Arrival brief · Zanzibar ZNZ
ZNZ Arrival Guide: Zanzibar Airport to Stone Town & the Beaches, Without the Traps
Zanzibar's airport is small and the arrival is friendly-but-pushy — taxi touts and 'helpers' work every landing. The clean move is decided before you fly: a pre-booked hotel transfer turns the haggle into a name on a sign.
2026-08-23
What to expect after landing
Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume airport (ZNZ) is small and the arrival is warm but pushy: visa on arrival for many nationalities (carry clean US dollars for the fee, and possibly proof of travel insurance), then a compact arrivals area worked by taxi touts and ‘papasi’ helpers. The clean move is the one you make before you fly — a pre-booked hotel transfer — which turns the whole thing into finding a driver holding your name. Draw Tanzanian shillings from a bank ATM (decline conversion) for smaller spending.
Option 1 — Pre-booked hotel transfer (the default)
Stone Town hotels and the beach resorts almost universally arrange a transfer to meet you by name at a set price — the calm, hassle-free choice, and especially worth it for the longer runs out to Nungwi, Kendwa, or Paje. It skips the taxi haggle and the touts entirely. Arrange it when you book; look for your name on the sign, confirm the driver, and you’re away.
Option 2 — Taxi (fare agreed first)
Taxis have no meters, so agree the full fare out loud before getting in, and ask your hotel in advance what the fair rate to your area should be. Ignore the touts and unofficial “helpers” in arrivals — use a proper taxi and set the price first. For the beach resorts especially, the pre-booked transfer usually beats it for peace of mind.
What it looks like
At ZNZ: ‘papasi’ touts and “helpers” working arrivals, and taxis with no set price quoting high to newcomers. A pre-booked transfer (a driver with your name) sidesteps both; if you take a taxi, the fair fare agreed out loud first is the whole defense.
Do this instead
Pre-book the hotel transfer and look for your name on the sign — the calm, set-price way to your hotel or the beach. If you take a taxi, agree the fare first and know the fair rate from your hotel. Carry clean USD for the visa, draw shillings from a bank ATM, and walk past the touts. That’s the whole ZNZ arrival.
Late-night arrivals
A pre-booked transfer is strongly the right call for a night landing — the resorts are a fair, dark drive out, and a named driver at a set price beats negotiating at night. Arrange it with the hotel in advance, and have your details and the driver’s name ready.
Quick answers
What's the best way from Zanzibar airport to my hotel?
A pre-booked hotel transfer, by a wide margin — Stone Town hotels and the beach resorts (Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje) almost all arrange a driver to meet you by name at a set price, which skips the airport taxi haggle and the touts entirely. It's especially worth it for the longer beach runs. If you take a taxi instead, agree the full fare out loud before getting in, and ask your hotel in advance what the fair price should be.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar, and should I carry US dollars?
Many nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, available on arrival at the airport (or as an e-Visa in advance) — carry US dollars in cash for the visa fee, in clean, newer notes, which Tanzania prefers. You may also be asked for proof of travel insurance. For local spending, draw Tanzanian shillings from a bank-branded ATM (decline conversion); US dollars are accepted at many hotels and tours but at poor rates, so shillings are handy for smaller purchases.
Are the taxis at Zanzibar airport a ripoff?
Taxis have no meters, so airport overcharging is common — drivers quote high to arrivals who don't know the fair rate. Agree the full fare before getting in (ask your hotel what it should be), or simply pre-book the hotel transfer so the price is set. Ignore the 'papasi' touts and unofficial 'helpers' in the arrivals area; a pre-arranged driver holding your name is the person to look for.
What if I arrive in Zanzibar at night?
A pre-booked hotel transfer is strongly the right call for a night arrival — the beach resorts are a fair, dark drive from the airport, and a driver by name at a set price is far calmer than negotiating a taxi at night. Arrange it when you book the hotel; nearly all do it as standard. Have your accommodation details and the driver's name ready.