Day 01
Stone Town Exploration and Prison Island Escape
- Meet your tour guide and begin exploring Stone Town. Your guide will explain the history behind Zanzibar's culture, lifestyle, economy, food, clothing style, slave market, leadership, and stone-built architecture. You may also indulge in shopping in Stone Town. Many key buildings are still in place, with some transformed into excellent museums, such as the infamous House of Wonders and the neighbouring Old Fort. One of the best parts of the experience is discovering the multicultural and multi-religious communities living together in harmony.
- Head to Prison Island by boat, a journey of about 30 minutes. In 1893, Lloyd Mathews built the prison. The original idea was to send violent criminals from the Tanganyika mainland to Prison Island. However, the island was ultimately used as a quarantine centre for yellow fever epidemics that once raged through the region. Prison Island remained under government ownership, and the newer quarantine buildings were later converted into a guest house.
- See and play with the giant tortoises on Prison Island. The old prison still remains standing and now provides shelter for some of the giant tortoises, which can only be found on this island and in the cells.
- Enjoy snorkelling in the waters, a great addition to the program, especially for those touring with children.
