Taxis in Zanzibar

What is the best way to get a taxi in Zanzibar?

There are four ways to arrange one: pre-book online with a fixed-price operator, ask your hotel to arrange it, hail one at a rank or at the roadside and negotiate, or order on Bolt inside Stone Town only.

Every source read for this page agrees on the one rule that matters. The price is agreed before the journey starts, not after (Taxi Bambino, Taxi Trip Zanzibar and The Zanzibus, all read 1 August 2026).

Is there Uber in Zanzibar?

No. Uber stopped all ride-hailing in Tanzania on 30 January 2026, ending nearly a decade of operation and covering Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Arusha, Mwanza and Zanzibar (TanzaniaInvest and TechCabal, reported February 2026). We read those two reports as search summaries rather than in full, so treat the date as reported.

Taxi Trip Zanzibar's own guide, read in full, also states that neither Uber nor Bolt operates on the island.

Does Bolt work in Zanzibar?

Partly, and only in one place. Bolt started on the island in September 2025 and works mainly in Stone Town, where a ride may arrive in a few minutes or may take 15 to 20 (Tulia Zanzibar, published 7 January 2026). Outside town, at Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje or Jambiani, it often finds nobody at all.

The same source says the app usually offers motorbikes and tuk-tuks rather than cars, and that cars on it are extremely rare. Note that Taxi Trip Zanzibar's guide says flatly that Bolt does not operate here, so the two sources disagree and we have not tested the app ourselves.

Are there any other taxi apps in Zanzibar?

Local apps exist. Zingo, Zanzicab and TanTaxi are all named in island guides, and Visit Zanzibar Island recommends downloading Zingo before you arrive as the closest thing the island has to Uber.

None of these was tested for this page and coverage outside Stone Town is unverified. This one is a search summary, not a first-hand check.

Can I just walk out of the airport and get a taxi?

Yes. Drivers wait outside arrivals at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, which Taxi Bambino calls the island's main taxi hub.

Visit Zanzibar Island advises starting at the official airport taxi desk rather than negotiating on the street, and says that matters most in the evening.

Should I pre-book or just turn up?

Pre-booking fixes the price, guarantees a vehicle in busy periods, and means somebody is waiting for you (Taxi Trip Zanzibar and Taxi Bambino).

Roadside negotiation has no standard rate. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says plainly that what you pay varies with your appearance, the time of day and how confident you are at bargaining.

How far in advance should I book?

The Zanzibus asks for at least 2 hours and prefers 24. Taxi Trip Zanzibar accepts last-minute bookings subject to availability, and recommends booking ahead for airport transfers and for any early morning or late night trip.

Do I have to pay when I book?

Usually not. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says most standard transfers are paid in cash on arrival or after the trip, with a deposit possible for large groups, long distances or peak season. The Zanzibus is cash to the driver on the day.

Beagle is the same: you pay the driver in cash at the end of the ride, and nothing up front.

Where do taxis wait at Zanzibar airport?

Outside the arrivals area of Terminal 3, which has handled international flights since it opened in October 2020 (Visit Zanzibar Island airport guide).

Pre-booked drivers stand just outside the arrivals gate holding a name sign (Taxi Trip Zanzibar).

How far is the airport from Stone Town?

The sources differ slightly. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says 7 km and 15 minutes. Visit Zanzibar Island's airport guide says 5 km and 10 to 15 minutes, and its transport guide says 7 km and 15 to 20 minutes.

Call it a quarter of an hour in normal traffic.

I am arriving late at night at Zanzibar airport, what do you suggest?

Arrange the ride before you land. Roads between resorts are unlit after dark, dala dalas and tuk-tuks have stopped running by then, and a private car with a driver who knows the route is the only realistic option (Taxi Trip Zanzibar).

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against driving outside major towns at night, and says it is safest to arrange a taxi through a hotel or an operator rather than accept an offer from a stranger (travel advice for Tanzania, observed 1 August 2026).

What happens if my flight is late?

It depends entirely on the operator. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says it monitors flights in real time, charges nothing extra for a reasonable delay, and holds the driver for up to 60 minutes counted from actual landing rather than scheduled arrival. Taxi Bambino publishes no delay policy at all.

Beagle has no published waiting policy either. We have not established how long our driver waits or whether he tracks flights, so we are not going to imply that he does.

How long does it take to clear the airport?

Allow 20 to 40 minutes for bags after immigration, and longer in the peak months of June to October and December to March (Visit Zanzibar Island airport guide). Immigration involves fingerprints and a photo.

This matters for your taxi, because with an operator that counts waiting time from landing, the clock starts well before you reach the kerb.

Do I need anything special to enter Zanzibar?

Two things beyond your passport, on the sources we read. Since 1 October 2024 every foreign visitor must hold Zanzibar inbound travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, reported at 44 US dollars per adult, 22 for children aged 3 to 17, free under 3, valid for 92 days, and bought at visitzanzibar.go.tz. A visa is separate and is quoted at 50 dollars single entry or 100 multiple entry (Visit Zanzibar Island airport guide).

We took the insurance figures from a summary of secondary sources rather than from the government portal directly, so check the portal before you rely on the amount.

