Tanzania · PRISON ISLAND TOURS
The prison was never used as one; the giant tortoises came later and are the reason to go. The 15 below differ mainly on what else is bolted on, whether lunch is real and how long you get on the sandbank afterwards.
You’ll tour Stone Town with guides such as Hassan, Ali, or Ibrahim, taste spices and Swahili food at a working farm, then take a boat to Prison Island. Allow 6 to 9 hours, wear sturdy shoes, and bring cash for shopping and tips. Private and shared options are available.
“Great way to experience The culture activities of Zanzibar! Highly recommend”
Spend 6 to 9 hours boating from Stone Town to Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank. Explore old prison cells, see giant Aldabra tortoises, swim or snorkel, and eat a fresh seafood barbecue with fruit. Guides such as Milano, Abdul, Juma, and Sanghi are known for friendly service and lively local stories.
“Abdul our guide and all the staff made it a very memorable trip and experience. They deserve a bonus.”
Spend eight hours exploring Zanzibar with hotel pickup, a boat ride to Changuu Island, a guided Stone Town walk, and a spice farm visit with lunch. Guides such as Abdul, Isaac, and Feisal are praised for clear local insight. Expect sun, walking, an often-late lunch, and a full day of history, food, and giant tortoises.
“Amazing day trip with a lot of information about each area and the tortoises. Our guide was great and made us feel comfortable and answered our questions. Would recommend this trip to anyone”
Join guides such as Salim or Bahama for a dhow trip from Stone Town to Changuu Island, where you’ll see giant Aldabra tortoises and old prison ruins. Then spend several hours at Nakupenda Sandbank swimming, snorkeling, and eating a fresh BBQ lunch. Groups can be private, and vegetarian or chicken meals are available if arranged ahead.
“Overall it was an enjoyable experience. The fruits were delicious. The food was enough (some traditional dishes and sea food with fries). The tour itself, I consider, it could have been more informative. The staff was very helpful.”
Spend 7 to 8 hours visiting Prison Island, Nakupenda Sandbank, and Stone Town from one $71 tour. You will cruise by wooden boat or dhow, meet Aldabra tortoises, swim, eat a seafood barbecue, and walk Stone Town with a multilingual guide such as Muhammad, Yasser, or Suliman.
“At first felt rushed with having to get to the sandbank but on a whole the day was a amazing,we loved it especially the tortoises”
Spend 5 to 8 hours moving from Zanzibar’s fragrant spice farms to Stone Town’s carved doors and Prison Island’s giant tortoises. Guides such as Fahad, Ali, Mazi, and Haji lead the day in several languages. The $55 price includes transport, lunch, boat rides, and selected entry fees, but the schedule is long and walking is not suitable for everyone.
“We had a great day! The driver was precisely on time to pick us up. Comfortable drive in the van with AC. The Spice farm was really interesting and the lunch there was tasty. Then a boat ride to Prison Island and a walk through Stone Town. Mazi, our guide was very friendly and had a lot of good stories. He also made sure that we were not wondering off. There was plenty of time for sightseeing and shopping. Also compliment to Mudrick, the driver.”
Spend 6 to 9 hours with a multilingual guide visiting Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank by small motorized dhow. Meet Aldabra giant tortoises, snorkel, swim, and eat a generous seafood barbecue with fruit and drinks. Guides such as Jeff, Milano, and Andul are known for keeping the day lively and well organized.
“Amazing tour guide and captain. Nakupenda was beautiful and prison island was great. Snorkeling equipment was provided and lunch/drinks were plentiful. Worth the money and would do it again”
Spend about eight hours with a private guide exploring Stone Town, Prison Island, and a countryside spice farm. You’ll ride a boat with snorkeling gear, meet giant tortoises, taste tropical fruit, and learn how cloves, vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom grow. Guides such as Amina, Ibrahim, and Amira have earned strong praise, though service can vary.
“Our tour guide Ibrahim had no interest in providing tour services. I asked him how long he's been a guide and if he likes giving tours. He said he didn't enjoy providing tours and that this job was only temporary. Such a disappointment. He merRead more”
Join guides such as Milano or Sangi for a full-day Zanzibar outing by van and small dhow. Visit Prison Island’s giant Aldabra tortoises, snorkel in clear water, then swim, relax, and eat a seafood barbecue at Nakupenda Sandbank. Hotel pickup, equipment, fruit, drinks, and vegetarian food are included, though options may be basic.
