Zanzibar Airport Guide: Arrivals, Transfers, ZIC Insurance, and Everything You Need to Know

Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) is how most visitors first see the island — a small but functional terminal 6 km south of Stone Town that handles everything from European wide-bodies to bush-flight Cessnas. The process is straightforward if you know what to expect. This guide covers the arrivals hall step by step, the mandatory ZIC insurance, realistic transfer times, which airlines serve ZNZ, and what to know before you depart.

The airport at a glance

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport — named after Zanzibar’s first president after the 1964 revolution — sits on the south-west corner of the island, roughly 6 km from Stone Town city centre. The IATA code is ZNZ.

The airport has three terminal buildings. Terminal 3, which opened in October 2020, handles all international arrivals and departures. Terminal 2 handles domestic flights and airport office functions. Terminal 1 is inactive. For all practical purposes, if you are arriving on an international flight, you will use Terminal 3 — a spacious, air-conditioned building with a well-lit arrivals hall, a departures lounge with Wi-Fi, dining options, and business zones.

ZNZ is small by major-airport standards. It processes flights sequentially rather than simultaneously, which means that when two international arrivals land within the same 45-minute window, immigration queues back up fast. Arriving on schedule matters; the 07:00 Ethiopian inbound and a Turkish Airlines arrival overlapping can mean a 30–45 minute immigration wait rather than the usual 15 minutes.

The runway is capable of handling wide-body aircraft — Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Qatar Airways all operate here regularly, alongside smaller regional props and light aircraft.

Mandatory ZIC insurance: what you need to know

Since 1 October 2024, every non-resident visitor entering Zanzibar must hold inbound insurance issued by the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC). This applies regardless of any other travel insurance you already carry.

Coverage is valid for stays of up to 92 days. After purchase, you receive a QR code by email. That QR code is scanned in the jetway immediately after leaving the plane — before you reach immigration — and is occasionally checked again at accommodation check-in or when visiting protected areas.

The key point most guides miss: buy this before you fly. The official portal is visitzanzibar.go.tz. Some airlines have the ZIC system integrated into their departure check-in and will refuse to board passengers without proof. If you arrive at ZNZ without it, there are purchase desks available in the jetway — but you are taking the risk of being stopped at your departure airport. The five-minute purchase at visitzanzibar.go.tz is not worth skipping.

The ZIC insurance is not a comprehensive travel policy. It covers basic medical assistance and emergency support inside Zanzibar. You still need your own travel insurance with evacuation cover. Think of the ZIC levy as a government entry fee that comes with a policy number — not a replacement for proper cover.

Transfer times and options from ZNZ

Getting from the airport to your hotel is the first practical decision after clearing arrivals. Transfer times across the island vary significantly:

The roads between ZNZ and the east or north coast are sealed tarmac but narrow, and Zanzibar is deceptively large — distances on a map look shorter than actual journey times, particularly when routing through the south of the island to reach the east coast.

Transfer options:

• Pre-booked hotel transfer: The recommended option for first-time arrivals and late-night flights. Your name on a board in arrivals removes all the post-flight negotiation. Most east-coast properties offer this service.
• Private taxi: Widely available at the exit from arrivals. Agree the fare before getting in — do not accept verbal-only “best price” offers without confirming the number. USD 10–15 to Stone Town and around USD 40 to the east coast beaches are typical benchmarks.
• Dala-dala (shared minibus): Dala-dalas run from outside the terminal to Stone Town for a fraction of the private fare. Fine for solo travellers with minimal luggage and flexibility about arrival time; not suitable for late-night arrivals or larger groups with bags.

There is no direct public bus service from ZNZ to the east coast or north coast beach areas.

Airlines serving Zanzibar (ZNZ)

ZNZ is well-connected for its size. International airlines flying to or from ZNZ include:

• Ethiopian Airlines — Addis Ababa (daily connections from Europe, Asia, and the Americas via ADD)
• Turkish Airlines — Istanbul (IST), one of the longest-running European connections
• Qatar Airways — Doha (DOH)
• Kenya Airways — Nairobi (NBO)
• RwandAir — Kigali (KGL)
• flydubai — Dubai (DXB)
• Condor — Frankfurt (FRA) nonstop, with seasonal service from other German-speaking airports (Munich, Düsseldorf, Zurich); the main direct carrier for the DACH market

Regional and inter-island carriers:

• Auric Air — Dar es Salaam, Arusha, northern circuit airstrips (Serengeti, Ruaha, etc.)
• Coastal Aviation — Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar, northern circuit camps
• Flightlink — Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Pemba
• Air Tanzania — Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar routes
• ZanAir — Zanzibar, Pemba, and mainland connections

For safari-to-beach itineraries, most travellers finish their northern circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire) on a light aircraft that connects through Arusha or Dar es Salaam before landing at ZNZ. Allow a full travel day for this: Serengeti to ZNZ typically involves at least one transit.

Arrival process: step by step

Here is what actually happens when you land at ZNZ.

Step 1 — In the jetway, before the terminal Immediately after leaving the plane, before you reach the terminal building, your ZIC insurance QR code is checked. Have your passport, boarding pass, and ZIC QR code ready on your phone (download it offline before the flight). If you do not have the QR code, there are purchase desks in the jetway — but as noted above, buying in advance is strongly recommended.

Step 2 — Immigration hall Fill in the arrival card at the desk in the hall (pens are provided). Join the queue for your visa stamp. E-visa holders have a dedicated counter that is usually noticeably shorter. Most nationalities pay USD 50 for a single-entry tourist visa — either cash in USD or card. The immigration process typically takes 15–30 minutes on a single inbound flight; longer when multiple aircraft arrive simultaneously.