Is there a night surcharge for airport pickups?

The operators flatly contradict each other on this, and it is worth knowing before you are quoted.

Taxi Bambino says there are no night or weekend surcharges anywhere in Zanzibar. The Zanzibus adds 5 euros per trip when the journey starts before 8am or after 8pm. Taxi Trip Zanzibar publishes one price and says it runs 24 hours a day with no surge pricing.

We have not asked our own driver whether he charges more at night, so we cannot tell you what he does. Ask before you agree the fare.

Can I get a taxi at 4am for an early flight?

Yes, from any operator advertising a 24-hour service, but book it the day before. The Zanzibus explicitly prices departures before 8am with its 5 euro surcharge, which tells you early starts are both normal and chargeable.

Is the dala dala an option from the airport?

Not realistically. Visit Zanzibar Island calls it technically possible but impractical: bags are awkward, the stops are unclear to somebody who has just landed, and the saving over a taxi on a 7 km run is small. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says flatly that it is not a realistic way to reach your hotel.

How much should the airport to Stone Town run cost?

Published figures range from 10 to 25 dollars for the car. Taxi Bambino says 10 to 15. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says 15 in a sedan and 20 in an SUV, and its own FAQ says the run starts from 20. The Zanzibus charges 10 euros. Visit Zanzibar Island says 15 to 25 on its transport page and 5 to 15 on its airport page.

Anything materially above 25 dollars for one car is above every published rate we observed on 1 August 2026.

I am travelling from the airport to Nungwi, what should I pay?

Published rates run from about 35 to 50 dollars for the whole car. Taxi Trip Zanzibar lists 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV on its routes page, and says 45 in its own guide text and again in its FAQ. Taxi Bambino says 40 to 50. The Zanzibus charges 30 euros for the airport to anywhere on the island.

The Beagle driver quoted 50 dollars one way on 31 July 2026. That is his own price on that date, it sits at the top of the published range, and no like-for-like comparison of vehicle size or luggage allowance has been made.

Airport to Kendwa, what is the fare?

Kendwa is priced identically to Nungwi by every operator that lists it: Taxi Trip Zanzibar 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV, Taxi Bambino 40 to 50, The Zanzibus 30 euros. Kendwa is a few kilometres south of Nungwi on the same road, so treat the two as one route.

The Beagle driver has not given us a Kendwa price. His quoted list covers Kiwengwa, Nungwi and the south.

I need to get from the airport to Paje, what is the typical cost?

Taxi Trip Zanzibar lists 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV, and quotes 45 in its own guide text. Taxi Bambino says 35 to 45. The Zanzibus charges 30 euros.

The Beagle driver's figure is 50 dollars, given on 31 July 2026, which is above every published number for this route.

Airport to Jambiani?

Taxi Trip Zanzibar prices Bwejuu, Paje and Jambiani as one band at 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV. Taxi Bambino puts Jambiani slightly higher than Paje, at 40 to 50. The Zanzibus charges its 30 euro flat rate. The Beagle driver quoted 50 dollars on 31 July 2026.

Airport to Bwejuu?

Same band as Paje and Jambiani in the Taxi Trip Zanzibar table, 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV. Neither Taxi Bambino nor The Zanzibus prices Bwejuu by name, though the 30 euro flat rate from The Zanzibus would apply. We have no Beagle price for Bwejuu.

Airport to Matemwe?

Taxi Trip Zanzibar groups Matemwe with Kiwengwa and Pwani Mchangani at 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV. Taxi Bambino does not publish a Matemwe fare at all. The Zanzibus 30 euro flat rate applies. We have no Beagle price for Matemwe.

Airport to Kiwengwa?

Taxi Trip Zanzibar lists 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV.

The Beagle driver quoted 40 dollars on 31 July 2026. Kiwengwa is the one route where his own price sits inside the published range rather than above it.

Airport to Michamvi?

The most expensive band on the Taxi Trip Zanzibar list, alongside the deep south: 40 in a sedan, 45 in an SUV, 67 in a minibus and 80 in a private bus.

The Beagle driver includes Michamvi in his 50 dollar southern band, quoted 31 July 2026.

Airport to Kizimkazi?

Taxi Trip Zanzibar puts Makunduchi, Kizimkazi and Unguja Ukuu together at 40 in a sedan and 45 in an SUV. Visit Zanzibar Island's airport guide says southern spots take 60 to 75 minutes and cost 40 dollars and upwards.

The Beagle driver quoted 50 dollars on 31 July 2026.

Airport to Pongwe?

Taxi Trip Zanzibar groups Uroa, Pongwe and Chwaka at 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV. No other source we read prices Pongwe by name.

Airport to Uroa or Chwaka?

Same band as Pongwe: 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV (Taxi Trip Zanzibar). Nobody else publishes these two by name.

Airport to Pwani Mchangani?

Grouped with Matemwe and Kiwengwa at 35 in a sedan and 40 in an SUV (Taxi Trip Zanzibar).

Airport to Bububu or Mtoni?

31 in a sedan and 35 in an SUV (Taxi Trip Zanzibar). These are the closest coastal spots north of Stone Town, and the only destinations inside an hour of the airport priced above the Stone Town rate.

