Getting around

How to get around Zanzibar

2 March 2026 · 5 min read

There is no train and no ride-hailing app you can rely on. Your realistic options are a private car, the local minibuses, or driving yourself.

Private taxi

The simplest option: air conditioning, door-to-door, fixed price, and a driver who can advise you. Best for transfers, tours and anything after dark.

Hiring the same car for a full day usually costs less per hour than several separate trips.

Dala dala

Converted minibuses and trucks running fixed routes for very little money. Slow, crowded and a genuine local experience.

Fine for short daylight hops between villages; impractical with luggage or a flight to catch.

Driving yourself

Scooters and cars can be rented, and a local permit is required. Roads are shared with pedestrians, bicycles and livestock, and unlit at night.

Most visitors who try it for a day hand the keys back and book a driver for the rest of the trip.

Need a driver for this trip?

Fixed price, clean non-smoking car, licensed taxi driver. Tell us your dates and we reply with a quote.