How Do I Get To Zanzibar? : Zanzibar is an archipelago around 25 miles off Africa’s east coast. Aside from its natural beauty, it is well-known for being a former spice trade center, earning it the moniker “The Spice Islands.” Unguja, popularly known as Zanzibar Island, is the archipelago’s main island. Zanzibar City, as well as the international airport, are located here. There are, however, other tiny islands to explore in this archipelago.
GETTING THERE
Abeid Aman Karume, Zanzibar’s International Airport is conveniently located 6 kilometers south of Stone Town, the island’s capital. All Zanzibar hotels are easily accessible through a well-maintained asphalt road and are within an hour’s drive along the island’s southeastern coast. If you want assistance, our Meet and Greet Service and airport transportation are available for your convenience.
The airport in Zanzibar has daily flights to important East African towns such as Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Kigali, Nairobi, and Mombasa. In addition, numerous international airlines offer direct flights to the island, successfully spanning the gap between Europe, Asia, and North America.
If you’re already in Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam and yearn for a beach vacation, take a brief ferry ride to Zanzibar. There are regular boats from Dar es Salaam’s ferry terminal, and the trip should take roughly 70 minutes and cost up to USD 50. You can also fly into Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on Unguja Island.
From the EU: Airlines operate flights across Europe, usually with a brief stopover. Tui departs from Brussels, Blue Panorama from Rome and Milan, and Condor departs from Frankfurt.
There are no nonstop flights from the United States to Zanzibar. You will have to make a stop along the route, either in Nairobi or Dubai, depending on which airline you choose. Travel time varies greatly; however, it can take up to 21 hours.
ZANZIBAR CAN ALSO BE REACHED FROM TANZANIA’S MAINLAND.
It is a short flight from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar or Pemba. There are three airlines that fly from Kilimanjaro and Arusha airports: Coastal Aviation, Precision Air, and ZanAir. All of these have their own websites where you can book flights. They specialize in flights operated by all of the minor regional airlines and are very helpful if you call. Flights cost around $150, depending on the season. You can either take a taxi at the airport or organize a private transfer with any of the hotels we deal with.
If you want to avoid having to go back to Kilimanjaro, attempt to book your international flight as an open-jaw ticket if you’re going to Zanzibar. That way, you can fly into Kilimanjaro and back from Dar es Salaam. Flights on KLM and Kenyan Airways are excellent for this.
If time permits, you can take one of the very frequent boats, which is a fantastic excursion in and of itself, to get to Dar es Salaam at the end of your vacation, or you can take a very brief flight. All of the hotels we use have the ability to book ferries.
GETTING AROUND
There are many ways to get around once you’re in Zanzibar.
Dala-dala: Take a dala-dala for a truly local experience. These converted Jeepney-style cars can fit about 20 passengers; however, you might find them a little claustrophobic and unpleasant. You can take them from Darajani Market in Zanzibar City to the north and south from Stone Town on Unguja.
You will just have to ask a local since there are no schedules for the dala-dalas. Some touts could try to take advantage of you by getting your fare up front and charging you a much higher price. A journey shouldn’t cost more than 2,000 Tanzania shillings (2 USD), plus an additional 1,000 shillings for luggage storage.
Taxis: Taxis can be reserved at major tourist destinations such as your hotel and the airport. If you require a car, please inquire at the front desk. Alternatively, if you plan your trip through a tour operator, you can request that a private driver be hired for you.
Car/motorbike rental: If you want to go exploring on your own, hiring a car or a motorcycle is an appealing alternative. A license is not required to rent a two-wheeler, but one is required to rent a car.
On foot: If you stay in Stone Town, you’ll find that most places are easily accessible by foot.
PASSPORT: HOW DO I GET TO ZANZIBAR?
Although Zanzibar is a member of the Tanzanian Union, it has its own immigration agency and requires a valid passport to enter. That means you’ll need to fill out a Tanzania arrival card when you arrive in Stone Town (Zanzibar) and a Tanzania departure card when you leave. This covers flights and ferries.