Airport to Mangapwani or Chuini?

31 in a sedan and 35 in an SUV, the same as Bububu in those two columns, though the minibus and bus columns run higher at 65 and 75 (Taxi Trip Zanzibar).

Airport to Makunduchi or Unguja Ukuu?

40 in a sedan and 45 in an SUV, in the same band as Kizimkazi (Taxi Trip Zanzibar). No other source we read prices them.

Is there one table with all of the airport fares in it?

Yes. This is Taxi Trip Zanzibar's own routes table, read in full on 1 August 2026, in US dollars per vehicle. Their sedan seats 3, the SUV seats 5, the minibus seats 8 and the private bus seats 15.

One warning about their own page. The same page carries vehicle starting prices of 35 for a sedan, 40 for an SUV, 55 for a standard van, 65 for a minibus and 75 for a private bus, which do not reconcile with the table below, where a sedan to Stone Town is 15. That contradiction is on their site, not ours.

What do the other two operators publish?

Taxi Bambino publishes six routes in US dollars, all described as guidelines negotiated in advance. The Zanzibus publishes a much simpler structure in euros, which is the only distance-neutral model of the three and the cleanest thing any competitor publishes.

What is the published fare band for each destination from the airport?

Taking the lowest and highest US dollar figure published across Taxi Trip Zanzibar, Taxi Bambino, Visit Zanzibar Island and the Beagle driver, the island falls into five bands from the airport. The Zanzibus 30 euro flat rate sits outside these bands because it is in a different currency and we did not observe an exchange rate on 1 August 2026.

Stone Town is 10 to 25 dollars. Bububu, Mtoni, Mangapwani and Chuini are 31 to 35 dollars. Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Pwani Mchangani, Uroa, Pongwe, Chwaka and Bwejuu are 35 to 40 dollars. Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje and Jambiani are 35 to 50 dollars. Michamvi, Kizimkazi, Makunduchi and Unguja Ukuu are 40 to 50 dollars.

A band is not a quote. It is the range of numbers four sources publish for the same car on the same road.

I need to get from Stone Town to Paje, what is the typical cost?

Visit Zanzibar Island puts it at 35 to 50 dollars for 45 to 60 minutes over roughly 55 km. The Zanzibus charges 30 euros for any run between Stone Town and anywhere on the island.

No other competitor publishes a separate Stone Town to Paje number. The honest answer is that it is priced within a few dollars of the airport run, because the airport is only 7 km from town.

Stone Town to Nungwi, what should I pay?

Four sources, four answers. Taxi Bambino says 35 to 45 dollars. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says 45 for the whole vehicle. Visit Zanzibar Island says 40 to 60 for 45 to 60 minutes. The Zanzibus charges 30 euros.

The spread across published sources is roughly 35 to 60 dollars, which tells you there is no fixed rate on this road.

Stone Town to Kendwa?

Visit Zanzibar Island quotes 45 to 65 dollars and 50 to 65 minutes, slightly above its own Nungwi figure for the same road. The Zanzibus 30 euro flat rate covers it.

Stone Town to Jambiani?

No competitor publishes this route separately. The Zanzibus 30 euro flat rate applies. Visit Zanzibar Island's Paje figure of 35 to 50 dollars is the nearest published comparison, and Jambiani is a further 10 km down the same coast road.

That last sentence is our inference from the geography, not a published price.

Stone Town to Matemwe?

Visit Zanzibar Island quotes 40 to 55 dollars for 45 to 60 minutes over roughly 50 km. The Zanzibus charges 30 euros.

My group of four is going from Stone Town to Matemwe next week, what will it cost?

One car covers four people on this route, so you pay the vehicle rate rather than a rate per head. On Visit Zanzibar Island's figure that is 40 to 55 dollars for the group. On The Zanzibus tariff it is 30 euros for a car seating four plus luggage.

If the four of you have four large cases, expect to be moved up to a larger vehicle. On the Taxi Trip Zanzibar table an SUV is 5 dollars above a sedan on most airport routes.

Stone Town to Michamvi or Bwejuu?

Not priced by name in any competitor source we read. The Zanzibus 30 euro flat rate covers Stone Town to any island location, and the Taxi Trip Zanzibar airport-to-Michamvi band sits 5 dollars above its Paje band.

That is an inference from those two structures, not a published route price.

Nungwi to Paje, how much and how long?

The Zanzibus gives the drive as 1 hour 35 minutes, which puts it in their over-1h20 band at 45 euros. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says the route is over 90 km.

The Zanzibus shuttle bus does Paje to Nungwi in 1 hour 55 at 10 euros a seat, which is the cheap way to do this leg if you are one or two people.

Nungwi to Kendwa, what is a fair price?

Under 40 minutes of driving, so 25 euros on The Zanzibus band system. It is a hop of a few kilometres and is the one route Taxi Trip Zanzibar names as sensible on a scooter.

Paje to Jambiani?

Also inside the 0 to 40 minute band, so 25 euros on The Zanzibus tariff. Taxi Trip Zanzibar names it as a short scenic scooter route.

