zanzibar excursion

Prison Island Tour — Giant Tortoises & Snorkeling

Half-day excursion

from $100 pp

Hotel pickup & drop-off included

See what's included

Giant tortoise on sandy ground, Prison Island Zanzibar

Snorkelers over a bright coral reef in clear turquoise water

Traditional dhow sailing boat on calm water off Zanzibar

Traditional wooden boats floating in the vibrant blue waters of Zanzibar

excursion overview

A short boat ride to giant tortoises and a calm reef.

Prison Island (Changuu) sits just off Stone Town and is home to a colony of giant Aldabra tortoises, some more than 100 years old, brought to the island in the 19th century. This half-day tour combines time with the tortoises with a swim and snorkel over the calm reef just offshore, all reachable on a short boat crossing. It's an easy, low-effort excursion that works well alone or paired with a Stone Town or Spice Farm tour on the same day.

Activity level — Low A short boat crossing, a gentle walk to see the tortoises, and optional swimming or snorkeling. Suitable for most fitness levels.

Short boat crossing to Prison Island

Time with giant Aldabra tortoises, some over 100 years old

Snorkeling over the calm offshore reef

Snorkeling gear provided

Island's old quarantine-station history

Hotel pickup & drop-off included

how the day unfolds

Tortoises in the morning, reef time after.

A short crossing gets you to the island, where the pace stays relaxed for the rest of the morning.

Snorkelers over a bright coral reef in clear turquoise water near Zanzibar

After your hotel pickup, you're driven to the jetty in Stone Town for a short boat crossing to Prison Island, named for the never-used prison building constructed here in the 1890s. The island's main draw today is its colony of giant Aldabra tortoises, some more than a century old, which you can walk among and feed under the guidance of the island's keepers.

Once you've spent time with the tortoises, there's free time to swim or snorkel over the calm reef just off the island's beach — snorkeling gear is provided, and the water here is generally clear and gentle, making it a good option even for less confident swimmers. When you're ready, the boat brings you back to Stone Town, where your driver is waiting for the return to your hotel.

9:30am

Hotel pickupYour driver takes you to the jetty in Stone Town.

10:00am

Boat crossingA short, scenic boat ride out to Prison Island.

10:20am

Giant tortoisesWalk among the island's Aldabra tortoise colony with a local guide.

11:00am

Swim & snorkelFree time in the water over the island's calm reef; gear provided.

12:00pm

Return crossingBoat back to Stone Town, then drop-off at your hotel.

Logistics Pickup from your hotel, drop-off in the evening No accommodation included — you sleep at your own hotel.

No meals included on this half-day tour

what's included

Exactly what's covered — and what isn't.

Included in your price

Hotel pickup & drop-off
Return boat transfer to Prison Island
Prison Island entry fees
Local guide at the tortoise sanctuary
Snorkeling gear

Not included

Meals & drinks
Hotel accommodation
Flights to and from Zanzibar
Travel & medical insurance (required)
Souvenirs & personal expenses
Tips for your guide & driver

Good to know before booking

Bring swimwear, a towel and reef-safe sunscreen — snorkeling gear is provided but wetsuits are not.
The boat crossing is short (10–15 minutes) but can be a little choppy in windier months — those prone to seasickness may want to take precautions.
This tour pairs well with a Stone Town Tour or Spice Farm Tour on the same day — ask about combining them.
A Tanzania e-Visa is required for most nationalities — apply at immigration.go.tz at least 3 weeks before travel.

pricing

What you'll pay — no hidden extras.

Placeholder price shown below — update to your actual rate before publishing.

Option	Price per person	Notes
Prison Island Tour Half-day boat trip, tortoise sanctuary & reef snorkeling	$100	Per person, hotel pickup & drop-off included

Ready to book your Prison Island Tour?

Tell us where you're staying and your preferred date, and we'll confirm availability and send a full quote.

frequently asked questions

Questions we get asked most often.

How old are the tortoises?

Some of the giant Aldabra tortoises on the island are recorded as being over 100 years old. They were introduced to the island in the late 19th century.

Is the boat crossing rough?

It's usually a short, calm ride, though conditions can vary with wind and season. The crossing takes around 10–15 minutes each way.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear?

No, snorkeling masks and fins are provided. You're welcome to bring your own if you prefer a specific fit.

Can I combine this with Stone Town or the Spice Farm?

Yes, many guests combine Prison Island with a Stone Town Tour or Spice Farm Tour on the same day — just ask when booking.

