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Lloyd Mathews erected the prison in 1893. The purpose of the prison was to transport violent prisoners from the Tanganyika mainland to Prison Island. The Island of the Prisoners Formerly a slave prison and a quarantine station for Zanzibar and the mainland, the island today offers you the opportunity to get away for some peace and quiet. The island is located just off the coast of Old Stone Town and is home to enormous land tortoises imported from the Seychelles in the late 1800s. It is currently better recognized as the home of Zanzibar's Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, which includes some that are over a century old! The Seychelles government gave this endangered species to Zanzibar as a gift.
You can feed and pet the tortoises once you arrive on the island, and if you have time, you can also take a trip through the forested interior to witness a variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and gorgeous butterflies. Keep a watch out for the secretive and elusive Duikers, a rare species of small antelope. It boasts a nice white beach for sunbathing and is surrounded by a stunning coral reef for snorkeling. This tour is a fantastic chance to learn about the history and animals of the area, as well as to see Stone Town from the sea, as many old maritime tales would have done.