“The tour was absolutely amazing, and the value for money was outstanding. Our guide Milano (I called him Dr. Milano) was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. He helped in every situation and even went above and beyond by offering tips and assistance beyond the tour, which I’ve never experienced on my many travels before. The organizer Jeff (Mulele) was also extremely helpful and assisted us for free with transportation after the tour. We had plenty of time on Prison Island to see the giant tortoises—an unforgettable experience since these animals are so rare to encounter in other countries. The sandbank was breathtaking, and I had never seen anything so beautiful before.…”
This private, full-day Zanzibar tour combines Mnemba Atoll snorkeling, dolphin watching, Prison Island’s giant tortoises, and a swim with sea turtles at Salaam Cave. Guides such as Regalo, Abdallah, and Mohammed add local insight, while private pickup, a driver, water, and gear keep the day simple. Lunch at The Rock Restaurant costs extra.
“It was a lovely day! Regalo, the guide, and Khalid, the driver have been fantastic the whole time and very professional. We had an intense and beautiful day in some of the most wonderful corners of Zanzibar. We first chased the dolphins, Regalo and the captain were so nice to spend as much as needed to ensure a wonderful view and swimming experience. Then we snorkled in Mnemba. Beautiful spot, wondrous colours. Then we moved to Salaam Cave to have a unique experience with sea turtles. God I'll never forget being surrounded by so many of them, what a blast! Then we visited Paje beach and The Rock and Regalo…”
Take a private 3-hour boat trip from Stone Town to Prison Island with a guide such as Mohammed, Musa, or Babu Tours’ other multilingual guides. Walk through the island’s prison and chapel buildings, meet giant tortoises, then swim or snorkel in clear water. Boarding involves walking through shallow water, so sandals and easy movement matter.
“Overall, we had a great experience. We communicated with the company via WhatsApp and they were very responsive and helpful. Transportation was arranged for us through our booking. We reached out to Babu Tours and Safaris the day before via WhatsApp and exchanged information regarding our hotel, time of pick up, etc. Mohammed was our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable, kind, patient and took a lot of pride in sharing the history and culture with us. I asked many questions and he answered me with enthusiasm every time! Unfortunately, the weather was not great, but Mohammed did not let that dampen his spirit or ours! Very important to note:…”
Spend 7 to 8 hours seeing Zanzibar’s main sights with a private guide. Walk through Stone Town, visit the slave market and Freddie Mercury’s birthplace, taste spices and local food at Jambo Spice Farm, then cross to Prison Island to see giant Aldabra tortoises. Guides such as Mady, Masoud, Ismail, and Abkar are known for strong local storytelling.
“Our guide on this tour was Mady. I highly recommend him. His knowledge and enthusiasm for Zanzibar's history is fantastic and greatly adds to this tour.”
Spend six hours with a small group exploring Stone Town’s markets, Arab Fort, slave market, curved doors, and Freddie Mercury’s former home, then boat to Prison Island. Guides such as Haji, Hamdu, and Hassan add strong local context. Swimming is possible, but weather can change the beach portion.
“Our guide was excellent he paced the tour well, tailoring it to our physical limitations and interests, highly recommended.”
Spend six hours with a guide such as Abu, Musa, or Abubakr, combining Stone Town’s coral-stone lanes, slave market, Old Fort, and local markets with a boat trip to Prison Island. See giant tortoises, learn island history, and snorkel or relax before hotel drop-off.
“Our guide, Abubakr, was amazing and so full of knowledge.”
From Stone Town, you’ll boat to Prison Island for old cells and giant Aldabra tortoises, then spend time on Nakupenda Sandbank with snorkeling, seafood, fruit, and soft drinks. The $42 price excludes a $21 cash entry fee, and hotel pickup is an optional add-on. Ask about transfer costs and the day’s timing before booking.
“Fatal el guía vino 2 horas tarde con la excusa que no nos encontraba Tuvimos problemas con todo por que nos obligó a pagar propinas cuando no nos dio el cambio de unos dólares Horrible”
Pick a park, a route up the mountain, or a stretch of reef.
