First Stop, Prison Island

Prison Island, also called Changuu Island, provides a fascinating first stop on our journey. It earned its name in the 1800s, as there were plants to build a prison there. Although plans to establish a prison there never materialized, the island became a symbol of resilience, serving as a temporary detention center for rebellious slaves and a quarantine station for yellow fever victims.

In the early 1900s, the Governor of the Seychelles gifted four Aldabra giant tortoises to the island and within 50 years their population had grown rapidly. Sadly, people began stealing them and selling them as pets and food and their numbers dwindled. The illicit trade of these remarkable creatures saw their numbers decline rapidly, prompting the Zanzibar government to intervene and ensure their preservation. Today, these gentle, majestic creatures, living testimonials of an era gone by, offer an enchanting spectacle and remain a main attraction of the Prison Island and Nakupenda Beach tour.

Once you've taken the time to admire and photograph these gentle giants, we’ll head over to the old prison vestiges where you can see antelopes and peacocks roaming about. Our Prison Island tour will cover the history of the island as well as show you everything there is to see. You will get around 90 minutes on the island, but this varies depending on how many individuals are on the tour. Once completed, you’re welcome to hop in the ocean to snorkel and discover the vibrant underwater life. Following this invigorating dip, we board the boat once more, this time setting course for a beach picnic on the sun-kissed sands of the Nakupenda sandbank.

Beautiful Nakupenda Beach

Nakupenda Beach is known for being one of the top beaches in Zanzibar, with perfect waters for swimming and snorkeling. However, if you would rather stay dry on land for the 3-4 hours we will be here, you can soak up the serene surroundings and watch for dolphins from the comfort of the sandbank. Roaming the island is another fun activity that will have you discovering hiking trails, and seeing the many birds of the island. 

Upon arrival at Nakupenda Beach, you will have fresh local fruits to snack on, including bananas, watermelon, coconut, mango, pineapple, and a variety of beverages. You can then lay your towels down and relax in the Tanzanian sun or splash around in the ocean. 

A delicious seafood buffet lunch will then be provided for you. Our beach picnic at Nakupenda isn't merely a meal - it's an entire journey through Zanzibar's culinary landscape. Fresh local fruits and beverages provide a refreshing reprieve from the Tanzanian sun, and a seafood buffet lunch follows, a tantalizing spread featuring lobster, calamari, octopus, and prawns, among other delights.

Following lunch, you will have some more time to enjoy beautiful Nakupenda Island and soak it all in - the sun, sand, and sights. We will head back to Stone Town to end our day by 2:30 pm and you can head back to your hotel to catch an afternoon nap because we guarantee you will need one after your fun, adventure-filled day.

Prison Island and Nakupenda Beach

Daily Day trip

Your day will begin with our shuttle picking you up at your hotel and dropping you off in the heart of Stone Town at 9:00 am at the Forodhani Garden. Once all members have arrived, we will head towards the harbor to board our boat. Once everyone is aboard, we will set sail to Prison Island for the first stop. 

- guide fee

- conservation fee

- entrance fee

- snorkeling gears

- lunch

- boat fee

all goverment taxes

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