Hotels near Prison Island (Changuu Island)
Tanzania
Prison Island (Changuu) is a small island 5 km north-west of Stone Town with a 19th-century stone prison building that was never actually used as a prison - it was built in 1893 to house rebellious slaves but converted to a quarantine station instead. The island's main draw today is the resident colony of 200+ Aldabra giant tortoises descended from 4 tortoises gifted by the Seychelles government in 1919 - some current residents are over 130 years old.
Day trips from Stone Town 25-40 USD per person via traditional dhow boat (30 minutes) - include island entry (4 USD), snorkelling stop at a coral reef en route, and time to feed and pet the tortoises. The eastern coral beach on Changuu offers excellent snorkelling. Tours typically depart 09:30 from the Stone Town seafront. The fishing town of Stone Town is visible across the channel.
Pro Tip: The morning 09:30 departure has the calmest sea conditions; afternoon trips can be rough due to Indian Ocean swells. Bring exact USD or TZS in small bills for the island entry fee and tortoise feeding. The famous tortoise photo is from the eastern grassy area.
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