Kendwa to Matemwe or Kiwengwa?

Not priced by name anywhere we read. It falls in The Zanzibus middle band of 40 minutes to 1 hour 20, so 35 euros on their system. That is an inference from their band structure, not a published route price.

Matemwe to Nungwi?

Same middle band on The Zanzibus tariff, so 35 euros. No competitor publishes a figure for this leg.

Jambiani to Kizimkazi?

No published figure exists in any source we read. Both are on the southern half of the island and the run would sit in The Zanzibus 40 minutes to 1 hour 20 band at 35 euros, unless the road is slower than we assume. Inference only.

Paje to Michamvi, or to the Rock?

No published taxi figure for that leg. What is documented is that Michamvi Pingwe is roughly 30 to 40 minutes from Zanzibar City by motorbike, with a bodaboda fare for that run reported at 20,000 to 30,000 Tanzanian shillings (Zanzibar World and others, search summary). From Paje it is a short run north along the east coast.

Is it cheaper to go beach to beach direct or via Stone Town?

Direct, if you are in a taxi. The Zanzibus prices beach to beach by driving time from 25 to 45 euros, and adding a Stone Town leg would put you in the top band anyway.

By dala dala the opposite is true, because almost every route changes at Stone Town. Nungwi to Jambiani takes four separate vehicles (The Zanzibus).

How many people fit in a normal Zanzibar taxi?

Four plus luggage on The Zanzibus fleet, with 6, 12 and 20-seat vehicles available on request.

Taxi Trip Zanzibar contradicts itself here. Its routes page says sedan 3, SUV 5, van 5, minibus 8, private bus 15, while its FAQ says sedan 1 to 3, minivan 4 to 6, minibus 7 to 14 and coaster 15 to 28.

The Beagle driver's vehicle takes one to four people, or up to six depending on how much luggage there is (driver, 31 July 2026).

Is the price per person or per car?

Per car, on every operator we read. Taxi Trip Zanzibar states it twice, once on its routes page and once in its guide: all prices are per vehicle, not per person. The same is true of the Beagle driver's own prices.

We are six people, what changes?

You move up a vehicle class and the price roughly doubles. On the Taxi Trip Zanzibar table the airport to Nungwi run is 40 in a 5-seat SUV and 65 in an 8-seat minibus.

Their prose separately claims that 45 dollars covers 1 to 6 people to Nungwi, which contradicts their own table. Ask what vehicle the price covers before you agree it.

We are a group of ten or more, is that possible?

Yes. Taxi Trip Zanzibar lists a 15-seat private bus at 65 to 80 dollars depending on the route, and a coaster taking 15 to 28. The Zanzibus has 12 and 20-seat vehicles on request.

Beagle has one driver and one car, so a group of ten is not something we can arrange today.

How much luggage can I bring in a taxi?

Taxi Trip Zanzibar's comparison table calls taxi luggage capacity unlimited, against very limited on a dala dala, small bags only in a tuk-tuk, and none on a scooter.

In practice the constraint is the boot. The Beagle driver's own bracket of four to six passengers turns entirely on how much luggage there is.

Will a taxi take my surfboard or kite gear?

No source we read publishes a policy on long or oversized items, and this is a genuine gap in what is available anywhere. What is documented is that the east coast around Paje is the island's kite-surfing centre (Taxi Trip Zanzibar and Visit Zanzibar Island), so the demand plainly exists.

Ask when you book, and expect a roof rack or a larger vehicle rather than a sedan.

Can I put dive gear in the car?

Nothing is published on this. Dive trips to Mnemba run out of Matemwe and Nungwi (Visit Zanzibar Island), so the route is common, but no operator states a rule on tanks, weights or wet kit. Treat it as unanswered and ask.

What if I have a pushchair or a lot of baby kit?

Taxi Bambino, whose whole business is family transfers, says larger cars and vans can be arranged for families and that a child-friendly taxi should have room for a pushchair. Booking ahead is the only way to be sure of the vehicle.

Are there child seats in Zanzibar taxis?

Only if you ask in advance, and there is no legal requirement for one. Taxi Bambino notes that Tanzania's Road Traffic Act contains no child restraint requirement in either private or public vehicles, and recommends a seat anyway. It gives rear-facing seats as suitable up to about 13 kg and forward-facing at roughly 9 to 18 kg. Taxi Trip Zanzibar takes child seat requests on its booking form.

We have not established whether the Beagle driver can provide one.

What is the best transport for a family with young children?

A private car, on both operators that address it. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says dala dalas and bodabodas are not suitable for young children, and names a Toyota Alphard as fitting two adults and three or four children with luggage.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises wearing a seatbelt at all times and sitting in the back.

I am staying in Kendwa and need a taxi to Jozani Forest for the day, how does that work?

You hire the car and the driver for the day, because the driver waits while you are in the forest. The Zanzibus quotes tours such as Jozani as an add-on to a taxi trip on request.

Visit Zanzibar Island puts full-day private vehicle hire with a driver at 60 to 100 dollars, and half-day private hire at 60 to 100 as well, which is one of several places where its own numbers do not line up.

How much is a full day with a driver?

