Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), just south of Stone Town, is a small, easily navigated airport, but the transfer out of it works differently to many places in this guide: there's no metro, no fixed-price airport bus and, for most visitors, no app to fall back on — taxis with a fare agreed on the spot are the default, so knowing roughly what to expect matters more here than usual.
Taxis: negotiate before you get in
Taxis wait outside arrivals and are the standard way to reach Stone Town, only around 15–20 minutes away, or one of the east coast resort areas, which can be an hour or more depending on the beach. Fares are agreed with the driver before you set off rather than metered, so it pays to have a rough idea of a fair price in mind — ask your hotel in advance what a reasonable fare looks like, since prices quoted to a first-time arrival can be considerably higher than what locals or repeat visitors pay.
Hotel and resort transfers
Many visitors, particularly those heading straight to a beach resort on the north or east coast — Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje or Jambiani — arrange a transfer directly through their hotel before arrival. This is usually the most stress-free option after a long flight: a driver waits with your name at arrivals, the price is fixed and known in advance, and there's no fare negotiation to navigate on a hot, tiring afternoon. It typically costs somewhat more than a taxi negotiated on the spot, but for many travellers the certainty is worth it, especially for the longer runs to the east coast.
Ride-hailing apps
Ride-hailing apps have a limited and inconsistent presence on Zanzibar compared with major mainland African cities, and coverage can vary, so it isn't a dependable fallback to plan around in the way Grab or Uber might be elsewhere in this guide. Check what's currently available locally rather than assuming an app will work reliably the moment you land — a negotiated taxi or a pre-booked transfer remains the more reliable default.
Getting to the east coast beaches
Resorts on the east coast — the area around Paje, Jambiani and Bwejuu, popular for kitesurfing and quieter beaches — are a considerably longer drive from the airport than Stone Town, often an hour to ninety minutes depending on the exact location and road conditions. Confirm the price for this longer distance specifically when negotiating a taxi, since it's a meaningfully different fare to a short Stone Town hop, and factor the extra travel time into your first day's plans if you're landing late.
Car hire and dala-dalas
Self-drive car hire is available but not the default choice for most short-stay visitors, given unfamiliar roads, variable signage and driving conventions that take some adjusting to. Dala-dalas — shared minibuses that are Zanzibar's local public transport — run between Stone Town and outlying areas including some resort zones, and are by far the cheapest way to travel, but they're slow, can be crowded, and are a better fit for budget travellers without much luggage than for a first arrival after a long journey.
Late arrivals
Flights into ZNZ often land in the afternoon or evening, and while taxis do operate after dark, a pre-arranged hotel transfer is the more reliable choice for a late or unusually timed arrival, since it guarantees a driver is waiting rather than relying on the taxi rank being well stocked at an off-peak hour.
Which option should you choose?
For Stone Town, a negotiated taxi is quick, cheap and perfectly straightforward once you know roughly what to expect to pay. For an east coast resort, or if you're arriving tired after a long-haul flight, a pre-booked hotel transfer removes the negotiation entirely and is worth the modest extra cost. Budget travellers comfortable with a slower, shared ride can consider a dala-dala once settled, though it isn't the easiest first move straight off a flight.
Planning the wider trip? See our overview of East Africa entry requirements and ferries in East Africa for crossings between Zanzibar and the Tanzanian mainland, and driving in Tanzania if you're weighing up self-drive. Continuing to the mainland? See our guides to Nairobi Airport to the city and Mombasa Airport to the city.
Frequently asked questions
Do Zanzibar Airport taxis use a meter?
No — fares are agreed with the driver before you travel rather than metered. It's worth having a rough idea of a fair price from your hotel in advance and confirming it clearly before the car sets off.
How long is the drive from the airport to Stone Town?
Around 15–20 minutes in normal traffic, making it one of the shorter airport transfers covered in this guide.
Should I book a transfer to my resort in advance?
For east coast resorts, or if you're landing late after a long flight, a pre-booked hotel transfer is generally the least stressful option, since the price and pickup are both confirmed before you arrive.
Can I use Uber or a similar app at Zanzibar Airport?
Ride-hailing apps have limited and inconsistent coverage on Zanzibar, so it isn't a dependable option to plan around. A negotiated taxi or a pre-arranged transfer is the more reliable choice.
Sources and further reading:
- Airport information: Zanzibar Airports Authority official resources.
- Regional transport context: Tanzania Tourist Board.