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In short
Book a private transfer before you land: the driver tracks your flight and waits at arrivals with your name, and it takes ≈ 20–30 minutes to Stone Town or ≈ 1–1.5 hours to Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje or Jambiani. Coming from Dar es Salaam by ferry, book a transfer that lists ferry-port pickup.
Drive times from ZNZ
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) is about 5 km south of Zanzibar City, so Stone Town is close and the beach areas are not. Typical times on the transfer listings:
Destination
Drive time
Notes
Stone Town
≈ 20–30 min
The closest drop-off
Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi (east coast)
≈ 1 h – 1 h 15
Via the main road across the island
Nungwi, Kendwa (north)
≈ 1 – 1.5 h
Longest common transfer
Matemwe, Kiwengwa (north-east)
≈ 1 – 1.5 h
Depends on where the hotel is along the coast
For the flight home, add the drive time to your airline's check-in deadline and keep a margin: from the north or east coast that means leaving well over two hours before departure.
Private, shared or taxi
Option
How it works
Good for
Private transfer, booked ahead
Your own car, driver meets you at arrivals with a name sign, flight tracked
Most arrivals, families, late flights
Shared shuttle
Cheaper per person; may wait for other passengers or stop at several hotels
Solo travellers on a budget, daytime arrivals
Taxi at the airport
Agree the price before you get in; pay cash
Short rides to Stone Town if you didn't pre-book
What a pre-booked transfer includes varies, so read the listing. One private transfer listing, for example, includes fuel, road tolls, parking and airport entrance charges, bottled water, help with loading luggage and 1 hour of free waiting after landing; porters inside the terminal and driver tips are extra. ZNZ has more than one terminal, so give your flight number and terminal when you book.
Dar es Salaam ↔ Zanzibar ferry
Fares by class (Economy, Business, VIP, Royal) are on the fee card. The rules that matter most come from the ferry company itself:
Foreign passengers pay in US dollars; pounds sterling and euros are also accepted, other currencies are not.
Carry your passport: foreign passengers need it between Zanzibar and the mainland.
Luggage allowance is 25 kg per person; extra luggage is charged.
There are no refunds for a missed date or sailing. To cancel, tell the office at least 2 hours before departure. Online bookings count only once paid.
Buy at the company's offices in Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar or from approved agents. Don't buy from people in the street who say they are agents.
Adult fares apply from age 12, child fares to ages 5–11. The company says children under 5 can't be booked, so ask the office before travelling with a small child.
Our partners don't sell ferry tickets on their own, but they do sell trips with the crossing built in: a hotel transfer in Dar plus a one-way fast ferry to Zanzibar, and full-day Zanzibar trips from Dar es Salaam with return ferry, Stone Town, Prison Island and a spice farm. Once you arrive, transfers that list "ferry port" pickup take you on to your hotel.
Ferry or flight from Dar
Scheduled flights between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar take ≈ 20 minutes, several times a day on Coastal Aviation's timetable, and land at ZNZ. The ferry allows 25 kg of luggage per person, against 15 kg including hand luggage on Coastal's small planes. If you are connecting to a safari flight or an international departure, a flight is easier to time; the ferry company publishes sailing times only in its booking system, so check them when you book. For what to do once you are in town, see the Stone Town tour page and things to do in Zanzibar.
Paid on top
Official fees and rules
What the park, conservation area or venue charges. Check whether your tour price already includes it.
Zanzibar entry: mandatory travel insurance and Tanzania visa
Zanzibar inbound travel insurance, adultforeign visitor, per person, per trip (max 92 days)
Tanzania visa (Zanzibar), Multiple entry for US citizensUSA passport holders visiting for tourism (they cannot get the Ordinary visa); valid 1 year, max 90 days per stay
Who must buy the insurance. Compulsory for every foreign visitor entering Zanzibar, even if you already hold your own travel or medical insurance. Only a Zanzibar Insurance Corporation policy counts.4
What the insurance covers. Emergency medical expenses, medical and body repatriation, personal accident, baggage delay, theft and loss, legal expenses and personal liability. The basic plan excludes terrorism.5
How long the insurance lasts. Valid inside Tanzania for up to 92 consecutive days, per the dates on the policy certificate. It cannot be renewed: stay longer and you buy a new policy.6
Since when. Mandatory for all foreign visitors to Zanzibar since 1 October 2024.7
Where to buy the insurance. Online at inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz, which the insurer calls the only official website for it.8
Arriving via Dar es Salaam or the mainland. Mainland Tanzania also requires inbound travel insurance from 1 October 2026. Your first point of entry decides the insurer: Zanzibar first means ZIC (inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz); the mainland first means the National Insurance Corporation (inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz). One valid policy covers both, so you don't pay twice.9
Visa: online or on arrival. Get the visa online through Tanzania Immigration Services (visa.immigration.go.tz, linked from immigration.go.tz) or on arrival at an official entry point. Immigration recommends applying online.10
Visa: one visa for mainland and Zanzibar. Pick your first destination on the form; the same visa lets you visit both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.11
Who needs no visa. Citizens of EAC countries, SADC countries (except Comoros) and Commonwealth countries, except the UK, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.12
Zanzibar airport. Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA), run by the Zanzibar Airports Authority.13
Child and adult ages. The child fare is for ages 5-11 and the adult fare for 12 and over. Azam says children under 5 cannot be booked.18
Pay in US dollars. Foreign passengers pay in USD; pounds sterling and euros are also accepted, other currencies are not.19
Bring your passport. Foreign passengers must carry their passport when travelling between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.20
Luggage allowance. 25 kg per person; extra luggage is charged.21
Missed sailings and cancellation. No refunds for missed dates or times. To cancel, tell the office at least 2 hours before departure. Online bookings are confirmed only once paid.22
Where to buy tickets. At Azam offices in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or Pemba, or from approved travel agents. Don't buy from people in the street claiming to be agents. Non-residents can also book online from azammarine.com.23
Checked 3 November 2026 on Azam Marine & Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries.