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Nyange Adventures Reviews

    
 
 
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   Catriona S 
 
 
 
 Verified 10/10 Kilimanjaro Trip We had the most amazing Kilimanjaro climb with Nyange Adventures and Equatours. We took the 7 day Machame route and our AMAZING guide Amnaay and team were just the best! We submitted on 7th October 2025 and loved every second! The team were amazing and every tiny detail was catered for, our safety was too priority, and of course having fun along the way! Would recommend them completely and will definitely book future African adventures with them too! Thank you so much, Catriona, Scotland UK.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Thomas F 
 
 
 
 Verified 5 Stars + rating for the extraordinary Nyange Adventures Climb Team! 5 Stars + rating for the extraordinary Nyange Adventures Climb Team! Our team of 7 climbers took the 6 day Marangu route. The climb team leaders and assistant guides (Victor, Mo and Navia) worked well as a group to provide an overview of our hike before starting and instilled in use the importance of positive vibes only (POV). Were attentive to the needs of climbers who had a slower (pole, pole). The initial backpack checks to double check all equipment that was needed was in your bag and whatever you were missing at that late stage they were about to rent to you.The daily oximeter readings and health checks and inspirational motivational talks mixed with humor always helped to PVO at the highest levels every day.Enough cannot be said about how delicious the food that was prepared by Steve, who called himself the stomach engineer. An animated gentleman, who was very funny, and you could tell he loved his job of preparing our food for the day. All the food came from Nyange’s Organic Kibo View Farm. We had a range of delicious soups (Motri, Maharagwe ya Nazi, Tomato, etc) along with other favorite Tanzanian dishes. We all enjoyed seeing Emmanuel, the waiter 3 times a day delivering coffee / tea to the huts to wake us up in the morning (and as we go higher on the mountain with no water source – bucket baths supplies), followed by breakfast and later in the day dinner, typically in the dining hall at the camp. Lunch was typically a box meal (but also delicious) since we were in route to other locations during the day. Emmanuel had such a big heart with great big smile, and we all enjoyed seeing him at least 3 times a day.The porters (16 of them and important to list all of their names: Venance, Raymond, Philip, Julius, Tayari, James, Josia, Rogers, Salimu, Pendaeli, Mashdi, Ramadhani, Wilfred, Shabani, Rajabu, and Ally) were the hidden heroes of the climb team, ranging in responsibilities of carrying the back packs for our team of climbers and they raced ahead to get our bags to the next location before we arrived, along with when we got to base camp at roughly 14,000 feet needed to return to the lower camp to retrieve more drinking water for our group. Also, transporting the portable toilet (Muba), to the three that were the summit porters (Muddy, Daubi and Mduma) which required early morning departures to the reach summit points with frequent checks to make sure all were doing well, with all of these activities making us all feel secure and well-supported in this challenging environment. We all had success with our climbs and no one in the group got sick. Thank you climb team.Nyange Adventures was started in 2011 and the Organic Kibo View Farms started in 2015, which is huge asset to the quality of food served pre and post hotel stays for climbs but also the source of food for climbs. A few suggestions that I hope will assist on the administrative side of Nyange in making the arrangements with future client groups. More transparency of the coordination between the staff member arranging the trip for climbers and the crew that carries out the climb. We never met the staff person on site that we spent 9 months coordinating and confirming arrangements with. The complexity of the living wage tip rubric was confusing but finally confirmed via staff in multiple messages, but the climbing crew had different numbers. It got sorted out in the end, but timing of renegotiation at this celebratory end of climb was not pleasant time. Simplifying these recommendations, since this confusion prevents clients from increasing tips beyond the minimum levels. Also, improving the upfront transparency for the mechanics for returning deposits (in keeping with the policies of Nyange Adventures), for climbers who cannot make it due unforeseen circumstances. We had 1 person that needed to cancel 6 months ahead of the climb and it was worked out in the end, but a time-consuming back and forth process that took several months to resolve. I feel so strongly about the extraordinary service of the Nyange Adventures Climb Team, my rating is a 5 stars + for this 25 person group, but lowered the overall rating to 4 due to the administrative hiccups that will hopefully be resolved for future clients. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity to be supported by your company for such an epic life changing event.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Tristen m 
 
 
 
 Verified Phenomenal climbing experience Incredible experience climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. All of the porters and guides were amazing and far exceeded our expectations, caring for all 7 of us every step of the way. Would recommend going with Nyange Adventures over anyone else especially after completing the climb. Also, Victor, Mo, and Navia were fantastic; extremely sociable and made the experience so much fun.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Frances S 
 
