6HRS – Prison Island.
From
$80.00
Duration
Tour Type
Overview
- Prison Island is one of the nearest islands from Stone Town, just 20 minutes by boat. It is also
known as Changuu Island. There are many trees and plants on this island and it is a delight to
walk safely and unhindered through the dappled shadows. Birds a bound and bird watchers will
find plenty of species to delight them. Its original use was as a prison and later it was taken over
to be used as quarantine station by the British Army. Another prison was then built but never
used. Today prison Island is a pleasant destination for a day trip. It has some excellent coral
formations just offshore providing a good opportunity for snorkeling. Another main attraction is
the giant tortoises which are over 100 years old. These tortoises are only found on this island.
Not indigenous to continental Africa, the original tortoises were brought from Aldabra in the
Seychelles in an effort to extend the tortoise conservation efforts. Aldabra is famous for
harboring endemic and rare marine life species, and along with the Galapagos Islands, is one of
the world’s few places where giant tortoises exist. Some of the tortoises at Prison Island were
rescued from poachers who were intercepted on their way from Aldabra to other parts of the
world, where they would sell the animals to private collectors or zoos. These giant tortoises have
been living in the Indian Ocean Islands for over 100 million years, but their numbers have fallen
to such critically low levels that they are now classified as endangered. The adult tortoises of
Prison Island are already producing the next generations, and the future is looking good for the
continued survival of this ancient reptile. - We advise clients to bring waterproof shoes for boarding the dhows and to
bring towels, sunscreen and a spare T-shirt for snorkeling.
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Max Guests
2
Min Age
12+
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