Aperçu

Une prison qui Never Held Prisoners

Prison Island is one of the most fascinating short excursions in the whole of East Africa é a small coral island whose complicated history of slavery, colonial medicine, and species conservation has produced one of the region's most memorable wildlife encounters.

Officially named Changuu Island é a name almost nobody uses é the island lies just 5 kilometres off the waterfront of Stone Town, accessible by a 20é30 minute ride in a traditional wooden boat. It measures less than one kilometre in length, but the layers of history compressed into that small space are extraordinary.

The island's story begins in the 1860s, when Majid bin Said é the first Sultan of Zanzibar é gave it to Arab slave traders, who used it to hold rebellious enslaved people before selling them at Stone Town's slave market. In 1893, Lloyd Mathews, the British First Minister of Zanzibar, purchased the island and built a prison complex intended for violent criminals from the mainland. The prison was completed in 1894 é but not a single prisoner was ever held there.

Au lieu de cela, alors que la fièvre jaune et le choléra se propageaient dans les villes portuaires d'Afrique de l'Est, les autorités britanniques ont transformé les bâtiments achevés en un quarantine station é the primary quarantine facility for all of British East Africa. Ships arriving in Zanzibar from infected regions would stop here first; passengers suspected of illness were isolated in what had been designed as prison cells, now functioning as hospital rooms. The station operated until the mid-twentieth century, when disease control shifted to other mechanisms. Today, the coral stone buildings é wide verandas, wooden shutters, long corridors é still stand, serving as both museum and shelter for the island's most famous current residents.

En 1919, le gouverneur britannique des Seychelles offrit four Aldabra giant tortoises to the island from the Aldabra Atoll é the species' only natural home on Earth. The tortoises bred, and by 1955 their numbers had reached around 200. By 1996, through theft for the exotic pet trade and bushmeat, only seven remained. Emergency conservation measures é including a dedicated sanctuary and 80 additional hatchlings from the Seychelles é have restored the colony to a thriving, sustainable population. Today these ancient creatures, some over 150 years old and weighing up to 200 kilograms, are Prison Island's defining attraction.

Statistiques de l'île

Official nameÎle de Changuu

Distance de Stonetown~5 km

Temps de trajet en bateau20é30 minutes

Prison built1893 (never used)

First tortoises arrived1919

Oldest tortoise estimate150é190+ years

Adult tortoise weightUp to 200 kg

IUCN tortoise statusVulnerable

Frais d'entrée sur l'île~$4é12 USD

Heure de visite recommandée2é4 hours

Société mondiale pour la protection des animaux

Le sanctuaire des tortues a été rétabli avec l'aide de la WSPA (aujourd'hui Protection mondiale des animaux) en 1996, faisant passer la colonie de seulement sept individus à une population protégée florissante.

Historical Timeline

De la prison des esclaves à Tortoise Sanctuary

Prison Island's layered history reflects the wider story of Zanzibar's colonial transformation é from the slave trade through British rule, epidemic disease control, and finally conservation. Each era left physical marks on the island that visitors can still trace today.

1860s

Le terrain de détention des esclaves

The first Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, gave the uninhabited island to Arab slave traders. It became a holding ground for enslaved people considered too rebellious for direct sale at Stone Town's open slave market é the largest in East Africa. The island also served as a coral mine, with coral stone quarried here used as building material in Stone Town's expanding urban fabric.

1893

La prison qui n'a jamais été utilisée

British First Minister Lloyd Mathews purchased the island from its Arab owners and commissioned a prison complex for violent and repeat criminals from mainland territories under Zanzibar's jurisdiction. Construction was completed in 1894. However, the prison never housed a single prisoner é its use was immediately overtaken by the urgent public health crisis spreading through East Africa's Indian Ocean ports.

1890sé1930s

East Africa's Main Quarantine Station

As cholera, yellow fever, and bubonic plague swept through the region, the British authorities repurposed Changuu as the primary quarantine station for all of British East Africa. Ships entering Zanzibar é then the most important port on the East African coast é were required to stop here first. Passengers and crew showing symptoms of contagious disease were isolated in the former prison cells and cared for in an adjacent medical centre. A new, larger quarantine complex was built in 1931, raising capacity to 904 persons.

