Zanzibar travel guide
How to get to Zanzibar
Direct flight, connection via the mainland, or ferry — here's how to actually reach Zanzibar, and how that connects onward to a Serengeti safari.
Most visitors reach Zanzibar one of two ways: flying directly into the island on an international or regional carrier, or flying into a mainland Tanzanian hub first and connecting onward by short domestic flight or ferry. Which makes sense for you depends on where you're travelling from and whether a safari is part of the plan.
Flying directly into Zanzibar
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), just outside Stone Town, receives direct international flights from a number of hubs in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere in Africa, alongside regional connections. Exactly which airlines fly direct changes seasonally and year to year as carriers adjust routes, so it's worth checking current direct routes from your specific home country when you're booking rather than assuming last year's options still apply. For many long-haul travellers, especially from North America, Australia, or parts of Asia, a one-stop connection — commonly via a major Middle Eastern or European hub, or via Nairobi or Addis Ababa within Africa — is the realistic routing rather than a true nonstop.
Flying via mainland Tanzania
Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's main international gateway and has considerably more long-haul connections than Zanzibar's airport directly. From Dar es Salaam, the hop to Zanzibar is short — commonly under half an hour by air on frequent scheduled domestic flights throughout the day, operated by several regional carriers. This routing is often the most flexible option and can work out competitively priced, particularly if your international flights don't have a convenient direct Zanzibar option.
The ferry option
A passenger ferry service connects Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar directly, taking a few hours depending on the specific vessel and conditions. This is a popular budget-conscious option for travellers already on the mainland, and some operators run a faster and a slower service at different price points. It's a reasonable way to see a bit of the coastline en route, though most travellers connecting from a long-haul international flight find the short domestic flight more convenient than adding a ferry transfer on top of an already long travel day.
If you're combining Zanzibar with a Serengeti safari
The most common routing for our guests is: international flight into Kilimanjaro International Airport (near Arusha) or Dar es Salaam, safari first via light aircraft or road into the Serengeti and Ngorongoro area, then a scheduled flight down to Zanzibar for the beach portion — or the reverse order, Zanzibar first, then flying inland for the safari. Both directions work well; which you choose is mostly about whether you'd rather ease into the trip on the beach first or get the safari "done" before relaxing. See our flights to the Serengeti page for how that specific connection works.
| Route | Typical journey time |
|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam → Zanzibar (flight) | Around 20–25 minutes |
| Dar es Salaam → Zanzibar (ferry) | Roughly 2–3 hours depending on service |
| Arusha/Kilimanjaro area → Zanzibar (flight) | Around 1.5–2 hours, sometimes with a stop |
| Zanzibar → Serengeti airstrips (flight) | Typically 2–3 hours total including any routing stop |
Arrival tips
- Have your visa, insurance QR code, and any required health documents ready before you reach immigration — see our Visa Requirements and Travel Insurance pages.
- Arrange an airport transfer in advance rather than relying entirely on arranging one on arrival — most hotels and operators offer this as standard.
- Domestic flight baggage limits are often stricter than international ones, particularly on light-aircraft safari connections — check limits for any domestic or safari-specific leg of your journey specifically, since soft-sided bags are sometimes required.
- Build in buffer time between connections where possible, especially between an international arrival and a same-day domestic onward flight, since international arrivals can occasionally run behind schedule.
Booking tips for the flight portion of your trip
- Book domestic/connecting flights early if your dates are fixed around a safari. Scheduled light-aircraft safari flights and domestic hops can sell out on popular routes and dates, particularly during peak season (roughly July–October and December–February).
- Confirm baggage allowances for every leg separately. International, domestic, and any light-aircraft safari flight can each have different weight and bag-type limits, and packing to the strictest one avoids problems later.
- Leave a realistic connection window between an international arrival and any same-day onward domestic flight — a tight connection after a long-haul flight, especially with visa and insurance checks at immigration, can be stressful if anything runs late.
- Consider routing direction based on jet lag. Some travellers prefer starting with a few beach days in Zanzibar to recover from long-haul travel before an active safari itinerary; others prefer getting the safari done first while energy is high. Neither is wrong — it's a personal preference worth thinking through.
What airport arrival actually looks like
On arrival at Zanzibar's airport, you'll generally go through immigration (passport, visa, and insurance QR code checks), collect any checked luggage, and then meet your pre-arranged transfer or taxi outside. The airport is relatively compact compared to major international hubs, and processing times are usually reasonable outside of unusually busy periods, though it's sensible to build in some buffer rather than assuming a rushed connection will work smoothly every time.
Quick answers
Can I fly directly into Zanzibar from Europe or the US?
Direct routes exist from a number of hubs and change seasonally — check current direct options from your specific home country, and expect a connection to be the realistic routing from many long-haul origins.
Is the ferry from Dar es Salaam safe and reliable?
It's a well-used, regular service, though as with any ferry, conditions and schedules can be affected by weather — check current operator schedules directly.
How do I get from Zanzibar to the Serengeti?
By scheduled light aircraft, typically via Arusha, connecting on to a Serengeti airstrip — see our Zanzibar to Serengeti flights page.
Should I fly into Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam first?
Depends on your routing and whether the safari comes before or after the beach portion of your trip — we can advise based on your specific itinerary.
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