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You know what I’ll never understand? Why so many tourists fly to Zanzibar when they could be taking a much more cost-effective, sustainable and honestly pretty easy alternative: the Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar ferry!
Honestly, it’s really simple, and it’s not uncomfortable either. I’ve been to Zanzibar now 4 times and each time I go, I visit from mainland Tanzania and take the ferry. I’ve also flown out of the island once, and honestly, I’m not sure I recommend it (the airport is TINY and the planes tend to be small too!). Most tourists don’t consider the option of a ferry, despite Zanzibar being quite close to the mainland – I would guess mainly out of safety concerns.
My plan here is to set some minds at ease, explain the whole process of getting the ferry to Zanzibar, talk you through what to expect, and provide some key details like how to book, what the ferry times are and other things you need to know.
Table of Contents
- How to get to Zanzibar
- Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Ferry Schedule and Route
- Facilities onboard the Zanzibar ferry
- How to book the Zanzibar Ferry
- Other things to know before visiting Zanzibar
How to get to Zanzibar
There are two main ways to get to Zanzibar. Of course, you can fly (from Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, Dar Es Salaam and even a few international airports). Admittedly, it’s super convenient. Zanzibar airport is really small, and you’ll be through it in a few minutes. Upon learning that Zanzibar has an airport, most tourists tend to fly in and out.
However, I have to say Zanzibar airport is seriously boring! There’s really nothing to do there, so it’s no fun if you’re waiting for your flight home. Additionally, flying is not very budget friendly and it’s the least environmentally-friendly way to travel. It’s also a bit scary on the tiny planes and sketchy runway (if that kind of thing bothers you).
By far my favourite way is to take the ferry – it’s super easy, not too expensive and goes really frequently. It’s actually really easy to reach Zanzibar without needing to fly, and it’s significantly cheaper usually too. In recent years, the ferries to Zanzibar have also really improved, meaning that it’s quite a comfortable trip. You can even choose from a variety of comfort levels and, shockingly for Tanzania, it’s usually on time! For budget travellers visiting Zanzibar, this is great news, and means you don’t have to miss out.
It’s so quick that even if you’re short on time, it shouldn’t delay you.
Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Ferry Schedule and Route
The ferry goes from Dar Es Salaam. That means you do need to get to Dar Es Salaam first, but, being that it’s the administrative capital of Tanzania, there are plenty of connections from the other Tanzanian cities, like Singida, Moshi, Arusha, Dodoma etc. There are direct public buses from each of these places.
Public buses in Tanzania, again, have really improved lately and now make for generally quite a safe and comfortable trip. Of course, this is subjective. I have travelled a lot in Tanzania and am very comfortable with it, but know your own limits. You can also drive – I don’t find driving difficult in Tanzania either. The roads are straightforward and easy to navigate, and other drivers are generally considerate, however there are frequent police check points.
The most up to date Zanzibar ferry schedule is below:
As you can see, each trip lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes. Occasionally, there are delays because of the loading and offloading but actually, we are usually surprised by how punctual the ferry is! If you have an international flight from Dar Es Salaam, book your ferry at least 48 hours before in case of any delays.
Price of Zanzibar ferry and different cabins
There are different prices for residents and non-residents. These are clearly marked. At a minimum of $35 each way for a ‘non-resident’ economy class ticket, it’s not exactly low cost (at least comparatively for Tanzania), but it will save you money vs a flight, which usually costs around $200 internally in Tanzania or, of course, more internationally.
There are 4 different cabin classes: Economy ($35 USD), Business ($40), VIP ($60) and Royal ($100). These are all ‘non-resident’ prices. For residents, these prices are around $5 cheaper per cabin and the price is usually in Tanzanian Shillings. Prices for adults and children are the same.
By the way, PRO TIP: if you can pay in Tanzanian Shillings (if you’re buying the tickets in person), the price often works out much less. This is because the ferry companies don’t usually check the exchange rate often, so the dollar price tends to be estimated and often higher than it should be to cover them just in case.
What’s the difference between the cabins on the Zanzibar ferry?
I have travelled Economy and Business (not available on every ferry), and peeked into VIP and Royal. Economy and business are both fine, and this is not a ferry where I’d turn my nose up at travelling in the basic cabin. There aren’t many facilities in Economy, but the ferry doesn’t last very long so you don’t need them. It has toilets, free WiFi, which is a nice bonus, and a canteen where you can order breakfast, have coffee and tea etc.
