Pole Pole: How to Get Around Zanzibar

Most visitors arrive here, and the first hour sets the tone — sorting the transfer, cash and a SIM before you land makes it painless.

Queues at immigration can take over an hour in July–August and December–January. Arriving at night means fewer drivers and dark roads to the coast, so pre-book.

Buy the Zanzibar inbound insurance on the official site (inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz) before you fly and keep the certificate. Arrange a hotel transfer, a driver from our directory or a Zanzibus shuttle or taxi in advance. There are ATMs and a bureau de change at the Terminal 3 exit, and SIM-card kiosks nearby — registering a SIM needs your passport.

Don't go with someone who leads you to a car parked away from the main area. Agree the fare and currency before getting in. Buy insurance only from the official site — there are look-alikes. At ATMs, decline the offer to convert to your home currency.

• We couldn't confirm whether the new Terminal 2 building has opened.
• Where exactly the electric bus stops at the airport, and how often it runs, wasn't published.
• Exchange rates and SIM prices at the airport are usually worse than in town.

The quickest way off the island: a safari can start the same morning you leave the beach.

All year, but Coastal suspends some bush routes, including Nyerere, from mid-March to the end of May in the long rains. Bush flights stop at other strips on the way, so times are approximate.

Book on the airline's own website or through your safari operator, and check which terminal your flight uses. Allow time to transfer from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 if you're connecting.

Small planes have strict luggage limits: Coastal and ZanAir allow 15 kg, and Auric and Flightlink 20 kg. Soft bags are strongly preferred and Flightlink doesn't take wheeled carry-ons. On a safari itinerary the lowest limit applies, so pack to about 15 kg in a soft bag; Coastal will store extra luggage at its Dar office.

• We read Coastal's and Flightlink's current timetables; the other airlines' routes come from their route lists and flight trackers, so check before you book.
• Wikipedia lists Flightlink to Pemba, but its current timetable doesn't.
• Air Tanzania's and Precision Air's luggage rules weren't checked.

The simplest way to get between the airport, Stone Town and the beaches without haggling or paying for a whole car — the fare is fixed and paid before you travel.

Plan around the timetable: the morning shuttle suits a flight landing before about 09:00, and the 16:00 shuttle from the beaches is tight for an evening flight. Book at least a day ahead; same-day seats didn't show as available when we checked. Taxis need at least two hours' notice, ideally a day.

Book online at thezanzibus.com and pay by card (it uses Stripe or PayPal); changes and questions go by WhatsApp. Private taxis are booked online too but paid in cash — US dollars or shillings — to the driver. Each shuttle seat includes one large and one small bag; ask on WhatsApp before bringing more.

Confirm your pickup by WhatsApp the day before, especially for an airport collection — the reviews are mostly good, but at least one recent one describes a driver who never came. Keep the operator's number and a back-up plan for a tight flight connection.

• Its own pages disagree in places: one says shuttles collect you from your accommodation, but the timetable and stop maps use fixed meeting points; its day-trip page suggests a morning bus into Stone Town, but the timetable only runs that way at 16:00. Check with the operator before you plan around either.
• Cancellation terms are strict: a partial refund more than a day ahead, nothing in the last 24 hours, and one free change of date.
• There's a night surcharge on taxis that start before 08:00 or after 20:00.
• Its claim to be the island's only shuttle service is its own.

The cheapest way across the island by far, and the most local — you'll share a bench with schoolchildren, market traders and their shopping.

Daytime. Guides say most routes thin out by about eight in the evening (the Nungwi route runs later), and services are scarce after sunset during Ramadan. Avoid the commuter rush, roughly 07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00, if you're carrying bags.

Stand by the road and wave one down, or find your route's line at Darajani. Pay the conductor — he rides on the back step — in cash once you're moving, and keep small notes. To get off, tell him or tap the roof. Bags go on your lap, up front or on the roof, sometimes for an extra fare.

At Darajani, ignore helpful strangers who insist yours is a "private bus" with a higher fare; pay only the conductor, and only once the vehicle is moving. Keep your phone and wallet on you — it gets crowded.

• No room for big suitcases; this is for day bags and light travel.
• Driving can be fast and the trucks are open-sided — there are roll-down blinds for the rain.
• Route numbers and terminals come from travel guides, not an official map, and can change.
• The big passenger trucks were long nicknamed "chai maharage" (tea and beans); officially they're now gari za shamba, country vehicles.

Door to door at any hour, with room for luggage, children and surfboards — and the only sensible way back from dinner after dark.

Any time. After dark, use a driver your hotel or the community knows rather than the first car you find, and book late-night and early-morning airport runs the day before.

Ask your hotel, or message a driver from our directory on WhatsApp with where, when and how many people; most reply quickly and quote a price. For a day out, agree the stops and the waiting time with the price. Pay cash at the end — dollars or shillings — and tip if you're happy, at your discretion.

