There are two ways to get to Zanzibar from mainland Tanzania: a flight of twenty to thirty minutes from Dar es Salaam, or a fast ferry crossing of roughly one and a half to two hours from Dar es Salaam port. Both run several times daily and can be booked in advance or on the day. Flights also connect Zanzibar directly with Arusha, Kilimanjaro and the northern safari circuit, making a combined safari and beach trip straightforward.
One thing to settle before anything else: Zanzibar runs its own immigration, so even a domestic flight from Dar involves passport control and a check of your mandatory island insurance on arrival.
Flying to Zanzibar From Dar es Salaam
The quickest route by a wide margin. Flights leave Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and land at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport just outside Zanzibar City, with the air time running about twenty to thirty minutes.
Several carriers work the route, including Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, Flightlink, Precision Air and Air Tanzania, with departures spread through the day. Auric Air and Coastal run the highest frequencies. Aircraft are usually small turboprops, and the baggage allowance reflects that, so check the limit if you are carrying safari kit.
Booking a few weeks ahead brings the fare down noticeably. Afternoon departures tend to be cheaper than morning ones, and the route is busy enough that same day seats are usually available outside peak season.
Give yourself a buffer between an international arrival in Dar and a connecting flight to Zanzibar. Domestic departures often use a separate terminal, and the transfer between them takes longer than the schedule assumes.
Taking the Ferry From Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
The sea route is the cheaper option and the one most independent travellers take. Fast ferries run daily from the terminal in central Dar es Salaam to the port on the northern edge of Stone Town, crossing in roughly one and a half to two hours, with the quickest services closer to an hour and three quarters.
Azam Marine is the main operator and the one most commonly recommended for tourists, with Zan Fast Ferries and others also working the route. Between them they run several sailings a day in each direction, with more frequent departures during the June to September high season.
Several classes are sold, from economy seating up to VIP and royal class with air conditioning and reserved seats. The price gap between them is substantial and the crossing is short, so economy is perfectly reasonable unless you are prone to seasickness, in which case the upper decks are steadier.
Children usually travel at a reduced rate. Bring a passport, since immigration is processed at the Zanzibar end.
Buying Ferry Tickets Without Getting Caught Out
This is the part of the Zanzibar trip where people most often lose money.
Fake tickets sold by people approaching travellers outside both terminals are a persistent problem, and so are third party booking sites whose vouchers the operators do not recognise at the counter. Several travellers have reported turning up with a paid confirmation and being refused boarding.
Buy from the operator’s own counter at the terminal, or from the operator’s own website. Not from a stranger on the street, not from an agent with a laminated sign, and ideally not from a resale platform you have not verified. If you are booking ahead, confirm that what you receive is an actual ticket rather than a reservation to be exchanged.
Arrive at least forty five minutes before departure, longer in peak season, since security and boarding take time.
Flying to Zanzibar From Arusha and Kilimanjaro
Anyone finishing a northern circuit safari usually flies straight to the coast rather than routing back through Dar.
Flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport and from Arusha’s domestic airport reach Zanzibar in around an hour, flown by Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Flightlink and others. Fares are higher than the Dar hop but the time saved is considerable.
Booking a fortnight or more in advance makes a real difference to the price on this route. Direct services are usually cheaper than anything routing through Dar es Salaam, and they avoid a connection that can go wrong.
Flying Direct From the Serengeti to Zanzibar
Light aircraft connect the Serengeti airstrips with Zanzibar directly, which is the most efficient way to end a safari on the beach and the reason so many itineraries are built that way.
Auric Air and Coastal Aviation are the main operators on these routes, flying scheduled circuits that pick up from several airstrips before continuing to the coast. That means the route often includes short hops and brief stops rather than a single direct leg, and total travel time can run to several hours even though the distance is modest.
Baggage limits on light aircraft are strict, typically around fifteen kilograms in a soft bag, and hard suitcases are frequently refused. Camps will store excess luggage or forward it separately if you ask.
Book these flights early for the July to October peak, when the operators add extra services and still fill them.
Safari to sand in a single morning is the whole appeal of Tanzania as a destination. The connection is the easy part; the baggage allowance is what catches people.
Getting to Pemba and the Other Islands
Pemba, the archipelago’s second island, lies fifty to sixty kilometres north of Unguja and is reached separately. Flights run from Zanzibar and from Dar es Salaam to Chake Chake on Pemba, taking around half an hour from Zanzibar.
Ferries also connect Pemba with Unguja and with Tanga on the mainland coast, though services are less frequent than the Dar route and the crossing is considerably longer and rougher.
