Spice+ Prison Tour

🌿 Spice Tour (Zanzibar)

• Location: Spice farms near Stone Town or in rural Zanzibar.

• Duration: ~2–3 hours.

• Highlights:

  • Guided walk through spice plantations.

  • See, touch, and taste spices like cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, vanilla, and tropical fruits.

  • Learn about spice uses in cooking and medicine.

  • Often includes a traditional lunch and opportunities to buy fresh spices.

🏝️ Prison Island Tour (Changuu Island)

• Location: 5.6 km northwest of Stone Town, Zanzibar.

• Duration: Half-day tour.

• History:

  • Originally intended as a prison for rebellious slaves (late 1800s), later used as a quarantine station.

• Highlights:

  • Visit the old prison/quarantine ruins.

  • See giant Aldabra tortoises, some over 100 years old.

  • Snorkeling in clear waters with coral reefs.

  • Relax on the beach and enjoy coastal views.

What to Expect on a Spice Tour:

1. Guided Farm Walk:

• You’ll walk through a spice plantation with a local guide.

• See how spices grow naturally and how they’re harvested.

2. Sensory Experience:

• Smell, touch, and sometimes taste fresh spices straight from the trees or soil.

• Common spices include clove, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, turmeric, nutmeg, vanilla, and more.

3. Tropical Fruits:

• Sample seasonal tropical fruits like jackfruit, starfruit, coconut, mango, and pineapple.

4. Cultural Interaction:

• Learn about local traditions, herbal medicine, and cooking uses of the spices.

• Sometimes includes a demonstration of coconut climbing or weaving palm leaf accessories.

5. Spice Shopping:

• At the end, you can buy fresh spices, teas, or oils as souvenirs.

What to Bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes, sun hat, water, and insect repellent.

🏝️ What to Expect on a Prison Island Tour:

1. Short Boat Ride:

• 20–30 minute boat ride from Stone Town to Changuu (Prison Island).

2. Historic Ruins:

• Visit the abandoned prison buildings and learn about the island’s past as a slave detention and quarantine island.

3. Giant Tortoises:

• Meet and feed giant Aldabra tortoises, some over 100 years old.

• The sanctuary is home to dozens of tortoises gifted from Seychelles.

4. Snorkeling & Swimming:

• Clear, shallow waters with coral reefs ideal for snorkeling (gear often provided).

• Time to relax or swim on the beach.

5. Scenic Views:

• Great photo ops of Zanzibar’s coast, turquoise waters, and the Indian Ocean horizon.