Agree whether the price is per car or per person, and in which currency, before you set off. Walk-up quotes at the airport and the port are often far higher than pre-booked ones. There are no child seats; bring your own if you need one.

• There's no official fare list, rank map or day rate — prices are whatever you agree.
• The red-plate rule is widely repeated but we couldn't find it in a current government source.
• Drivers' licences and insurance can't be checked by visitors; a recommendation is the best protection.

An upfront price with no haggling for short trips around Stone Town, the port and the airport road.

Daytime in and around Stone Town. Don't rely on it at the beaches, late at night or for a flight — reports disagree on whether drivers wait at the airport.

Install Bolt and set up payment before you arrive; you'll need mobile data. Check the plate in the app matches the vehicle before getting in. Pay in the app where you can.

If a driver says Bolt hasn't paid them and asks for cash on top, decline — the price in the app is the price. A motorbike booked through the app carries the same risks as any boda boda; see that entry.

• Coverage outside Stone Town is patchy at best.
• Uber is not available in Tanzania.
• Which vehicle types appear in the app on Zanzibar isn't consistent between Bolt's page and travellers' reports.

Cheaper than a taxi for a short ride, easy to find, and breezy in the heat.

Daytime and early evening. After dark, a taxi from a driver you know is the safer choice.

Flag one down or ask where they wait — there's usually a cluster near the main junction or the market. Agree the fare before you get in, and pay cash. Bolt reportedly offers bajaji in and around Stone Town.

They're light open vehicles and some drivers are fast, so hold on and keep bags inside. Agree the fare for the whole group, not per person, before setting off.

• No fixed fares or licensing rules that we could find.
• Not suitable for luggage beyond a day bag.

When you need a short ride right now and nothing else is about — but think twice.

Daylight and dry roads only. Avoid them in the rains, when the roads are slippery, and after dark.

Riders wait at junctions and markets, or wave one down. Agree the fare first, insist on a helmet and wear it, and carry nothing that will unbalance the bike. Bolt also books motorbike rides in Stone Town.

Check your travel insurance before you ride: many policies only cover a motorbike passenger who wears a helmet and whose rider is properly licensed, and visitors can't check the licence. Helmets often aren't offered unless you ask.

• Mainland Tanzania's rules (two helmets, one passenger, no young children) don't automatically apply on Zanzibar, which regulates its own transport; we couldn't find Zanzibar's own rules on helmets or passengers.
• We couldn't confirm whether the official boda fares announced in 2025 are in use.

The only way to stop wherever you like — a beach café, Jozani, a village market — and to move between coasts on your own schedule.

Daylight only. Every source, including the UK government, advises against driving outside towns after dark: no street lights, people and animals on the road, and unlit vehicles. In the long rains (roughly mid-March to May) dirt roads flood and some east-coast sand stretches need a 4×4.

Book directly with a firm by WhatsApp or its website, send your licence for the permit, and arrange delivery. Photograph the car from every side at handover, get the insurance excess in writing, and fill up in Stone Town, Nungwi or Paje — stations are scarce in the south-east and mostly take cash. Don't try to drive into Stone Town's old town; park near the seafront and walk.

Police checkpoints are frequent on the main roads; carry your licence, the permit and the rental papers. The UK government says police should not take on-the-spot payments — a fine comes with a government control number to pay — so ask for the officer's ID and phone the rental company if anything seems wrong. Slow right down in villages: speed bumps are often unmarked and the limits are enforced.

• Insurance ranges from third-party only to full cover; ask exactly what's included.
• There are no roadside breakdown services; the rental company is your rescue.
• Speed limits are low in villages, but sources disagree on the exact figures and we found no official table.
• Rental cars can't be taken off the island.

Cheap, easy to park and perfect for hopping between beach cafés, kite spots and villages on the east coast.

Daylight and dry weather. Ride early or late in the day out of the heat, and be off the road by dusk.

Book by WhatsApp with a firm that has a proper base and delivers to you. Test the brakes and tyres, start with a full tank, get the breakdown arrangement in writing and keep the permit yourself rather than leaving it with the firm. Don't hand over your passport as a deposit.

Check your travel insurance first: most policies exclude scooters unless you hold the right motorbike licence at home and wear a helmet, and many car licences don't cover anything over 50cc. Rental insurance is limited or non-existent. Watch for sand on the east-coast tracks, potholes and close-passing minibuses.

• We couldn't confirm whether a car licence plus the Zanzibar permit is legally enough for a 125cc scooter.
• Police check riders often, especially on the north road and the east-coast main road; carry your licence and permit.
• We found no scooter firm with its own website in Nungwi or Kendwa; ask your hotel.

The quietest way to see village life, cheap, and no permit needed.

Before about 11:00, before the heat. Ride the beach on a falling tide and leave it before the water comes back. Never at night — there are no street lights. The long rains turn interior dirt tracks to slippery mud.