Mafia Island, further south, is reached by air from Dar es Salaam rather than through Zanzibar, though it is often grouped with the archipelago in travel writing.
Immigration, Insurance and Entry Formalities on Arrival
Zanzibar’s semi autonomous status means it runs its own entry checks, and there are two documents to have ready whether you arrive by air or by sea.
The first is your visa for Tanzania, which most nationalities buy online in advance or on arrival at the international airport. If you entered the mainland already, you do not need a second visa; Zanzibar immigration simply checks the one you hold.
The second is the mandatory inbound travel insurance issued by the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, required of all foreign visitors and bought through the official government portal before you travel. It produces a QR code that immigration scans, your own policy from home does not replace it, and arriving without it means being pulled aside to sort it on the spot.
Carry a passport for the crossing even on a domestic route, and keep the insurance certificate saved offline and printed.
Choosing Between the Flight and the Ferry
Take the flight if you are short on time, carrying a lot of luggage, prone to seasickness, travelling with young children, or connecting from a safari. It costs more and removes most of the friction.
Take the ferry if you are watching the budget, already in central Dar es Salaam, or actively want the crossing. The terminal in Dar is central, whereas the airport is not, which narrows the real time difference more than the flight duration suggests.
Consider the season. The channel is calmest from June to October and during January and February. During the long rains of March to May the crossing can be rough enough to be unpleasant, and the flight becomes better value than the price gap implies.
Factor in transfers. Zanzibar’s airport sits south of Stone Town while the ferry docks at the edge of the old town itself, so ferry passengers staying in Stone Town walk to their accommodation while flight passengers pay for a taxi.
Onward Transfers Once You Arrive in Zanzibar
Wherever you land, you still have to reach your accommodation, and this is where quiet overcharging happens.
Pre booking a transfer through your hotel is the simplest fix and lands close to the official rate. Unofficial drivers at arrivals quote whatever they judge you will pay, particularly for the longer runs to the north coast. Shared shuttles between the airport and the main beach areas run at fixed times for far less than a private car.
Allow around an hour and a half to Nungwi or Kendwa in the north, an hour to an hour and a quarter to Matemwe, about an hour east to Paje and Jambiani, and fifteen to twenty minutes into Stone Town.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting to Zanzibar
How much does it cost to get from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar?
Flights run roughly $40 to $125 one way in economy, with cheaper fares found by booking a few weeks ahead and flying in the afternoon. Fast ferry tickets start around $35 to $40 for economy class and climb past $100 for VIP and royal class. From Arusha or Kilimanjaro, flights typically run $104 to $200 one way.
How long does the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar take?
Roughly one and a half to two hours on the fast ferries, with the quickest services around one hour forty five minutes. Several sailings run daily in each direction, with more frequent departures between June and September. Crossing times can stretch on weekends and public holidays.
Do you need a visa to travel from mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar?
No separate visa is needed if you already hold a valid Tanzanian visa, which most nationalities buy online in advance for around $50, or $100 for US citizens. Zanzibar does run its own immigration checks, so carry your passport even on a domestic flight. You must also hold the mandatory Zanzibar Insurance Corporation policy, which costs $44 per adult and $22 per child.
Is the ferry to Zanzibar safe?
The main operators, particularly Azam Marine, are used routinely by locals and visitors alike and maintain reasonable standards. The bigger risk is commercial rather than physical: fake tickets sold outside both terminals and unrecognised third party vouchers are a recurring problem. Buy at the operator’s own counter or website, and arrive at least forty five minutes before departure.
Can you fly direct from the Serengeti to Zanzibar?
Yes. Auric Air and Coastal Aviation fly scheduled light aircraft routes from Serengeti airstrips to Zanzibar, though these often make short stops at other strips along the way, so allow several hours. Baggage is limited to roughly fifteen kilograms in a soft bag, and hard suitcases are frequently refused. Book early for the July to October peak.
Should you fly or take the ferry to Zanzibar?
Fly if you are short on time, carrying heavy luggage, travelling with small children or connecting from a safari. Take the ferry if you are already in central Dar es Salaam and watching the budget, since the terminal is central and the airport is not. During the long rains from March to May the crossing can be rough, which tilts the decision towards flying.
The mainland to island link is simple until a connection slips or a ferry ticket turns out not to be a ferry ticket, and both happen often enough to be worth planning around. Holidays To Zanzibar arranges these transfers as part of a full itinerary, books the flights that actually connect, and handles the Zanzibar insurance requirement so it is not something you discover at the desk.
For a safari and beach trip joined up properly, or just a straight answer on flying versus sailing for your dates, get in touch with Holidays To Zanzibar and a real person will reply.