Fodor's Expert Review Changuu/Prison Island

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.