Visit Zanzibar Island quotes 60 to 100 dollars for a full day with a driver, and calls it better value than self-driving. Taxi Trip Zanzibar offers full-day hire across any combination of destinations but publishes no figure and asks you to request a quote. Taxi Bambino says waiting time adds cost but gives no rate.

We have not established a day rate for the Beagle driver, so we have no number of our own to give you here.

What does it cost to get into Jozani Forest?

Reported figures conflict. One source gives 12,000 Tanzanian shillings, about 7.30 dollars, including a guide. Another gives about 12 dollars including an official park ranger guide (Kiwoito Africa Safaris and Pongwe.com, both search summaries).

The park is reported open daily from 07:30 to 17:00. Check the fee at the gate. It is separate from whatever you pay the driver.

Can one driver do Jozani and a spice farm in the same day?

Yes, and that is the standard shape of a full-day hire. Taxi Trip Zanzibar describes exactly this pattern, spice farms in the morning and Jozani in the afternoon with a sunset at Kendwa, as the case for a full-day private driver rather than a series of separate transfers.

How do I get to Prison Island?

By boat from the Stone Town waterfront, about 5 km and around 20 minutes on the water (Visit Zanzibar Island). Taxi Bambino prices Stone Town to Prison Island at around 30 dollars for the taxi and the arranged boat together. Visit Zanzibar Island puts organised tours at 25 to 40 dollars per person including the crossing.

How do I get to Mnemba?

Mnemba island itself is a private resort, so what you are buying is a snorkelling or diving trip to the surrounding marine reserve, launched from Matemwe or Nungwi (Visit Zanzibar Island).

Your taxi takes you to the beach and the boat is booked separately, typically as part of an excursion from 30 dollars per person on Visit Zanzibar Island's own listing.

How do I get to the Rock restaurant?

It sits off Michamvi Pingwe on the south-east coast. If you are staying in Michamvi you can walk along the beach in 15 to 20 minutes, and at low tide you can walk out to the rock itself across the sand (Zanzibar World and others, search summary).

From further away it is a taxi or a bodaboda to Pingwe, quoted at 20,000 to 30,000 Tanzanian shillings by motorbike from Zanzibar City.

Can I get to a sandbank by taxi?

No. Sandbanks need a boat, and which sandbank exists on a given day depends on the tide. Boats run from Nungwi and from the east coast, and Visit Zanzibar Island sells sandbank trips including the boat, snorkelling gear and often a seafood lunch, with Safari Blue listed from 60 dollars.

Can the driver wait while I have lunch or go to the beach?

Yes, on request, and it costs. Taxi Bambino says waiting time can add extra cost if you need the driver to stay with you. Taxi Trip Zanzibar takes multiple stops on request provided you say so in advance so the price can be set before you set off.

We do not know the Beagle driver's waiting rate.

Is a taxi driver also a guide?

Sometimes. Taxi Trip Zanzibar advertises full-day hire with a local driver who can guide you between stops, and Visit Zanzibar Island says a driver doubles as a local guide who knows which roads to avoid. The Jozani ranger guide is a separate person and is reported to be included in the park fee.

Do Zanzibar taxis have meters?

No. Every source we read says fares are agreed in advance rather than metered (Taxi Bambino, Taxi Trip Zanzibar, The Zanzibus and Visit Zanzibar Island).

What does a fair fare actually look like?

Two of the three operators price by named destination and one prices by driving time. The Zanzibus system is the clearest published logic anywhere: 10 euros Stone Town to the airport, 30 euros for anything between Stone Town or the airport and anywhere on the island, and 25, 35 or 45 euros beach to beach depending on whether the drive is under 40 minutes, 40 minutes to 1 hour 20, or longer.

A traveller comparing three quotes is often comparing three different systems rather than three different numbers.

How much do tourists get overcharged?

Unlicensed drivers at the airport are reported to quote two to three times the standard rate (Zanzibar scam guides, search summary).

The Zanzibus says in its own copy that many Zanzibar taxi drivers make a habit of overcharging tourists and that you will usually need to haggle. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says the roadside price depends on your appearance, the time of day and your bargaining confidence.

Should I haggle?

On a street taxi, yes, and ask around first to learn the going rate (The Zanzibus).

With a pre-booked fixed-price operator there is nothing to haggle over, which is the whole point of pre-booking.

Do prices go up in high season?

Taxi Bambino says prices may rise slightly in peak tourist season or for last-minute requests. Taxi Trip Zanzibar says its prices are fixed with no surge, though it may ask for a deposit on a peak-season booking.

Peak months at the airport are June to October and December to March (Visit Zanzibar Island).

Is the return journey the same price?

No source we read publishes a return discount, and every fare on this page is one way unless it says otherwise. The Beagle driver's list was given as one way (driver, 31 July 2026), and we have not asked him whether a return is cheaper.

Why is the same route priced so differently by different companies?

Because there is no regulated tariff, the vehicle class differs, and the pricing logic differs.

Airport to Nungwi runs from 30 euros on The Zanzibus to 50 dollars from the Beagle driver, with Taxi Trip Zanzibar publishing 35, 40 and 45 for it on three separate pages of its own website.

