Booking & Trip Planning
5 min readHow to Book Zanzibar: Ferries, Flights, and the Visa You Probably Don't Know About
This article is part of: Zanzibar, Tanzania in EAT THE PLANE TICKET
Zanzibar is harder to reach than it should be. You either fly to mainland Tanzania and take a ferry, or fly direct from outside Africa. Here's the routing that saves time and money.
The Visa Situation
Tanzania requires a visa ($50–100) on arrival or pre-arranged. Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region with its own visa system, but if you're entering from mainland, your Tanzania visa covers it.
US/EU/UK: $50 USD on arrival at Dar es Salaam. Bring cash (USD preferred).
Getting There: 3 Options
Option 1: Fly to Dar, Ferry to Zanzibar (Cheapest)
Fly to Dar es Salaam (international airport)
Bus to ferry terminal (30 minutes, $2–3)
Ferry Dar → Zanzibar (1.5–4 hours depending on ferry type, $15–40)
Total transport cost: $35–50
Best if flying from Europe/Africa
Option 2: Direct Flight to Zanzibar (Fastest)
Fly Dar → Zanzibar domestic ($80–120)
45 minutes flight time
Best if time is limited
Option 3: Fly into Kenya, Ferry from Mombasa (Scenic)
Fly to Nairobi or Mombasa
Ferry Mombasa → Zanzibar (14+ hours)
Adventurous but lengthy
Not recommended unless combining Kenya trip
The Booking Timeline
Plan ahead with this timeline:
3 months out
Book international flights to Dar es Salaam. Or fly into Kenya (Nairobi) if combining regions.
2.5 months out
Book Zanzibar accommodation (Stone Town or beach, 4–5 nights). Reserve if doing spice tour.
2 months out
Pre-arrange Tanzania visa (at embassy if slow-processing your nationality) or confirm arrival visa works.
1 month out
Book ferry Dar → Zanzibar (can often book online, but day-of works too).
1 week out
Confirm all bookings. Download offline maps (Zanzibar can have poor wifi).
Where to Stay in Zanzibar
Dodo Palace Hostel — Stone Town, $8–12 dorms, $30–45 privatesEmerson Spice Hotel — historic building, rooftop views, $100–150/night
Location decision: Stay in Stone Town (walkable, historic, food, no beach) or on a beach (Nungwi, Paje — more resort-style, less genuine).
First trip: Stone Town. Return visit: Beach area.
Flights to Dar es Salaam
From Africa: Flights from Nairobi, Johannesburg, or other African hubs ($80–200)
From Europe: Via Middle East hubs (Doha, Dubai), usually $400–700 round trip
From US: Connections through Middle East or Europe, $800–1,200 round trip
Booking window: 6–8 weeks ahead for best prices
The Ferry Reality
Fast ferries (1.5–2 hours): $35–45, frequent departures, modern boats
Slow ferries (3–4 hours): $15–20, less frequent, older boats, rougher seas
Which to choose: Fast ferry if not motion-sensitive. Worth the extra $20–25.
Booking: Book day-of at terminal or online via Zanzibar Ferry Company
What to Budget for 4 Days
Here\'s the breakdown:
Flight Dar → Zanzibar (or ferry)$40–120
Accommodation (3 nights, mid-range)$300–450
Daily food ($8–15/day)$24–45
Spice tour$20–30
Snorkeling/activities$30–50
Transport (local)$10–15
Total on-ground$424–710
Plus international flights to Dar.
Practical Details
Currency: Tanzanian shilling (1 USD = 2,600 TZS roughly). ATMs in Stone Town. Bring USD backup.
Language: Swahili + English in tourist areas. Phrase guide helps.
Weather: Dry season June–October (best). Hot/humid November–May. Rain possible.
Internet: Wifi exists but spotty. Get a local SIM card ($5, data included).
The Visa Gotcha
Some nationalities can get a "free" transit visa (24 hours) if just connecting. If staying 3+ days, get the full visa. The distinction matters at immigration.
Check current requirements for your nationality before traveling.
This article is part of:
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