HONEYMOON IN ZANZIBAR III: TRIP TO CHANGUU (PRISON) ISLAND

Hello people! Hope you’re enjoying @nadinescakesng‘s honeymoon adventure in Zanzibar? Well, the story continues… (I skipped Day 4 of their adventure, and saved it for the final installment of the post…)

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DAY 3

We decided to spend the day at Changuu Island (Prison Island), a small island off the coast of Zanzibar (the main island itself). One gets to the island by taking a boat from Stone Town and the ride was about 30 mins.

The beach on Prison Island has remarkably brilliant white sand and clear blue waters that sparkled in the sun. It made me just want to soak my feet and lay there all day (if not for the sun!)

There is a signage on the island which tells of its history. Originally, intended to hold rebellious slaves, a prison was built sometime in the 1800s but no prisoner was actually held there. It became a quarantine station for yellow fever cases. Today, it has been converted to a guest house and the island is home to the giant Aldabra Tortoises.

Although you pay a fee for the boat ride, you also pay an entrance fee to go into the tortoise enclave. After taking a stroll through some old ruins on the island, having a light lunch at the island restaurant and visiting the tortoises, it was time to take a refreshing plunge in the ocean. It can get quite hot in Zanzibar and I recommend packing your sunscreen!

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DAY 5

We visited Ras Nungwi beach this day, an idyllic beach on the North coast of Zanzibar. We got to the beach around 11am, but the tide had not come in and we could see the corals on the sea bed. The beach has a few bars, so we decided to lounge on one of the deck chairs, sip ice cold juice while enjoying the breeze and watch the tide come in.

The beach is also known for its famous all night parties. A young chap came later to distribute fliers informing us about the party later that night. It explained why it was so quiet and calm during the day, as they were not too many visitors. The tide came in around 1pm, so it was time for a quick dip in the ocean. One has to be careful as they go into the water, because the corals could cut your foot.

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…stay tuned for the concluding part… Please, don’t forget to follow @nadinescakesng