Questions people ask
How far is Zanzibar airport from Stone Town?
About 5 km. Transfer listings give ≈ 20–30 minutes by car to Stone Town hotels.
How long is the drive from the airport to Nungwi or Paje?
Allow ≈ 1–1.5 hours to the north coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) or the east coast (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi), depending on traffic and where the hotel is.
What if my flight is late?
Pre-booked transfers usually track your flight. One listing, for example, includes 1 hour of free waiting from the actual landing time and charges extra waiting locally.
Do I need anything on arrival at Zanzibar airport?
Your visa (or visa-on-arrival fee) and Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance, which every foreign visitor must buy from the official Zanzibar insurer even with their own insurance. The amounts are on the fee card.
Can I book the Dar es Salaam ferry here?
Ferry tickets alone are not sold on GetYourGuide or Headout. You can book a transfer-plus-ferry package or a day trip with the ferry included, or buy a ticket from the ferry company's own offices or approved agents.
What do I need for the ferry?
Your passport, which foreign passengers must carry between Zanzibar and the mainland, and US dollars (pounds and euros are also accepted). Luggage allowance is 25 kg per person.
Should I tip the driver?
Tips are not included in transfer prices and are up to you.
zic.co.tz — “Cost USD 44 per adult USD 22 per child USD 22 for travelers from SADC and EAC member states” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “The fee for Ordinary Visa is 50 USD and has a validity of up to 90 days;” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “The fee for Multiple Visa is 100 USD and has a validity of 1 year.” (checked 3 November 2026)
zic.co.tz — “Even if a traveler already holds valid travel or medical insurance from another provider, this insurance remains mandatory as part of the official entry requirements.” (checked 3 November 2026)
inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz — “The basic covers provided are the cost of emergency medical expenses and repatriation expenses (body and medical) personal accident baggage delay theft and lost legal expenses personal liabilities etc.” (checked 3 November 2026)
inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz — “Policy covers are valid inside of Tanzania for a maximum of 92 consecutive days.” (checked 3 November 2026)
jp.tzembassy.go.tz — “The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has issued a travel notification noting, that from 1st October 2024, it will be mandatory for all foreign visitors to acquire inbound travel insurance” (checked 3 November 2026)
inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz — “Important: This is the only official website to apply for your Zanzibar travel insurance.” (checked 3 November 2026)
zic.co.tz — “The applicable Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance shall be determined according to the visitor's first point of entry into the United Republic of Tanzania.” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “There are two options available for obtaining Tanzania Visa. The first option is obtaining Visa by applying online through Tanzania Immigration Services official website (www.immigration.go.tz) ; and the second option is obtaining Visa on arrival at official entry point.” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “If an applicant wishes to visit both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, he/she is advised to select his first destination while filling the form. But he will be allowed to visit both places without a need for a new Visa;” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “These are EAC Member State countries, SADC member countries except Comoro and Commonwealth countries except United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.” (checked 3 November 2026)
zaa.go.tz — “Major Airpors operated by Zanzibar Airports Authority are Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) and Pemba Airport.” (checked 3 November 2026)
azammarine.com — “For our rates, children are considered to be between 5 and 11 years of age, while adult rates are for passengers aged 12 and above. We kindly inform you that children under 5 years of age are not eligible for ticket bookings.” (checked 3 November 2026)
azammarine.com — “Foreign passengers are required to pay for their tickets in United States Dollars (USD$). We do however accept payments in UK Pound Sterling (Stg) and Euro (€). All other currencies are not acceptable.” (checked 3 November 2026)
azammarine.com — “All foreign passengers (none Tanzanian citizens) are required to carry their passports when traveling between the islands of Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.” (checked 3 November 2026)
azammarine.com — “Permitted Luggage is 25 Kg per person. Any extra luggage will be charged.” (checked 3 November 2026)
azammarine.com — “No refund policy on missed travel dates or times. In case of cancellation, our office should be informed 2 Hours prior to departure. Online bookings are not considered confirmed until payment has been made” (checked 3 November 2026)
azammarine.com — “We recommend all passengers buy their tickets from our offices in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, or Pemba and from our approved travel agents throughout the country. Please do not buy tickets from people in the streets claiming to be our agents.” (checked 3 November 2026)
zaa.go.tz — airport name and location ≈ 5 km south of Zanzibar City