1919

Les premières tortues géantes arrivent

The British Governor of the Seychelles sent a gift of four Aldabra giant tortoises to Changuu Island é taken from Aldabra Atoll, their only natural home in the world. The four tortoises were the founding population of what would become one of the most significant Aldabra tortoise sanctuaries outside the Seychelles. By 1955, the colony had grown to approximately 200 individuals.

1960sé1996

La crise de quasi-extinction

À partir de the 1960s onwards, the tortoise population began to collapse as people stole the animals for sale as exotic pets or for their meat. By 1980 there were around 100 adult tortoises remaining; by 1990 only 50; by 1996 just seven. The Zanzibar government, working with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (now World Animal Protection), intervened é building a protected sanctuary compound and importing 80 hatchlings from the Seychelles to restart the colony. By 2000, numbers had recovered to 17 adults, 50 juveniles, and 90 hatchlings.

Today

A Living Conservation Success Story

Prison Island is now a government-owned tourist destination, with the historic prison and quarantine buildings standing as museum structures around the active tortoise sanctuary. Some tortoises are estimated to be 150é190 years old é their ages are painted on their shells by the sanctuary's keepers. Young tortoises are kept in a separate protective enclosure to shield them from birds of prey. Peacocks roam freely across the island grounds. A boutique hotel, swimming pool, and restaurant occupy the former European Bungalow and quarantine buildings.

Prison Island é Changuu Island, Zanzibar

"The prison on Changuu Island was never used for what it was built for. What remains instead is something stranger and more moving é a place where animals older than the 20th century move slowly between coral stone walls built by empire, indifferent to the history that surrounds them."

é Haven Trails Adventures, Moshi, Tanzania

Que voir et faire

Four Reasons to Visitez l’île-prison

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Giant Tortoises

Aldabra Species é 150+ Years Old

The island's defining encounter é walking among Aldabra giant tortoises weighing up to 200 kilograms, some of whom were already alive during the First World War. Their ages are painted in blue on their shells by sanctuary staff. Visitors can feed them bundles of fresh spinach (provided by keepers for a small charge); the tortoises move slowly but determinedly toward food, and will gently push against you with their shells. Young tortoises are kept in a separate protective compound. The oldest individuals are estimated at 150é190 years of age é making them some of the longest-lived land animals on Earth.

All Ages é 2-hr Minimum é Sanctuary Entry Fee

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Les ruines de la prison

1893é1894 é British Colonial é Never Used

The prison complex é completed in 1894 and never used as intended é remains standing in remarkable condition. Long coral stone corridors, wooden-shuttered cells, wide ocean-facing verandas, and the architecturally distinctive European Bungalow (now a restaurant named after Lloyd Mathews) can all be explored. Informational displays explain the island's transformation from slave holding ground to quarantine station to conservation refuge. Some of the tortoises use the prison's shaded corridors as a favoured resting spot é the cells now sheltering the island's most protected residents.

Self-Guided é Included in Entry é 30é60 min

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Swimming & Snorkelling

Clear Water é Coral Reef é Calm Lagoon

Prison Island's western beach offers clear, calm water for swimming é the shallow lagoon is well-protected and suitable for all ages. Snorkelling around the fringing coral reef reveals tropical fish and coral life, though experienced snorkellers will find better reef quality at Mnemba Atoll or Chumbe Island. Many boat captains are happy to combine Prison Island with a visit to the pristine Nakupenda sandbank é a short distance away é for a full day on the water including a seafood barbecue. Swimming at Prison Island is best in the morning before boat traffic increases.

Swim é Snorkel é Combine with Nakupenda

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Faune et paons

Free-Roaming é Island Grounds é Year-Round

Prison Island's island grounds are home to a free-roaming colony of peacocks é a striking contrast to the giant tortoises they share the grounds with. The peacocks were introduced as decorative birds in the resort era and have established a semi-wild population that wanders freely between the sanctuary, the old prison buildings, and the beach. Their bright plumage and unexpected presence in this colonial-historic setting creates one of Zanzibar's more surreal wildlife encounters. Birders will also find a variety of seabirds and migratory species along the island's shoreline year-round.

