Getting to Zanzibar on Budget : Zanzibar is a Historical city existing for eras. It has a population of more than one million in an area of 2,461 Km2. Almost everything on this Island is exciting. There are long-clean beaches with light air present on Island. Fishing and tourism are the main economic activities in Zanzibar. There are many things to love about traveling to Zanzibar including;
Areas: The thing to know about Zanzibar is that the highland is not so huge and not small either. There are many areas that most people hang around in Zanzibar. Those areas are Nangwi in the North, Jambian Ipaje, and Stone Town. Depending on how much you will have on your trip to Zanzibar, it is a good idea to bundle items together or just choose one location of your vibe. To give an overview of these three areas in Zanzibar. The first place is Nungwi Island. Nungwi is located on the northern side of Zanzibar Island.
It takes about one and a half hours to drive from stone town depending on traffic. It is known for some of the most beautiful beaches on the Island although all the beaches are beautiful. And you can find really good beach parties like Kendwa Rocks Full Moon Party for an entry cost of $ 10. It also has a lot more options in terms of big hotels and resorts. Second place is Jambiani paje. Water sports and water adventures are the most common activities on Jambian Ipaje side Island. It is windy on this Island and so you can get a good condition. You will also find good smaller boutique hotels on this Island. The third place is Stone Town. It is a place with much history and good to visit. Stone town is where you are coming to when traveling to Zanzibar. When you are flying or taking a boat to Zanzibar you must first arrive in stone town., Getting to Zanzibar on Budget
Culture: there is a cultural experience that you can have and can immerse you to learn about the history of Zanzibar. It is a phenomenal place that has a lot of interesting cultural history.
East Africa to Zanzibar
Road transport: Going to Zanzibar by road is cheap and relatively easy. For those coming from East African countries, going to Zanzibar by road transport is a convenient option for minimizing budget. You will use bus companies to take you to Dar es Salaam. Then from Dar Es Salaam take a ferry through the Indian Ocean to Zanzibar. The buses have the plane VIP treatment while traveling. Coming from Mombasa and Nairobi in Kenya to Dar es Tanzania you will have to take the Tahmeed coach or Dar Lux bus. To buy the ticket you can choose to go to their offices located on river road in Nairobi or buy the ticket online from their website. Bus tickets from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam cost around $ 31 approximately (3,500 Kenya Shillings) and it takes 15 hours to arrive in Tanzania. From Mombasa to Tanzania take about 9-15 hours and the cost is $ 9 – $ 15 approximately (1,000 – 1,700 Kenya Shillings).
The most budgeted way to get from Kampala, Uganda to Dar e salaam, Tanzania is by bus which costs $ 27 – $ 45 approximately (110,000 – 183,000 Ugandan Shillings) and takes 34 hours.
Traveling from Kigali, Rwanda to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania costs around $ 45 (49,500 Rwanda Franc) and the ride takes about 24-30 hours.
Arriving in Dar es Salaam you will have to stay for a night in a hotel before moving to Zanzibar. From Dar es Salaam you will have to board a boat to Zanzibar. The boat fee is $ 25 for East Africans and $ 35 for non-residents. The prices can vary depending on the exchange rate of the day. You can either choose to pay in dollars or exchange the money to pay for Tanzanian shillings. The ride takes a maximum of about 2 hours to arrive in Zanzibar. The ride is very okay and actually, you will enjoy catching the boat.
Air transport: Getting to Zanzibar by plane is the quickest and safe means to travel. You will have to take cheap flights direct to Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam Tanzania or Kilimanjaro International Airport in Moshi Tanzania from there you will find cheap flights to Zanzibar. Another option is to fly from Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya to Abed Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. Next is from Kigali International Airport in Rwanda to Zanzibar. The last cheap way is to fly from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda direct to Zanzibar. All these options are for East African and other residents arriving in east Africa to Zanzibar.
Other Nations to Zanzibar
United States of America (U.S.A) to Zanzibar: there is a cheap flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in New York, the U.S.A to Sheikh Abed Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. KLM Boeing 787 -10 Dreamliner ticket cost about $ 714 and takes about 9 hours to Zanzibar.
Europe to Zanzibar: fly from Europe to outside highland in Tanzania, Zanzibar you will have to start your journey from Sweden where there are cheap flights for those on a tight budget. Sky scanner flights are the cheapest flight from Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Africa. A cheap flight ticket from Sweden to Ethiopia cost an average of $ 700 and takes about 8 hours. From Ethiopia, you will have to book another ticket from Ethiopian Air Flight direct to Zanzibar at a cost of the flight is about $ 500 and takes 6 hours, Getting to Zanzibar on Budget
The United Kingdom to Zanzibar: Qatar Airways flights are the cheapest from London in the United Kingdom to Zanzibar in East Africa. The cost of a normal class Qatar Airways ticket to Zanzibar cost about $ 612 and takes around 14 and a half hours to arrive, Getting to Zanzibar on Budget
Zanzibar Accommodations
The most common accommodation places in Zanzibar are Stone Town and Nungwi in the northern part. In those two places is where you can find budgeted hotels, guest houses, and lodges. There is Zanzibar International Hotel which is very affordable. It costs $ 13 for one-night sleep plus breakfast. It is a budgeted hotel and not on the high end. It was close to Forodhani Market and Prison Island. At prison island in Zanzibar, you will find turtles (tortoise) and you can enjoy feeding them just for a cost of $ 4 (10,000 Tanzanian shillings).
To list the cheapest hotels in Zanzibar, there is Crown Hotel, Imani Beach Villa Resort, Santa Maria Coral Park, Sky and Sand Zanzibar Beach Resort, Village view Hotel, and Waikiki resort Zanzibar. All these hotels are cheaper and best for those on a fixed budget. The cost for one-night sleep is minimally about $ 33.
Food
Forodhani food market is affordable. There is a variety of food found in this market. So, it is for you to decide on whatever you choose to eat or take whatever you would like to eat. Forodhani is an affordable place to take food so there is no need to spend much on food in expensive hotels and restaurants. Street food is a little bit cheap and quicker especially when you are hungry.