Is a cheaper quote a worse ride?

Not necessarily, but check what the price includes: vehicle size, air conditioning, waiting time, and whether extra stops cost more. Taxi Trip Zanzibar lists exactly those four as the things that adjust a quoted price.

Show me the same route priced by everybody at once.

Here is airport to Nungwi, one car, one way, as six different sources publish it on 1 August 2026.

Reading down the list: The Zanzibus 30 euros, Taxi Trip Zanzibar 35 dollars in a sedan and 40 in an SUV on its routes table, 45 dollars in its own guide text and FAQ, Taxi Bambino 40 to 50 dollars, the Beagle driver 50 dollars on 31 July 2026, and an unlicensed driver at the airport reported at two to three times the going rate.

Should I pay in dollars or shillings?

Both circulate for tourist transport. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas. Taxi Trip Zanzibar takes cash in US dollars, euros or Tanzanian shillings.

Visit Zanzibar Island says you often get better value paying in shillings, and that dala dalas, tuk-tuks and boats are cash only.

Is it legal to pay a Tanzanian driver in dollars?

This one needs care, and we are not going to pretend to certainty we do not have.

Tanzania restricted domestic transactions to Tanzanian shillings, with rules reported effective from 28 March 2025, while allowing tourists and non-residents to pay in foreign currency for accommodation, travel, airport and visa services (Altezza Travel and APTA, both search summaries, neither page read in full).

Operators on the island continue to publish dollar and euro prices, so the practical position and the legal position may not match. If it matters to you, check the Bank of Tanzania's own wording rather than ours.

Can I pay a taxi with a bank card?

Only with an operator that has an online payment gateway. Taxi Trip Zanzibar accepts cards, mobile money through M-Pesa and Yas, and cash. The Zanzibus takes cash to the driver on the day.

Street taxis, tuk-tuks, bodabodas, dala dalas and boat trips are all cash (Visit Zanzibar Island). Beagle is cash to the driver too, and there is nothing to pay to Beagle at all.

Where do I get shillings?

There are exchange booths and cash machines in the airport arrivals area, and Visit Zanzibar Island advises that the machines give better value than the booths.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warns that cash machines sometimes break down or run out of money, advises using a machine inside a bank to reduce the risk of your card being copied, and notes that widespread cash shortages were reported after the election of 29 October 2025.

Will the driver have change?

Often not. Visit Zanzibar Island advises carrying small notes and coins because change is frequently unavailable, and Taxi Trip Zanzibar specifically recommends carrying 500 and 1,000 shilling notes for local transport.

Do I tip a taxi driver in Zanzibar?

Tipping is not expected and not required, because the fare is agreed up front.

Reported norms are 1 to 10 dollars depending on the length and quality of the ride, or 2 to 4 dollars on a longer private transfer, in either currency (Tulia Zanzibar tipping guide and Zanzibar World, search summaries).

Do I tip if the driver waits all day?

We could not find a published norm for a full-day driver in any source we read. This is a gap, and we would rather say so than make a number up.

Is it safe to take a taxi in Zanzibar?

Broadly yes with a licensed driver, and the official advice is to be selective about which one.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says to use reputable taxi services, always ask to see the driver's identification, and never accept a lift from a stranger or from anyone who offers to find you a taxi. It adds that it is safest to arrange a taxi through a hotel or a travel operator.

How do I tell a licensed taxi from an unlicensed one?

Licensed taxis are reported to carry yellow number plates, and unlicensed cars are the ones that quote two to three times the going rate or claim afterwards that the agreed price was only a deposit.

We have only seen the yellow plate rule in travel blogs, never from a Zanzibari licensing authority, so treat it as reported rather than established.

What are the common taxi scams?

Reported patterns are unlicensed drivers quoting well above the rate at the airport, long routes, surprise tolls or fees added at the end, and the claim that the agreed fare was only a deposit (search summaries).

On dala dalas, The Zanzibus warns that being asked to pay before the vehicle is moving is itself a common scam, and that some conductors demand many times the local fare.

Are there scams inside the airport?

Travellers report people grabbing luggage and then demanding payment, and officials asking for money during screening or claiming to have found prohibited items such as shells in a bag (Tripadvisor Zanzibar Island forum threads, search summary).

These are traveller reports rather than official findings, and we are describing them as reports.

Is it safe at night?

Roads between resorts are unlit, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against driving outside major towns and cities at night.

Taxi Trip Zanzibar says dala dalas and scooters are not recommended after dark, and that a private taxi with an experienced driver is the option that works.

Is it safe for a woman travelling alone?

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office records that women travelling alone and in small groups have been verbally harassed, and that incidents of assault and sexual aggression against foreigners have occurred, including at beach resorts.

It advises against walking alone at night and against accepting rides or invitations from strangers. We found nothing published anywhere on what a solo woman traveller should specifically ask for when booking a car.

What is express kidnapping, and should I worry about it?

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office describes cases in Dar es Salaam where tourists were robbed and forced to withdraw cash from machines, some of them after getting into unlicensed taxis, with forced transfers of up to 5,000 pounds in the worst cases.

The advice that follows from it is simple. Use a licensed or pre-arranged car.

