Getting around · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Getting around Zanzibar
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This photo was taken by Anton Zelenov . Please credit this with : Photo : Anton Zelenov in, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Stone Town is explored on foot, while the beaches are 1–1.5 hours away by road. Most visitors use private transfers or taxis between areas; dala-dala minibuses are the low-cost local option, and ferries link Stone Town with Dar es Salaam. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- ZNZ
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Walking
Stone Town's lanes are too narrow for cars; the Old Fort, Forodhani, Darajani Market and the ferry port are all within a 15-minute walk.
Taxi
Taxis and private transfers are the usual way between Stone Town, the airport and the beach areas; agree the fare in advance, as there are no meters.
Ask your hotel to book a driver; prices are often quoted in US dollars.
Bus
Dala-dalas — shared minibuses and converted trucks — run from Darajani in Stone Town to villages across the island; cheap and slow, with stops on demand.
Ferry
Fast ferries connect Stone Town with Dar es Salaam in about 2 hours, several times a day.
Buy tickets at the official ferry offices or online, not from touts at the port.
Scooter
Scooters and cars can be rented, but roads have police checkpoints and rental and licensing rules apply; check requirements with the rental company.
Boat
Boat trips leave from Stone Town's beach for Prison Island and the sandbanks, and from Nungwi, Kendwa and Matemwe for Mnemba Atoll.
From the airport
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is about 6 km south-east of Stone Town, about 15–20 minutes by taxi. Transfers to Nungwi, Kendwa or Paje take about 1–1.5 hours; many hotels arrange pickups.
Do you need a car?
No. Taxis and hotel transfers are the easiest way between areas, and boat trips and tours include transport. A car is only worthwhile for travellers who want to explore independently and are comfortable with local driving.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Mnemba Atoll | About 1 hour by road and 20–40 minutes by boat | Road transfer to Matemwe or Nungwi, then boat |
| Jozani Forest | About 45 minutes by car | Taxi, tour or dala-dala towards the east coast |
| Kizimkazi | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Taxi or tour |
| Pemba Island | About 30 minutes by plane | Domestic flight from Zanzibar or ferry |
| Dar es Salaam | About 2 hours by fast ferry | Fast ferry from Stone Town |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Zanzibar?
No. Taxis and hotel transfers are the easiest way between areas, and boat trips and tours include transport. A car is only worthwhile for travellers who want to explore independently and are comfortable with local driving.
+How do you get from the airport to Zanzibar?
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is about 6 km south-east of Stone Town, about 15–20 minutes by taxi. Transfers to Nungwi, Kendwa or Paje take about 1–1.5 hours; many hotels arrange pickups.
+What is the best way to get around Zanzibar?
Walking: Stone Town's lanes are too narrow for cars; the Old Fort, Forodhani, Darajani Market and the ferry port are all within a 15-minute walk.