Step 3 — Baggage claim Belts are clearly signed. Baggage from ZNZ’s larger international flights typically takes 15–20 minutes to arrive.

Step 4 — Exit scanning All bags pass through a scanner before you exit to the arrivals hall. Standard procedure.

Step 5 — Arrivals hall Exit to: taxi operators (official rank outside the terminal), hotel transfer signboards, currency exchange desk, ATMs, and SIM card kiosks. If you have pre-booked a transfer, your driver will be holding a board with your name.

Step 6 — SIM cards and connectivity Vodacom Tanzania, Airtel Tanzania, and Zantel kiosks are in the arrivals area. Buying a local SIM here is recommended — you have connectivity for maps and calling your hotel from the first moment you leave the terminal. You will need your passport to register (legally required in Tanzania). Data bundles for a week typically cost well under USD 10.

From my experience meeting guests at ZNZ airport more times than I can count: the whole process from plane door to taxi is usually 30–45 minutes on a typical international flight. The ZIC check in the jetway is fast. Immigration is the longest step. Having everything on your phone — e-visa, ZIC QR code, hotel booking confirmation — avoids every possible hold-up.

Departure tips

Check-in times:

• International flights: most airlines open check-in 3 hours before departure. ZNZ departures for morning European-bound flights (early Ethiopian, Turkish) attract the longest queues. Aim to arrive 2.5–3 hours early.
• Regional and inter-island flights (Coastal, Auric, Flightlink): check-in opens around 1 hour before departure. These aircraft are smaller and processing is faster.

Luggage limits on light aircraft: If any part of your trip involves Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, Flightlink, or ZanAir, the luggage limit is 15 kg per person including carry-on. This is strictly enforced, with per-kilogram excess charges. Use a soft duffel bag — hard-shell suitcases are difficult to load into small cargo holds and are sometimes refused. Many east-coast properties will store excess luggage at no cost if you are returning to them after a safari leg.

Departure taxes: International departure tax from ZNZ is included in your airline ticket price — you do not pay separately at the counter. Domestic departure tax (for flights to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, etc.) is typically collected locally at the airport by your operator.

Duty-free and shopping: Duty-free shopping at ZNZ is limited in range. The departures lounge has some retail options but this is not an airport for last-minute gift shopping. Buy spices, fabrics, and Zanzibar coffee in Stone Town or at your hotel before heading to the airport.

Practical pre-departure pattern: Many visitors spend a final afternoon and evening in Stone Town before a late-night or early-morning departure — walking the old town, eating at Forodhani Gardens (when open), and having a last sundowner at one of the rooftop bars. It is very workable if your departure is 22:00 or later.

Ferry from Dar es Salaam: the alternative gateway

Not every visitor arrives by air. The high-speed ferry from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town port is a popular alternative — particularly for travellers finishing a mainland safari in Dar rather than flying onward from Kilimanjaro.

Operators and fares: Azam Marine runs the main service. Non-resident fares: Economy USD 35, VIP USD 60, Royal USD 100. Zan Fast Ferries also operates the route.

Journey time: 90–120 minutes, depending on sea conditions and vessel. The route is generally smooth in the dry season (June–October); rougher during the short rains (October–November) and long rains (March–May). Motion sickness medication is worth having for any crossing if you are sensitive.

Port: Zanzibar town port, approximately 1 km from Stone Town centre. Taxis and bajajis are immediately available outside.

ZIC insurance at the port: The ZIC insurance QR code is checked at ferry arrivals as well. Buy it in advance at visitzanzibar.go.tz before departure — do not count on purchasing it onboard or on arrival without a queue.

Buying tickets: Purchase from official port offices in Dar es Salaam or directly through the carriers’ websites. Avoid street touts offering discounted tickets — ferry ticket scams are documented at Dar es Salaam port.

Practicalities: ATMs, currency, Wi-Fi, luggage

ATMs: Two ATMs are available in the arrivals hall at ZNZ. They dispense Tanzanian shillings (TZS) only — since the Bank of Tanzania Foreign Currency Regulations came into effect in March 2025, local transactions must be conducted in TZS. The per-transaction cap is typically around 400,000 TZS, with fees of 7,000–15,000 TZS per withdrawal.

Currency exchange: A bureau de change operates in the arrivals hall. Rates are usable for small amounts — enough to cover a taxi and the first night — but not competitive with forex bureaus in Stone Town or at your hotel. Bring 50–100 USD in clean post-2013 bills for the visa, tips, and initial expenses; exchange the rest in town. Airport and hotel exchange rates are consistently worse than Stone Town bureaus.

Wi-Fi: Available in Terminal 3 departures lounge. Functional for email and maps while waiting to board.

Luggage storage: ZNZ does not offer a formal left-luggage service in the way that large international airports do. If you need to store bags between checking out and a late flight, most Zanzibar hotels and guesthouses offer this service — even for non-guests on the day of departure, usually at a small fee.

Airport accommodation: There is no hotel directly at ZNZ. Stone Town is 15–20 minutes away and offers a wide range of guesthouses and hotels at every price point — far preferable to sleeping in a terminal with no hotel facilities. For early-morning departures, staying in Stone Town the night before is the standard approach.

Related guides

• Getting to Zanzibar — flights, ferry, safari-to-beach connections
• Zanzibar entry requirements — visa, ZIC insurance, what to have ready
• Zanzibar taxis and transfers — fares, shared vehicles, dala-dalas, bajajis
• Tanzania currency and money — ATMs, TZS, USD, exchange tips
• Stone Town guide — what to do near the airport on arrival or before departure