Changuu Private Island Paradise is a beautiful secluded hotel reachable by a 20 minute boat ride from Zanzibar's Stone Town. Changuu Island is also called Prison Island, and during the day part of the island is open to day trippers who come to view the old prison ruins, the giant tortoises that live there and to snorkel in the crystal blue waters. Day trippers are confined to a small section of the island, but the majority of the island is accesible only to hotel guests.

We booked our stay through a travel agent, who arranged for us to take a traditional Zanzibar Dhow boat to the island. When the boat pulled up to a sand bar to let us off, I saw dozens of beautiful crimson red starfish in the water. We were immediately greeted by the hotel managers, a friendly german couple who have lived in Africa for over a decade, and who are very knowledgeable about activities and the history of the island.

The hotel has two classes of accomodations. Deluxe cottages and standard... more