisterial creatures, weighing in at an average of 200kg. Some are as old as 100 years, or even 150 years! You can feed them for a fee paid at the island, but you have to be careful of their snapping beaks.

Snorkeling

Besides just history, the island is very rich in marine life, which gives the opportunity for snorkeling

Tortoise

The old prison still remains standing, providing shelter for some of the giant tortoises which can now be found on this island.

Visit Llyod Matthew’s architecture

The prison island ended up being used as a quarantine center instead of a prison, used for yellow fever epidemics that once raged through the region.

Schedule: 09:00 - 12:00 or 13:30 - 16:30

Begins: Seafront - Stone Town

Ends: Seafront - Stone Town

ActivitiesThe prison and the giant tortoises