Nakupenda Sandbank And Prison Island Boat Tour With Lunch

It was a very enjoyable experience. Prison Island was very interesting, especially because of the tortoises, and our guide was very knowledgeable and worked hard to communicate with us (we were the only ones on the boat who spoke English). The Island was very nice and the seafood BBQ was delicious. We would have enjoyed it much more if our luggage had not been delayed and we had bathing suits and sandals but hakuna matata, it's Africa! The only reason for the lower rating is that the meeting was nothing short of chaotic! We had booked with Blue Wave and were to meet on the beach at Living Stone Restaurant at 9:30 am. When we arrived, there were maybe 20-25 boats, and neither we or any of the 20-30 people seemed to know which boat we were going on, with us being repeatedly asked "Who's your Captain?" (we had never been told) but it was finally sorted out. On the island, there were vendors for beer and wine, crafts etc. as well as acrobats busking - the tour operators might want to tell you that so you can make sure to bring some cash (especially small bills) with you. And a word of caution - the boats used are local craft in various states of repair, and there was no waiver and no sign of any life jackets or safety equipment! Be aware!

Fantastic boat trip – highly recommend Blue Wave Islands! We had a brilliant trip with Blue Wave Islands from Stone Town to Prison Island and the sandbank. Their communication before the trip was excellent, everything was really well organised, and they had by far the best boats we saw. It was also a great price for the experience. We left from the beach right outside our hotel, Tembo House, and the boat ride to Prison Island was only around 15 minutes. Once there, we had a guide show us around the old prison and tell us about the history of the island. We also saw the peacocks and the amazing giant tortoises. The coastline around Prison Island is absolutely stunning, with crystal-clear turquoise water, and we even saw starfish along the beach. We spent around an hour here, which we felt was plenty of time to see everything. From there it was another short 15-minute boat ride to the sandbank, which was definitely one of the highlights. It’s absolutely beautiful! We swam in the warm, clear water while our captain set up a little gazebo for shade, and afterwards we sat enjoying fresh fruit and cold water while looking out over the incredible scenery. We spent around 2–3 hours at the sandbank, which was perfect, before the easy 15-minute journey back to Stone Town. A fantastic half-day trip combining beautiful scenery, swimming, wildlife and a little bit of Zanzibar’s history. Blue Wave Islands were excellent from start to finish – great communication, fantastic boats, friendly service and a really good price.

Our experience with Blue Wave Islands Boat was truly unforgettable. From the moment we set out, the team was warm, welcoming, professional, and attentive, making sure we felt comfortable and safe throughout the entire journey. Visiting Prison Island and the breathtaking Nakupenda Sandbank was one of the highlights of my time in Zanzibar. The crystal-clear water, beautiful scenery, and incredible atmosphere made every moment feel magical. The team’s hospitality and attention to detail made the day even more special. This was more than just a boat tour. It was a beautiful experience filled with laughter, adventure, and memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. I highly recommend Blue Wave Islands Boat to anyone visiting Zanzibar and looking for an experience they will never forget. Thank you for helping to make my time in Zanzibar so memorable!

We have spent 3weeks in Zanzibar , and this has been the worst experience of all (and the only one we had booked online). The problem is not the experience itself (which is ok, the prison island +the nakupenda sandbank) But the company we have booked . It’s a boat with 16 people, you keep waiting (1h late at the beginning), for having cold bbq on the beach . Cold fries & rice, cold prawns and calamari’s… If you just get to the beach the day before you will get a better price and a better service for a private boat (which is by the way faster) for a better experience I understand the interest for growing the margins … but the tourist experience sucks!

We booked the Nakupenda Sandbank and Prison Island Boat Tour with Lunch because it was rated the #1 tour, but unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. Honestly, I regret spending my money on this tour. We had to wait a very long time at the port before leaving. The port was chaotic, crowded, and unpleasant, which made the experience frustrating from the very beginning. We had specifically requested a French-speaking guide, but this request was not respected. The tour of Prison Island was also extremely short, and unfortunately, some of the information provided by the guide appeared to be incorrect. The information he gave us did not match what was written on the information poster inside the prison. The giant tortoises were lovely to see, and they were definitely one of the highlights of the visit. However, it was very disappointing to see that no rules were being enforced. Tourists were touching the tortoises and getting off the designated paths. It was sad to see, especially when these animals should be treated with care and respect. The lunch on the sandbank was another major disappointment. The organization was very poor, and the food was clearly not ready when we arrived. We were repeatedly told that the food would be ready in five minutes, but we ended up waiting approximately 45 minutes. Unfortunately, the seafood lunch was particularly concerning. The seafood did not taste fresh to me, and the food made me feel sick afterward. This was extremely disappointing and made the lunch experience even worse. Overall, the tour felt poorly organized from beginning to end. Considering the price, the long waiting time, the lack of a French-speaking guide, the short and questionable tour information, the poor organization of lunch, and the food that made me feel unwell, I do not feel that this experience was worth the money. I would not recommend this tour based on our experience.s very dissapointing for the price

Amazing day visiting two beautiful islands. Met some fantastic folks from all around the world. Great weather to top it off. Great lunch. Wish we had a bit more time on Nakupenda but that’s ok. A note: the waters can be rough so be sure to take your meclizine if you get seasick.