 
 
 Verified FREAKING SO AWESOME BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE. This was actually such an amazing experience from start to finish. We came as a group of 6 22 year old college students and a teacher and had the best time climbing. Our guides were understanding, knowledgeable, and very personable. I felt heard and safe the whole time. The food and accommodations were excellent and the experience was truly catered to our specific group and our needs. Summit day was the best day I have had thus far and it was because of the team we had. Our porters were super kind and funny and despite carrying more than we could even imagine were fist bumping us on trail and giving us words of encouragement. Our guides were Victor, Mohamed, and Navia! They were beyond amazing. Overall great experience.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   C Rasquinha 
 
 
 
 Verified Nyange Adventures for trip of a lifetime to Tanzania Nyange Adventures managed our trip into Tanzania and developed the itinerary and set us up with an Amazing coordinator in Amina and a great guide in Richard Eberneezer. From start to finish, the accommodations and the attractions along this 8 day journey were magnificent. Strongly recommend Nyange Adventures and working with Amina and Richard.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   jana r 
 
 
 
 Verified 5 star company!!! Excellent service with the guides and porters from Nyange Adventures! Hands down, top notch company! Their motto is come as a client, leave as a friend- I can attest to that! We had an amazing time and all bases were covered- even the ones we didn’t know about! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Regina O 
 
 
 
 Verified Unforgettable Safari Experience. Our safari with Nyange Adventures through Lake Manyara and Serengeti was incredible! We saw so many animals in their natural habitat, and the expertise of the guide made each moment more enriching.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   HC 
 
 
 
 Verified An incredible team and an unforgettable climb. The group tour I signed up for ended up being a solo trip due to last minute cancellations. However, this gave me great flexibility with the itinerary and a perfect opportunity to get to know the team. I felt safe, respected and taken care of as a female solo traveller. The whole trip felt seamless. Amnaay, the mountain guide, was instrumental to my successful summit - he was knowledgable and professional. The meals provided every day were freshly prepared and delicious. The team of porters amazed me every day with their physical abilities and joyful spirit. Bonding with the team was a highlight of the trip - not a day went by without someone bursting into a belly laugh! I also stayed at the Kibo View Farm before and after the climb, which was a little slice of heaven. I would highly recommend Nyange Adventures for their local expertise and fair treatment of porters.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Carlos 
 
 
 
 Verified A personal goal achieved thanks to the guidance and support received from the Nyange Adventures team. At age 73 I successfully completed the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, via the Lemosho route, a week ago today. Throughout the eight day trek and the final ascent to Uhuru Peak I was impressed by the guidance and support received at all times from the entire Nyange Adventures team. The guides, Mo and Colin, the cook, the waiter and the fantastic team of porters that accompanied me made my success possible, and I would therefore not hesitate to recommend Nyange Adventures to anyone considering the experience of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Leticia L 
 
 
 
 Verified Excellent and exceptional experience! My experience couldn't be better and I couldn't recommend Nyange more! They are excellent and I'm super satisfied with everything.I booked my climbing to Kilimanjaro with them and everything was perfect from the starting communication to the very last second I was with them.I'm a woman solo traveler and I felt safe every single time.All the staff is very nice, helpful and attentive. They really make the phrase "come as a client, leave as a friend" come true, I'll miss everyone! Special thanks to my guide in Kilimanjaro: Amnaay (if you wanna go with him, I assure you'll have a fun and pleasant time! He knows a lot, is very encouraging and literally held me when I couldn't walk anymore. I don't know if I could reach the summit without him and all the other guys that came with me - the cooker, waiter and porters, everyone special, very professional and has their space in my heart).They arranged everything I needed: my commuting from the city center to the farm (their farm is amaaaaazing, beautiful and the room was super comfortable and clean and with a breathtaking view of Kilimanjaro. All the delicious food they make is local - with ingredients from the farm), even in my last night Amnaay asked them if they could cook Ugali for me, and they did!The owner, Praise, is also very caring and himself always make sure that everything is ok, always having nice conversations, asking if I need something, etc.I could be here writing a review of 50 pages only speaking good things about them. Highly recommend! It was for sure the best experience in my life and thanks for them!

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A short boat ride to giant tortoises and a calm reef.

Tortoises in the morning, reef time after.

Exactly what's covered — and what isn't.

Good to know before booking

What you'll pay — no hidden extras.

Ready to book your Prison Island Tour?

Questions we get asked most often.

Related Tanzania Safari Tours you may like

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Nyange Adventures Reviews

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