If you are feeling a little flush, the Business cabin is nice. It has a communal TV, spacious seats, free WiFi again, and direct access to the canteen so you don’t need to wander around.
The VIP cabin looks very comfy (we had a look!), but the only real difference we could tell between VIP and Business is that VIP had carpet, whereas business is a wooden floor. VIP and Royal class both have access to the VIP lounge, which has a few extra amenities.
The Royal seats are more like Business Class seats on a flight and have seat-back entertainment. There are only around 18-20 seats in this cabin on each ferry, so it’s advisable to book your tickets early.
Anyway, all this to say – for the duration, for budget travellers, Economy (or Business if you’re feeling fancy!) is fine. For those willing to splurge, you can opt for a higher cabin.
What are the seats like on the Zanzibar Ferry?
I’ve included two videos of the seats which are both not the best quality – they’re from a friend! It does however show what the seats look like in Business Class, and you can also see the canteen in the second one briefly.
There is a good YouTube video here showing the Royal Seating. Note that this is not our video, so all credit goes to the original creator.
The sea is not too choppy, so generally the trip is quite smooth and comfortable.
Facilities onboard the Zanzibar ferry
As you can see in the above videos, there is a small canteen. It sells coffees, tea, cold snacks and beverages and even a variety of hot food, such as chapati, samosas and some small meals. We read online that they often run out of food, but this wasn’t our experience.
There are toilets onboard too and they are OK. The Royal and VIP class cabins have pretty nice toilets.
Each cabin has free WiFi and a TV. The VIP and Royal cabins also have seat-back TVs, with remote controls.
There are also baggage storage spaces at the back of each cabin for large bags. You have ample leg space in most cabins, so smaller bags should fit beneath your seat.
How to book the Zanzibar Ferry
The best company to use is Azam, and you can buy tickets on arrival to the Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar ferry port. You can FINALLY now book tickets online with Azam, but only ever use the official website linked here. Whether you choose to book in person or online, try to book a day or so in advance, as the ferries do sell out. It’s a really straightforward booking process online.
In person, you’ll be asked which category you’d like to book. Note that for tourists, they do usually offer business seats first, so you may need to make clear if you’d like to book economy or a higher cabin.
Other things to know before visiting Zanzibar
🛌🏽Where to stay? Personally, I really love Stone Town as an area of the island that is really great for first timers and repeat tourists alike. My favourite hotel there is the Rumaisa hotel, close to the ferry port, locally owned and a really pretty design. You can also choose one of the shambas (resort towns) like Pingwe, but it is quite far (about a 1.5 hour drive) from the ferry port – that’s where the famous Rock restaurant is!
👉🏽 I have a full guide on Where to Stay in Zanzibar, full of personally-vetted recommendations and hotel suggestions!
💰 Is Zanzibar expensive? If you’re visiting Zanzibar on a budget, then I would recommend to stay in Stone Town, as it’s easy by public transport, you’ve got a good choice of free and budget-friendly activities, and lots of basic accommodation. Zanzibar, like most places, is as expensive as you make it. You have a choice of high end hotels, restaurants and tours, but you can also find lots of free activities, budget accommodation and local restaurants, which generally have lower prices.
❓ Things to do in Zanzibar? There are sooo many! I would recommend to take a spice tour, as it will give you an idea of the history of the island. In the same vain, the Old Slave Market is a must (but sadly very harrowing) visit. Many of my favourite things to do in Zanzibar can be found in Stone Town, so I would start there! I would avoid many of the dolphin swimming and snorkelling tours as, unfortunately, in my experience they don’t tend to be ethically done and most of the time, guides will feed and bait the wildlife to bring them closer to tourists.
🛍 What to bring to Zanzibar? You need to wear modest clothing in Zanzibar (outside of the beaches) as the population is predominantly Muslim and it shows respect. Additionally I would recommend reef-safe sunscreen, I have a full list of sustainable toiletries you can check here, including sunscreen suggestions. I would also bring an eSIM (I use Airalo), as it can be hard to find places to top up physical sim cards in Zanzibar.
🩺 Lastly, don’t forget insurance! You need to buy specific travel insurance for Zanzibar (you can find out more details about that here) but it’s good to be covered for medical issues as well. I recommend to use SafetyWing for that, you can find out more about them here.
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Written by Emma