This was the third tour that we did while in Zanzibar and by far the worst organized. We arrived at the collection point before the required time and ended up waiting for over an hour to get going. This time lost was not added to the end of the trip and effectively forced us to rush through the day. This is a great tour, I would choose a different service provider, or just walk up to the operators at the beach and choose one that you like.

Amazing experience from start to finish! The organization was excellent, everything was on time, and the guide was very friendly and professional. The excursion was well planned, the places we visited were beautiful, and I felt safe and well taken care of throughout the day. Thank you for making this trip so memorable. I highly recommend this excursion to anyone visiting Zanzibar! ★★★★★

Very nice carefree trip. I liked to see the big turtles and eating, snorkling at the sandbank.

We had a great time, Mila was very knowledgeable as a guide and there was plenty of time for everything we wanted to do. Good food and great value for money

This tour was honestly one of the highlights of my trip to Zanzibar. Nakupenda Sandbank felt like dream. The water was crystal clear and the sand was so white and soft. I didn't want to leave. Visiting Prison island and seeing the giant tortoises was such a unique experience. The team was kind , fun and made us feel very comfortable the whole day. Everything was perfectly organized and the seafood lunch was delicious. I would 100% do this tour again

Blue Wave islands boat trip delivered an unforgettable experience. The boat was comfortable, the crew was very kind and attentive, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Visiting Nakupenda Sandbank and Prison Island in one trip perfect planned. We felt safe, relaxed, and truly enjoyed every moment. I would definitely book again next year!

Thank you so much machano for being our tour guide during our holiday in zanzibar we had many tours but those one was perfect we touched the tortoise and swimming at the sandbank was fantastic experience for us thank you again machano

Nakupenda Sandbank and Prison island was worth it ! It was informative and food very tasty! was a very good tour guide, I definitely recommend if you are in Zanzibar Thank Blue Wave Owner, Seif you were real kindness.

It was very nice experience, I will be back everytime when I will come in Zanzibar! The guide and captain were very nice and helpfull, the lunch were variety, also Nakupenda sandbank was super.

I enjoyed the day with Seifu was my captain boat he is very friendly and skill full and he explained many things and showed me a lot things and the sandbank was magic thank you so much

What a day with blue wave boat actully thise tour was fantastic tour and prison island we saw many tortoise and blue water to the sandbank actually thise was magic

this tour was amazing!! the company was very accommodating to me. i loved going to the sandbank and having lunch there. the guide and captain was fun to talk to and they were very helpful throughout the day. overall i would recommend this tour for next time!

All the process was very easy through whatsapp and we enjoyed our time with Blue Wave. The captain and reservation made the experience better.

We had a wonderful time with Blue Wave! We booked the Nakupenda Sandbank and Prison Island tour but we really wanted to snorkel after the sandbank. They were so accommodating that we stayed at Nakupenda until it disappeared and then we were going snorkeling. Lunch was scrumptious! Grilled seafood, octopus, fish, shrimp, prawns, squid, fruits and chips (French fries)! The best octopus I’ve had! The day was perfect! I highly recommend Blue Wave. Thank you!!

Fantastic trip with these guys our holiday was awesome best we quality, best services thise tour is unexplainable when you are zanzibar please don't miss thise trip we enjoyed alot prison island where we feed the turtles and take a picture but Sandbank was amazing perfect place for relaxing and fruits and foods make me happy thank you so much

My rating is not the fault of the sympathetic turtles, but of their very poor keeping. Signs point to a $50 fine for bypassing the fences, but many guides and tourists do not care about that, bypass the barriers, and wake the 200-year-old turtle from its sleep to take Instagram group photos. I had heard about older animals that recently died, which does not surprise me given this way of keeping them. The min. 3-4 security guards have ALL made themselves comfortable in the ticket booth while there was complete chaos outside, mostly with the proactive activism of the guides for the sake of better tip prospects. We found this animal cruelty very appalling; why are high animal and nature conservation fees charged here? A complete farce, it is only about the commercial exploitation of these poor animals.😢 But the whole thing is topped off; at the end of the tour at the exit, despite having paid high surcharges for nature conservation, we are still asked for voluntary donations; I do not even want to know where these go... possibly to the hardworking security team.

It was a very good day. I loved Prision Island and Nakupenda. I just regretted not having an English guide on the prison island but it was still worth it. The lunch was very good and the staff was always helpful and friendly.

Find €70 too expensive, for what you get for it Prison Island admission alone is $22 and it's not worth it

Of the excursions made to Zanzibar that on Nakupenda is certainly the most beautiful, you arrive after boarding in Stonetown on one of the local boats.... you arrive on this strip of white beach, where the natives have already installed barbecues where they will roast fish to no end, after a swim in the crystal clear waters and ritual photos, you have lunch, and after when the high tide begins to cover this beach, there is a go to load everything on the boats, beautiful experience. The next stop is at the prison island where they created a habitat for giant tortoises, cute visit, but nothing more.