Zanzibar is about eighty kilometres from top to bottom, so the drives look trivial on a map. They are not. The roads run inland rather than along the coast, so getting from the airport to the far corners takes longer than the distance implies.
These are the planning times we use ourselves. They are deliberately wider than a maps estimate, because the last few kilometres to a hotel are often the slowest part of the journey.
Travel times from the airport
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport sits just south of Stone Town, on the west of the island. Everything in the table is a normal-conditions drive, door to door.
| Destination | Allow | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Town | 20 to 25 min | The closest place to stay by a long way |
| Fumba | 35 to 55 min | Where the Safari Blue dhows leave from |
| Uroa | 55 to 65 min | Mid east coast |
| Kiwengwa | 60 to 70 min | Most of the large resorts |
| Pongwe | 60 to 70 min | Small hotels, quiet |
| Paje | 60 to 75 min | South-east, kitesurfing |
| Bwejuu | 65 to 80 min | Just south of Paje |
| Matemwe | 70 to 80 min | North-east, closest to Mnemba |
| Kizimkazi | 70 to 100 min | Far south |
| Kendwa | 70 to 90 min | North-west |
| Nungwi | 75 to 95 min | Northern tip |
| Michamvi / Pingwe | 75 to 90 min | The last stretch is slow |
| Jambiani | 80 to 90 min | South-east, past Paje |
Arrival day
Between landing and reaching your room, allow for immigration, baggage, finding your driver and the drive. On a busy arrival, immigration alone can take an hour.
- Do not book an excursion for your arrival day. Flights slip, and a full-day boat trip you paid for and missed is a bad start.
- Send your flight number when you book the transfer. It lets the driver track the landing rather than guess.
- Give the hotel name and a map pin, not just the beach. There are dozens of hotels in Nungwi alone.
- Say how many bags you have. A family of five with six cases is not the same vehicle as a couple with hand luggage.
Departure day
This is where people cut it fine. Work backwards from the flight, not forwards from breakfast.
For an international departure, be at the airport around three hours before, and add the drive from the table above on top of that. From Nungwi or Jambiani on an evening flight, that means leaving mid-afternoon. Your hotel will hold your bags and most will let you use a shower after check-out, so the last morning is not lost.
Getting there: what we would actually do
| Option | Works when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked private transfer | Almost always, and especially at night or with children | Confirm whether the price is per vehicle or per person |
| Airport taxi on arrival | Short hops to Stone Town | Agree the fare before you get in. There are no meters |
| Shared shuttle | Solo travellers watching the budget | It stops at several hotels, so it can be slow |
| Dala-dala (local minibus) | Cheap travel with light luggage | Not realistic with cases after a long flight |
Ride-hailing apps are not something to plan an arrival around here. A transfer booked in advance is met at the door, and it costs about what a negotiated taxi does.
Moving between beaches mid-trip
You do not need to return to the airport or to Stone Town to change hotels. A private car goes direct. Because the roads run inland, crossing from one coast to the other still takes a while.
- Nungwi to Kendwa: fifteen minutes
- Nungwi to Matemwe: about an hour
- Paje to Jambiani: fifteen to twenty minutes
- Nungwi to Paje: an hour and a half to two hours
Where your hotel is changes which tours are easy
We collect from every beach, so nothing is off the table wherever you stay. What changes is the length of the day. Safari Blue leaves from Fumba in the south-west, which is a long morning from Nungwi and a short one from Stone Town. Mnemba leaves from the north-east, which is the reverse.
If you are still choosing where to stay, our guide to the beaches covers the trade-offs. If you have already booked, tell us the hotel and we will plan the days around the drive.
Days we arrange with transfers included
Full daySafari Blue
A full-day ocean adventure: snorkelling, sandbanks, lagoon swimming and a seafood lunch.
Half dayMnemba Sandbank & Atoll
One of the island's best snorkelling spots: turquoise water, coral reefs and tropical fish.
Half dayStone Town Tour
The historic heart of Zanzibar: carved doors, markets, narrow lanes and old landmarks.
Half dayNakupenda Sandbank
A sandbank in the middle of crystal-clear water. Swim, sunbathe and a fresh seafood lunch on the sand.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Zanzibar airport to Nungwi?
Allow 75 to 95 minutes. It can be quicker outside the busy hours around Zanzibar City, but plan on the longer figure, particularly on the way back to a flight.
How far is Stone Town from the airport?
About 20 to 25 minutes. It is the closest place to stay and a sensible choice for a very late arrival or a very early departure.
How long from the airport to Paje or Jambiani?
Paje is 60 to 75 minutes and Jambiani 80 to 90, depending on where along the beach your hotel sits.
Should I book a transfer in advance?
Yes, for a first trip, a night arrival, or anywhere outside Stone Town. The driver tracks your flight and meets you, which removes the one part of the journey that goes wrong.
Is Uber available in Zanzibar?
Do not plan your arrival around a ride-hailing app. Pre-arranged private transfers and taxis are how people move around, and fares are agreed before you set off.
Can we go straight from the airport to a tour?
We would not. Flights are delayed and immigration queues are unpredictable, and a missed boat is an expensive way to save a day. Arrive, check in, start the next morning.
Have us plan the days for you
Send your dates and what you would like to see. We are a local team in Stone Town and we reply ourselves.
