Prison island (and a few giant tortoises)

MEMORABLOG: 30.11.1998

Prison Island (Changuu) is the most popular island to visit from Stone Town as it is only a short boat ride (about 10 minutes) away from town. Actually, everybody seems to visit this island... The island was in the 19th century owned by an Arab who used it, as the sign says, for housing "recalcitrant slaves". Basically, unruly slaves were to the island for discipline. Later it was owned by a British General who actually built a prison and it was used it as a quarantine station.

The island offers the largest tortoises we have ever seen, and visitors can take a walk around the island sightseeing the old prisons and various other historical artifacts. That is it... I must say i was a bit disappointed. OK, giant turtles were quite intriguing (they were brought to the island around 100 years ago!!!), but otherwise... So, after a short walk around the island we hit the beach. It was said, that this was one of the best beaches on this side of Zanzibar... well... it could be good, but there was one big problem... the temperature of the sea was just right, water blue, but... we were soon bitten by many jelly fishes... eh, every paradise has a problem...