Zanzibar Town Transportation

I stayed on the East Coast of Zanzibar Island, about 1hour and 15 min from Stone Town. The safest and cheapest we could find was 40 USD. The hotel had an asking price of 80 USD! (It is for a return trip).
We did explore the possibility of using a dala-dala, but it did not seem to be very safe, and it also takes about 3x longer to get there.

We flew directly from Johannesburg to Zanzibar with 1Time. This is a budget airline in South Africa, flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays to Zanzibar and back from Jo'burg. The major advantage of this option is that you do not need to fly to Dar Es Salaam first, getting a connection to Zanzibar. Flying time is only 3 hours!
It is a very popular route and both flights were 100% full, so book early. By booking early, you will also bet discounted fares of about 400 – 500 USD (return).

Make sure to agree the price before you you enter the Taxi. It's also recommended to book the taxi the day before you shall go to the airport. In case there are no taxis available. The hotel can help you with that.

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Approaching Zanzibar with a ferry is an ordinary view on long distance. But when you are closer, you can see the typical buildings in Stonetown. It's quiote picturesque. The harbour is right in the middle of Stonetown.

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Zanzibar airport is located only 15 minutes drive from Stonetown. It's an airport with a very small terminal building. The check-in queue started actually outside in the street, and the counter was just inside the pavement. It was raining the day I left, and I was standing in the queue across the street and became wet.

The runway is just big enough to handle some large airplanes. I took Condor, a B767 to Frankfurt. Air Italy, Gulf Air, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM and Kenya Airways are some other airlines.

Note that you have to pay 30 USD in terminal fee (October 2008). And you have to do this even if you have paid the airport tax in your airticket. This is an irregular fee claimed by the Zanzibar airport. I'm sorry to write this. For the Tanzanian people the passengers are just tourists with too much money.

Even at the security scan, the officers asked for a tip. I have never seen a behaviour like this at any airport. And the stupid charter tourists paid. The old german woman in front of me paid 10000 Tanzanian shilling to the man who checked her luggage. That is almost 10 USD the security officer could put in his own pocket.

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PRECISION AIR is a small well-run airline based in Tanzania. Unlike many airlines that fly you about 6 miles above the earth, Precision air has a fleet of smaller planes allowing you to see the real beauty of Eastern Africa. Their fleet consists of ATR 42’s, an ATR-72 and LET – 410’s. While most travellers to Tanzania see just clouds, you can see the plains of Kenya and the awe-inspiring sight of Mount Kilimanjaro. Always ask the staff which is the best side to sit on for their flight. I flew on the right hand side from Nairobi to Zanzibar and had a first class seat to view Mount Kilimanjaro. Staff are friendly and genuinely seem to be happy to see you aboard. This airline is a partner of Kenya Airways, so you can combine their flights with your adventures.

A taxi from the Airport to Stone Town should only be about $7-8. You have to haggle.

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Converted pick-ups or Dalla-Dallas (minibuses) link all major towns on Zanzibar Island. The main 'Bus Station' is on Creek Road just beside the Darajani Market on the edge of Stone Town. They tend to leave once an impossible number of people have been squeezed into, and often onto, these overworked vehicles. Each one has a number and many are decorated with English Football teams logos. The ones with letters on them have routes in Zanzibar Town. Numbers indicate farther destinations.

Destinations around Zanzibar Town:

A Amani Stadium
B Bububu
J Jangombe
M Magomeni
U Airport

Destinations accross the island:

1 Mkokotoni (sometimes Nungwi as well)
2 Mangapwani & Bumbwini
3 Kizimbani
4 Mchangani
5 Ndagaa
6 Chwaka (sometimes to Uroa)
7 Fumba
8 Unguja Ukuu
9 Paje (sometimes Bwejuu or Jambiani)
10 Jozani, Makunduchi and Kizimkazi Junction
11 Fuoni
14 Uroa
16 Nungwi
17 Kiwengwa
18 Matemwe

I did see others with 3 Numbers, like the 309 in Jambiani. These may be internal routes and not go to Stone Town. Always best to ask 2 questions: 1) Where are you going? and 2) Are you going today?

Dalla-Dalla's can be a very cheap way to leave Stone Town and can give you some real insight into the lives of native people. It can also be a crowded and not overly safe way to get there. Some outlying areas are only served once a day.

Returning to Stone Town from remote areas may not be possible by Dalla-Dalla. Just look at one of my pictures of 5-6 passengers on the roof. And if it is really far out, they may leave before 6am. You may not be able to get on board.

Please feel free to add this to your "Custom Travel Guide" and print it off before you go!

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Air Tanzania calls itself ‘The wings of Kilimanjaro’ and they have some excellent prices within Tanzania. Their international flight prices are not as economical. You might want to consider flying as a quicker transport option at these prices