Transport to Zanzibar airport is a bit confusing and typically "African" at first glance. In Zanzibar there are no traditional public transport buses or modern taxis with a meter.
Hotel transfer
Certainly the most convenient and assured transport is to arrange a transfer directly from the hotel before leaving home. Usually you just need to text the hotel with your arrival time and agree on a price.
Usually, you will pay for 1 km 1 usd to 1,50 usd. It always depends on the quality of the hotel and the distance. Generally, expect to pay between 40 usd to 60 usd from the airport to beach destinations.
If you travel with a travel agent, you don't have to deal with transport at all. A travel agency delegate will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall and will direct you to the bus directly to your hotel.
Pre-booked taxi
If you don't want to haggle with local taxi drivers after a long flight, book a taxi online in advance.
The largest company with the lowest prices providing online taxis is thezanzibus.com/book-online.
- Stone Town - 12 eur
- Beach destinations (any resort) - 35 eur
Taxi
There are always plenty of regular taxis outside the terminal. There are no taxi meters in Zanzibar and the price is always by appointment only and depends on your bargaining power.
Taxi drivers commonly accept US dollars and euros.
The price of normal local taxis should not exceed the following amounts:
- Stone Town - 10 usd
- Uroa - 45 usd
- Nungwi - 65 usd
Car Hire
There are no car rental companies located directly at the airport, however, international car rental companies such as Auto Union or Green Motion are located in the centre of Stone Town.
Due to weak competition, prices are relatively high and a weekly rental of a small car in high season works out at around 250 eur.
Dala Dala
There are also open vans called dala dala that run to the airport from the bus stand (Darajani market) in Stone Town.
These goofy vehicles are the only form of public transport in Zanzibar, as regular buses don't run here.
Line 505 runs between Stone Town and the airport, stopping only outside the domestic terminal. Fares cost 2000 tzs and are payable entirely in cash to the driver.
There are no timetables. It always departs when it fills up. The normal interval is therefore between 10 and 35 minutes. Dala dala only runs from dawn to dusk and the ride is very uncomfortable, especially with large luggage. You sit in the back of the hull on wooden benches under an improvised canopy.