Tide: On the east coast the sea goes out a very long way at low tide and the times shift by about 50 minutes each day; ask your hotel for a tide table before riding on the beach.

Book an On The Go bike online and unlock it with your phone (your first booking needs ID), or ask your hotel or Zan Ocean. Take at least two litres of water, sun cream, a lock and an offline map. Lock the bike and walk once you reach Stone Town's lanes.

Check the brakes and tyres before you set off. Avoid the main road between Stone Town and Nungwi, where minibuses pass close and fast. Ring your bell coming into villages and slow down by schools and markets.

• Shops in Stone Town don't always provide helmets.
• Cover shoulders and knees when you ride through villages.

Free, and the best way to see Stone Town's doors, balconies and street life — and the beaches as the locals use them.

Stone Town early in the morning or late afternoon, out of the midday heat; Forodhani from sunset. Beach walks on a falling tide, so you're done before it turns.

Tide: Plan beach walks around the tide: the Nungwi–Kendwa shore can flood at high tide, and on the east coast the water returns fast across the flats. Tide times shift by about 50 minutes a day; hotels hand out tide tables.

Download an offline map before you start. In Stone Town, watch for motorbikes and bicycles in the lanes. On the beach, wear reef shoes for the rocks and urchins, and carry water.

The UK government advises against walking alone at night, including on beaches, where assaults have been reported; take a taxi after dark outside the busy, lit streets. Carry bags loosely rather than across your chest — thieves on motorbikes snatch them. Ask before photographing people.

• Cover shoulders and knees away from the beach, especially in Stone Town and the villages; the UK government warns that visitors can be fined for clothing considered inappropriate.
• Forodhani's market is cash only, and touts there are persistent but generally harmless.
• We couldn't find reliable walking times for the east-coast beaches.

The classic way between Zanzibar and the mainland, cheaper than flying and with a view of Stone Town's waterfront as you sail in.

The early sailing is usually the calmest, because the wind builds through the day. The crossing is rougher in the kusi season, roughly June to October; take seasickness tablets before you board. Book a day or two ahead in July–September and over Christmas and New Year.

Book on the operator's own website or app (azammarine.com, zanfastferries.co.tz), by WhatsApp, or at the official ticket office — never from people in the street. Check in at least an hour before departure; Azam won't refund a late arrival. Azam allows 25 kg of luggage per person.

At both ends, porters in vests take bags as if it were compulsory and then ask for a fee — you don't have to use them. Ignore street ticket sellers, and agree any taxi fare before you get in: quotes outside the terminals are often several times the going rate. Find your life jacket once you're seated.

• Sources disagree on whether there's an immigration check at Stone Town; carry your passport and visa either way.
• Overnight sailings vary by night and their ships aren't named; check what you're booking.
• Older ships on Zanzibar's routes have sunk with great loss of life — stick to the scheduled operators.

Where you arrive by sea — and an easy walk to most Stone Town hotels.

Arrive an hour before your sailing to check in.

Walk to Stone Town hotels if your bags allow — the lanes are narrow anyway — or agree a taxi fare at the gate, or book a transfer. For the beaches, see the Zanzibus, taxis and dala dalas in this guide.

Expect porters, ticket touts and taxi drivers at the gate. Keep hold of your bags unless you want a porter, and don't hand your passport to anyone but an official.

• If you're on an overnight or vehicle ferry, ask the operator whether it leaves from Malindi or Maruhubi.
• We couldn't confirm which passenger services have moved to Maruhubi, or how to get there.

Pemba's reefs, clove plantations and empty beaches are a world away from Unguja's busy coasts — and the ferry is the cheaper way there.

Mornings. This is a longer open-water crossing than to Dar, and the kusi season (roughly June to October) brings more swell. The schedule changes from week to week, so check the days before you plan.

Book online with Azam Marine or Zan Fast Ferries, or at their offices at the port, and check which Pemba port you'll arrive at. Check in an hour ahead and bring your passport.

Stick to the scheduled operators and book through their official channels. Take seasickness tablets before you board if the sea is up.

• Zan Fast Ferries says it sails twice a day; its booking system showed once.
• Government ships also sail to Pemba, but we found no current timetable for them.

A short hop by wooden boat is half the fun of a day trip from Stone Town.

Mornings, before the wind gets up — it's choppier in the kusi months, roughly June to October. Sandbanks and some landings depend on the tide.

Tide: At low tide boats lie off the beach and you wade out — calf-deep, sometimes more. Chumbe provides reef shoes.

Agree the price, the return time and what's included on the Stone Town beach before you set off, or book through your hotel or a known operator. Book Chumbe directly with the reserve. Keep your phone and passport in a dry bag.

We found no official rule on life jackets for small tourist boats, and photos show them rarely worn. Check there are life jackets aboard, don't board an overloaded boat, and turn back if the sea looks wrong.

• Prison Island's entry fee is paid on the island and reports of it differ; take cash.
• Nungwi–Kendwa has no scheduled boat, only private hire.