Are bodabodas and tuk-tuks safe?

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says dala dalas, bodabodas and tuk-tuks can have poor safety standards, are often poorly maintained and badly driven, rarely carry proper insurance, and are involved in frequent accidents, some of them fatal.

Taxi Trip Zanzibar adds that most bodaboda stands do not provide a helmet.

Should I wear a seatbelt?

Yes. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises wearing a seatbelt at all times and sitting in the back of cars and taxis.

Is there anything I should not photograph?

Yes. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says it is illegal to take or share photographs and video of protests and violence, warns that security services may check phones, and advises staying away from demonstrations entirely.

How long does it actually take to cross the island?

From the airport or Stone Town to the north or east coast is roughly an hour to an hour and 20 minutes. Taxi Trip Zanzibar gives airport to Nungwi as 1 hour 20 over 65 km and airport to Paje as 1 hour over 50 km. The Zanzibus shuttle runs Stone Town to Paje in 1 hour 10 and Stone Town to Nungwi in 1 hour 20.

Coast to coast is longer. Nungwi to Paje is 1 hour 35 of driving on The Zanzibus figure, or 1 hour 55 on their shuttle.

One warning. Taxi Trip Zanzibar's individual route cards repeat 1 hour and 50 km for ten different destinations, and their Jambiani card shows the Stone Town figures by mistake, so we have not reproduced their per-destination times.

What condition are the roads in?

The main routes to Nungwi and Paje are described as good tarmac (Visit Zanzibar Island). Away from those, Taxi Trip Zanzibar describes uneven, narrow and often unmarked roads, with unsignposted speed bumps and unpaved stretches in the interior.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says many roads need repair and that driving standards are poor, with accidents causing death and serious injury common.

When is the rainy season, and does it affect travel?

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gives the rainy seasons as the end of March to May and October to mid-December, and warns that flooding and landslides occur, road surfaces deteriorate, and dirt tracks can become impassable.

Visit Zanzibar Island advises adding 30 to 60 minutes to every journey in the rain and factoring that into flight and ferry connections.

Should I leave earlier in the rains?

Yes. Visit Zanzibar Island also advises travelling early in the day generally, leaving Stone Town by 8 or 9am for the north or east coast, before the crowds and the heat build.

Nobody publishes what happens to an agreed fare if the road floods and the driver takes a long way round. Agree that before you set off.

Are there police checkpoints?

Frequent ones. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says that if you are stopped you should ask to see identification, that a fine should come with a government control number for payment, and that police should not ask for on-the-spot payment for traffic violations.

What is a dala dala, and should I use one?

A privately owned shared minibus running a fixed route with no timetable, leaving when it is full, at 500 to 2,000 Tanzanian shillings a journey, roughly 0.20 to 0.80 dollars (Taxi Trip Zanzibar, Visit Zanzibar Island and The Zanzibus).

It suits a budget traveller with a small bag and spare time. It does not suit airport runs, luggage, late arrivals or a first visit. The Zanzibus describes three or four people sharing a two-person seat, livestock as normal, and big bags going on the roof or on your lap.

How much slower is a dala dala?

Stone Town to Nungwi takes 2 to 3 hours against 45 to 60 minutes by taxi (Visit Zanzibar Island), and Taxi Trip Zanzibar describes it as a multi-change journey with no direct service. Frequency drops sharply after 5pm.

How do I pay on a dala dala without being overcharged?

Do not pay anyone before you are on board and moving. Wait for the conductor to come round during the journey, and check what other passengers are paying. Roughly 2,000 shillings is the local fare (The Zanzibus and Visit Zanzibar Island).

The Zanzibus is blunt that being asked to pay early is itself a known scam, and that some conductors demand many times the local fare from tourists. You also pay extra for a bag, and theft is a risk, so keep valuables in a small bag on you.

Which dala dala route do I want?

Routes are numbered. 116 goes to Nungwi, 309 goes to Paje, and there is a Matemwe service, which are the three named as most useful to visitors. All run from the main terminal near Darajani Market in Stone Town (Visit Zanzibar Island).

What is a tuk-tuk, and when does it make sense?

A three-wheeled bajaj seating two or three, at 2 to 5 dollars a ride. It is the right answer for short hops around Stone Town where the streets are too narrow for a car (Taxi Trip Zanzibar and Visit Zanzibar Island). It does not work for beach or airport routes.

What is a bodaboda?

A motorcycle taxi, flagged down and negotiated on the spot at roughly 1 to 5 dollars for short routes (Taxi Trip Zanzibar). One passenger, usually no helmet offered, and no use at all for luggage.

Should I hire a scooter?

Only if you already ride. Hire runs 15 to 35 dollars a day depending on which source you read (Taxi Trip Zanzibar says 20 to 35, Visit Zanzibar Island says 15 to 30), 125cc is standard, and a helmet is legally required.

Taxi Trip Zanzibar notes that island clinics see a steady flow of gravel rash and fractures from tourists who underestimated the roads.

Do I need a permit to ride a scooter or drive a car in Zanzibar?

