2 Best Sights in Tanzania

This tiny island, just a 20-minute boat ride from Stone Town, was once a prison and a quarantine location, hence its more well-known name of Prison Island. Now it's a tropical paradise that's home to the giant Aldabra tortoise (you can visit the tortoises for a small fee), the duiker antelope, and a variety of birds and butterflies. There's also decent swimming and snorkeling and arranged beach barbecues by tour operators. Note that 70% of the island is private property and thus inaccessible.

You can visit Changuu Island on a tour, or arrange transport with the myriad of little boats that line the beach outside Archipelago Waterfront Cafe. There's no entry fee for the island itself.

Grab some snacks and plenty of bottled water and head to this charming sandbank that's about a 30-minute boat ride from Stone Town. A lovely, sandy beach and place to snorkel make it a great day trip. You can hire a boat from the harbor to take you there on a negotiated fee for a few hours or, if you prefer to be fully catered to, go with a tour company who will provide the shade and the beach picnic with seafood and drinks as part of their price. Be warned it will get crowded in high season.  There is no shade on the island, so make sure you bring a hat and umbrella. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.