Prison Island (Changuu)
Changuu
A small island off Stone Town inhabited by over a hundred Aldabra giant tortoises from the Seychelles. Snorkelling is available in the surrounding waters.
Changuu, also known as Prison Island, lies about 5.6 km northwest of Stone Town, a 20–30 minute trip by small boat. In the 1860s Arab traders used it to detain disobedient slaves. In 1893 the British built a prison on the island, but never actually held prisoners there. It was later turned into a yellow fever quarantine station, and its old buildings can still be seen. The island's biggest attraction is its tortoise sanctuary. In 1919 the Governor of the Seychelles gifted four Aldabra giant tortoises, and today the population has grown to over 100, some more than 150 years old. Visitors can feed them leafy greens and photograph them up close. Please do not ride them or slap their shells. There is also a small white sand beach, a coral reef snorkelling spot and a restaurant serving drinks. Admission to the tortoise sanctuary is about USD 8–10. The return boat fare is about USD 20–40 per person. Half-day trips including snorkelling can be booked at the Stone Town beaches or through hotels, and you should bargain. A half-day trip is recommended: depart in the morning and combine it with a swim and lunch at the nearby Nakupenda sandbank.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- Palace Museum (Beit al-Sahel)
- Forodhani Gardens Night Market
- House of Wonders
- Old Fort of Zanzibar
- Freddie Mercury Museum
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Hamamni Persian Baths
- Maruhubi Palace Ruins