Yes. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office states that to drive in Zanzibar you need a local Zanzibar driving permit in addition to your own licence, and that you get it through your hire company.

The cost is reported at 10 to 20 dollars and validity at around three months, and an international driving permit is reported not to be accepted in place of it. Those three details come only from car hire companies, who have an interest in the answer, and we have not verified them against a Zanzibari authority.

Can I hire a car and drive myself?

Yes, but few people do. Taxi Trip Zanzibar calls self-drive technically available but uncommon, with limited signage and genuinely difficult navigation. Visit Zanzibar Island puts self-drive at 60 to 120 dollars a day and recommends a car with a driver at 60 to 100 instead.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office notes that hire car condition is variable, that there are no roadside rescue services, and that service stations are infrequent.

Is there a shuttle bus?

Yes, one. The Zanzibus runs six-seat air-conditioned minibuses on fixed departures between Stone Town, the airport, Paje and Jambiani, and Nungwi and Kendwa, at 8 or 10 euros a seat, hotel door to hotel door, with one check-in bag and one carry-on free. It calls itself the only shuttle service operating on Zanzibar.

Their times: Stone Town to Paje or Jambiani 1 hour 10 at 8 euros, Stone Town to Nungwi or Kendwa 1 hour 20 at 8 euros, Paje or Jambiani to Nungwi or Kendwa 1 hour 55 at 10 euros. Departures are at 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00 depending on direction.

When is a shuttle better than a taxi?

When you are one or two people and you can travel at 10:00, 12:00 or 15:00. At 8 euros a seat against 30 euros for the car, two people save roughly 14 euros on a Stone Town to Nungwi run.

At four people the taxi is cheaper and it leaves when you want. That comparison is our arithmetic on The Zanzibus published rates, not a claim they make.

Can I walk around Stone Town?

Yes, and it is the best way to see it. Most attractions are within a 20-minute walk of the port, the alleys are too narrow for cars, and tuk-tuks handle the outer edges (Taxi Trip Zanzibar and Visit Zanzibar Island).

How do I get from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar?

By fast ferry, with Azam Marine the main operator, reported at four sailings a day between 07:00 and 16:30, most scheduled at 1 hour 45 minutes and the fastest around an hour. One-way fares are reported from about 31 to 106 euros across Royal, Tourist, VIP and Business classes (Ferryscanner and Rome2Rio, search summaries).

Flights also run, at about an hour (Visit Zanzibar Island). We took the ferry figures from aggregators rather than from Azam Marine directly, so check the timetable before you rely on it.

Is the ferry safe?

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office notes that there have been several ferry disasters in recent years, including on the Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar route.

It advises not boarding a vessel that looks overloaded or unseaworthy, tells you to locate life jackets and exits when you board, and warns about aggressive ticket touts at Tanzanian ports.

Can a taxi meet me at the ferry terminal?

Yes. The Zanzibus meets ferry arrivals outside the arrivals hall with a sign, exactly as at the airport, and Taxi Bambino lists the ferry terminals as one of the places taxis are found in Stone Town.

How do I get to Pemba?

By air in about 40 minutes on Auric Air or Coastal Aviation from Zanzibar's airport, or by ferry in roughly 5 to 6 hours. Visit Zanzibar Island puts Pemba ferry fares at 55 to 70 dollars one way, and notes that the small aircraft have baggage limits.

What is Beagle Zanzibar?

A translation and communication service, running as a pilot. You message on WhatsApp in your own language. Beagle agrees the fare with a local driver in Swahili, and comes back to you in your language with the price.

What does Beagle charge?

Nothing at all during the pilot. You pay the driver the agreed fare in cash at the end of the ride, and you pay Beagle nothing.

Do I need an app or an account?

No. There is no app, no account, no rating system and no booking reference. It is a WhatsApp conversation.

How many drivers does Beagle have?

One at present. The service is a pilot and that is the honest size of it. If he is already booked, we have not established what happens next.

What fares has the Beagle driver quoted?

These are the driver's own prices, given to us on 31 July 2026. They are per vehicle and one way, for one to four people, or up to six depending on how much luggage there is.

Airport to Kiwengwa is 40 US dollars. Airport to Nungwi is 50. Airport to Paje, Jambiani, Kizimkazi, Michamvi and the south generally is 50.

That is the whole list. We have no price from him for any other route.

How does that compare with the published rates?

On Nungwi, Paje and the south his 50 dollars sits at or above the top of the published range, where Taxi Trip Zanzibar lists 35 to 45, Taxi Bambino 35 to 50 and The Zanzibus 30 euros. On Kiwengwa his 40 dollars matches Taxi Trip Zanzibar's SUV rate.

Whether these are like-for-like on vehicle size, air conditioning and luggage has not been established. We are not claiming to be the cheapest, and on most of these routes we are not.

What languages does Beagle work in?

You write in your own language, and Beagle deals with the driver in Swahili. Which specific languages we can take a message in is not something we have documented, so ask.

Can Beagle arrange a return, a day hire, or a pickup for a late arrival?

Not established. The fare list we can stand behind covers one-way airport runs only. Every other shape of trip is a question we would have to put to the driver, and we would come back to you with his answer rather than a number from this page.