Free-Roaming é No Extra Charge é Year-Round

La tortue géante d'Aldabra

Ancient Creatures, Remarkable Lives

La tortue géante d'Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is one of the world's largest land tortoises and among the longest-lived land animals on Earth. The species is native exclusively to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles é the only location in the Indian Ocean where a large wild population survives naturally. All other populations, including those on Prison Island, exist as a result of deliberate relocation and conservation intervention.

The tortoises at Changuu Island have their estimated ages painted in blue on their shells by sanctuary keepers. The oldest individuals on the island are estimated to be between 150 and 190 years old é born between approximately 1835 and 1875. Some sanctuary staff believe the very oldest animal may be approaching 200 years, which would make it one of the oldest land animals currently confirmed alive on Earth. The celebrated tortoise Jonathan on the island of St Helena (believed born in 1832) is thought to be the oldest known, but the Changuu elders are not far behind.

Adult Aldabra tortoises are entirely herbivorous, se nourrissant d'herbes, de feuilles et de fruits. Sur Prison Island, les gardiens complètent la nourriture naturelle avec des épinards frais et des légumes verts, que les visiteurs peuvent donner directement aux animaux. Les tortues sont calmes et habituées à la présence humaine, mais le sanctuaire suit des règles strictes : ne pas tenter de monter ou de grimper sur les tortues (ce qui est stressant pour les animaux et strictement interdit), se nourrir uniquement avec des greens approuvés par les gardiens et ne pas utiliser de photographie au flash à courte distance.

150+

Est. Oldest Age (Years)

200 kg

Max Adult Weight

7

Tortoises Left in 1996

1919

First Tortoises Arrived

IUCN

Vulnerable Species

Aldabra

Native Atoll, Seychelles

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Tortoise Sanctuary Recovery

Le rétablissement de la population de tortues de Prison Island, passée de sept animaux en 1996 à une colonie prospère sur plusieurs générations, est l'une des interventions de conservation à petite échelle les plus réussies d'Afrique de l'Est. Le gouvernement de Zanzibar s'est associé à la Société mondiale pour la protection des animaux (aujourd'hui Protection mondiale des animaux) pour construire un sanctuaire protégé, importer 80 nouveau-nés des Seychelles et établir des protocoles anti-braconnage stricts. En 2000, la colonie comptait désormais 17 adultes, 50 juvéniles et 90 nouveau-nés. Une fondation dédiée continue aujourd’hui de veiller au bien-être des tortues.

World Animal Protection é Since 1996

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Responsible Tourism Guidelines

Prison Island receives high visitor numbers as one of Zanzibar's most popular day excursions é making responsible visitor behaviour essential to the tortoises' welfare. The sanctuary strictly prohibits climbing on tortoises, feeding unauthorised food, using flash photography at close range, or disturbing the animals when they are clearly trying to move away. Haven Trails briefs all guests on responsible wildlife encounter behaviour before any excursion, and works exclusively with boat operators and guides who enforce sanctuary guidelines consistently.

No Riding é Approved Food Only é No Flash

Planifiez votre visite

Getting There & Essential Information

Getting There

20é30 min wooden boat from Stone Town waterfront
Boats depart near Forodhani Gardens é easy to find
Boat cost: $20é30 per boat (negotiate before departure)
Private transfers: Haven Trails arranges dedicated boats
Idéalement combiné avec : la visite de Stone Town ou le banc de sable de Nakupenda
Départs matinaux conseillés (eau plus calme, meilleure luminosité)

Entry & Activities

Island entry fee: approximately $4é12 USD par personne
Alimentation des tortues : petit supplément pour les greens
Équipement de snorkeling : disponible à la location auprès de certains voyagistes
Restaurant on-site: former European Bungalow (Mathews)
Recommended time: 2é4 hours including swimming
Haven Trails packages include all entry fees

Quoi apporter

Swimsuit and towel é beach swimming available
Sun protection é the island has limited shade
Des chaussures fermées pour le sanctuaire des tortues
Camera (no flash near tortoises)
USD cash é some vendors do not accept cards
Modeste dissimulation de la promenade en bateau à travers Stone Town

FAQ

Common Questions

L’île-prison vaut-elle la peine d’être visitée ?

