Travel tips · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanzibar travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Mbz1 assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Zanzibar's culture is Swahili, shaped by centuries of trade linking Africa, Arabia, Persia and India, and its people are overwhelmingly Muslim. Hospitality is warm and greetings matter; outside resorts and beaches, modest dress and respect for local customs are expected, especially in Stone Town and the villages.
Key facts
- Language
- Swahili and English
- Currency
- TZS
- Plugs
- Type G (British three-pin) sockets are most common, with some Type D; 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water, which most hotels…
- Emergency
- 112 (police and emergency services)
Things to know
- Cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages; swimwear is for the beach and hotel only.
- Greet people before asking a question; a simple 'jambo' or 'habari' opens conversations.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women and in villages.
- Use your right hand for eating and giving.
- During Ramadan, whose dates move about 11 days earlier each year, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight outside hotels.
- Say 'shikamoo' as a respectful greeting to older people.
- Book The Rock restaurant ahead: Tables, especially at sunset, sell out days ahead; reserve directly before you go.
- Carry cash: ATMs are mostly in Stone Town and a few beach villages, and many small places do not take cards.
Tipping
Tips are appreciated: about 10% in restaurants if no service charge is added, and tips for guides, boat crews and drivers at the end of a trip.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Jambo / Habari | Hello / How are you? |
| Asante (sana) | Thank you (very much) |
| Karibu | Welcome / you're welcome |
| Hapana, asante | No, thank you |
| Pole pole | Slowly, slowly |
| Bei gani? | How much? |
What to wear
Light, loose cotton clothes that cover shoulders and knees for Stone Town and villages; reef shoes for the tidal flats and a sun hat for boat trips.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type G (British three-pin) sockets are most common, with some Type D; 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water, which most hotels provide.
- Emergency number
- 112 (police and emergency services)
- Phone and internet
- Tanzanian SIM cards and eSIMs give good coverage in Stone Town and most beach villages; hotel Wi-Fi can be slow.
- Time zone
- Africa/Dar es Salaam
Check your own government's travel advice before travel. Common issues are persistent beach vendors and unofficial guides, petty theft from bags left on the beach, and sea urchins and strong currents on the reefs; avoid walking alone on unlit beaches at night, and seek medical advice on malaria prevention before you go.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Tanzania's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Zanzibar?
Tips are appreciated: about 10% in restaurants if no service charge is added, and tips for guides, boat crews and drivers at the end of a trip.
+Can you drink the tap water in Zanzibar?
Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water, which most hotels provide.
+What plugs are used in Zanzibar?
Type G (British three-pin) sockets are most common, with some Type D; 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Zanzibar?
Swahili and English.