How to get from Tanzania to Zanzibar : Tanzania’s Zanzibar is an island autonomous region. The Zanzibar Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania, and comprises several small islands as well as two large ones: Unguja (the main island, often known as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island. Zanzibar City, on the island of Unguja, is the capital of Zanzibar. Its historic centre, Stone Town, is a World Heritage Site. Zanzibar is a beautiful you can chill and enjoy your holiday and feels yourself like you’re in a different world. You’ll find pristine, turquoise-blue water, shallow sandbars ideal for wading, and a slew of little, almost-deserted islands that are rarely frequented by visitors. Explore Stone Town, Zanzibar City’s old area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or simply go from one small fishing village to the next, each one better than the last.
Zanzibar may be reached from Tanzania’s mainland via two modes of transportation: ferry or air transport. By ferry, you must begin your journey to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, while by air, there are a variety of airlines that fly to Zanzibar from various areas or large towns in Tanzania.
FERRY FROM TANZANIA TO ZANZIBAR
This is one of the options for getting to Zanzibar from Tanzania, and it’s also simple to travel by this mode of transport from Tanzania to Zanzibar. The ferry ride from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar takes about two hours and is very simple. A ferry connects Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar, departing from the dock in downtown Dar (just off Sokoine Drive) and arriving in Stone Town, the major city of Zanzibar.
Azam Marine Coastal Ferries and Fast Ferries are the two primary firms that provide ferry services between Dar es Salaam and Stone Town, Zanzibar. It takes around 2-3 hours to get there. Choose the ferry that best fits your schedule, but stick to the two companies stated above. The first ferry departing Dar es Salaam is at 7:00 a.m. The following times are 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:45 p.m. Though it may appear complicated at first, boarding the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar is really straightforward. It’s also less expensive than flying.
The cost of a ticket varies depending on what class you ride in. VIP is the very top deck, which is enclosed with comfortable recliners and air conditioning and is priced differently than regular tickets. However, ticket prices may vary based on when they were purchased or booked. If you suffer from seasickness, be cautious. Huge waves cause the ferry to rock violently at times, and being in the very top cabin is the worst place to be. The following are some of the things to keep in mind when organizing your safari by ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Island, in order to avoid unnecessary disruption and ensure your safety.
- There is a snack bar on the first class deck that sells snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, but alcohol is not permitted on the ferry.
- You must bring your passport as well as your yellow fever certificate.
- Only 25 kg of baggage is allowed; anything over that will be charged.
- Although the ferry is generally safe, keep your belongings with you at all times.
GETTING FROM TANZANIA TO ZANZIBAR BY AIR TRANSPORT.
This is also the quickest mode of transportation from Tanzania to Zanzibar, although it may be more expensive than ferry travel. Apart from being the fastest mode of transportation, it is also accessible from many destinations in Tanzania and operates 24 hours a day. The international airport, Abeid aman Karume, gives Zanzibar the benefit of being easily accessible by aircraft from all over the world. The flights from Tanzania to Zanzibar and their destinations are shown below.
Air Tanzania
This is one of the airlines that offers many flights from different parts of Tanzania to Zanzibar Island. The following are the parts of Tanzania where Air Tanzania starts its flight to Zanzibar.
- Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
- Dodoma to Zanzibar.
- From Kigoma to Zanzibar
- From Arusha to Zanzibar
- From Mount Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar,
Other airlines from Tanzania to Zanzibar include
- Air Excel, Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, Precision Air, and Regional Air all offer direct flights from Arusha to Zanzibar.
- Air Excel, Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, Flydubai, KLM, Oman Air, Precision Air, Regional Air, Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance), and UTair Express all offer direct flights from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar.
- Edelweiss Air, Ethiopian Carriers (Star Alliance), Precision Air, and Turkish Airlines offer direct flights to Zanzibar from Kilimanjaro.
- Auric Air and Coastal Aviation offer nonstop flights from Tanga to Zanzibar.
Other seasonal flights that offer flights from Tanzania to Zanzibar include
- From Seronera to Zanzibar, you can fly with Air Excel, Auric Air, and Coastal Aviation, though they are seasonal flights from the Seronera route.
- Coastal Aviation offers nonstop flights from Grumeti to Zanzibar. This is a seasonal route that runs from February through May.
- Regional Air offers direct flights from Lake Manyara to Zanzibar. This is also a seasonal.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL FROM TANZANIA TO ZANZIBAR?
Because there are enough and consistent services from Tanzania to Zanzibar, Zanzibar is accessible all year. Ferries are the most common mode of transportation between Tanzania and Zanzibar, while certain airlines do operate season flights. The best time to visit Zanzibar for tourism activities is during the archipelago’s dry season, which runs from July to September and is a particularly popular period to vacation. Downpours are followed by blue skies during the short rains of November and December. Only during the peak of the heavy rains in April and May it is really wet.