Yes é for most Zanzibar visitors, Prison Island is absolutely worth a half-day. The combination of a genuinely unusual colonial history (a prison that never held prisoners, now used as a conservation refuge), a close encounter with 150-year-old giant tortoises, and a pleasant boat ride from Stone Town creates an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else in East Africa. The key is not to rush it. Most visitors who are disappointed stayed for less than an hour. Allow 2é3 hours minimum, walk the old buildings slowly, and spend time in the sanctuary beyond just the first photo opportunity.

Prison Island est-il adapté aux enfants ?

Prison Island is one of Zanzibar's most child-friendly excursions. Young children are almost universally delighted by the giant tortoises é particularly the feeding experience and the opportunity to interact with animals that are substantially larger than themselves. The boat ride is short and calm (20é30 minutes), the sanctuary grounds are safe and easy to walk, and the beach provides a natural end to the visit for swimming and splashing. Haven Trails recommends morning departures for families with young children, when the tortoises tend to be most active and the island is quieter.

Puis-je combiner Prison Island avec une visite de Stone Town ?

Yes é this is Haven Trails' most recommended combination for Stone Town days. A typical day runs: morning Stone Town walking tour (3 hours, covering the Old Fort, House of Wonders, carved-door alleyways, Darajani Market, and the former Slave Market site) ? lunch at a Stone Town restaurant ? afternoon boat to Prison Island (2é3 hours including the tortoise sanctuary and a swim) ? return to Stone Town in time for sunset at Forodhani Gardens and the nightly food market. Haven Trails can arrange this as a fully guided combined day excursion with private transfers throughout.

Pourquoi s'appelle-t-elle Prison Island si elle n'a jamais été une prison ?

The name came from the imposing prison buildings constructed in 1893 é which gave the island an unmistakably institutional appearance that stuck with local people and passing sailors long before anyone tried to use it for anything else. The prison was completed in 1894, but the colonial authorities immediately repurposed it as a quarantine station rather than a prison, so technically the facility served as a hospital and holding station for the sick é not criminals. "Quarantine Island" would be historically more accurate, but Prison Island was the name that caught on and has never been replaced. The official Swahili name, Changuu (after a species of fish common in the surrounding waters), is rarely used outside official documents.

Quel est le meilleur moment de la journée pour visiter l’île Prison ?

Les visites matinales (départ de Stone Town à 9 heures du matin) sont généralement recommandées pour trois raisons : les tortues sont plus actives pendant les heures plus fraîches de la matinée, l'île est plus calme avant l'arrivée de la principale vague de bateaux d'excursion d'une journée et la lumière du matin est meilleure pour la photographie. Les visites de l'après-midi sont parfaitement viables mais le sanctuaire peut devenir fréquenté entre 11h et 14h, et les tortues ont tendance à s'abriter à l'ombre pendant les heures les plus chaudes. Haven Trails programme toutes les excursions de Prison Island pour des départs le matin, sauf demande contraire des clients.

Comment Prison Island s’intègre-t-il dans un itinéraire à Zanzibar ?

Prison Island works best as a half-day excursion from Stone Town é typically combined with a Stone Town walking tour on the same day, or as a standalone morning boat trip leaving from your beach hotel. It is not a full-day destination on its own. Haven Trails recommends a minimum of 4 full days in Zanzibar: 2 nights in Stone Town (covering Prison Island and a walking tour on the same day, plus a spice farm half-day) and 2é5 nights on a beach. Guests who have more time can add Jozani Forest, a dolphin swim at Kizimkazi, and a Mnemba Island snorkelling trip to complete the Zanzibar experience.

Visit Île-prison

Des tortues géantes datant de plus du XXe siècle, une prison coloniale qui n'a jamais détenu de prisonniers et à 20 minutes en bateau de Stone Town. Laissez Haven Trails organiser vos excursions à Zanzibar.

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