Getting To Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania located 35km North-East of Dar es Salaam on the East coast. The peaceful Zanzibar archipelago consists of three large islands: Unguja, Pemba, and Tumbatu, as well as a number of smaller islands and truly amazing sand banks. Unguja, commonly referred to as “Zanzibar” or “Zanzibar Island”, is by far the largest of the three islands and is the heart of the archipelago’s economy, providing an abundance of safari type activity very different to Tanzania’s National Parks.
Getting to Zanzibar Island has two easy options. The Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on Zanzibar Island is the easiest depending on where you are coming from. The airport takes in chartered flights from Prague, Warsaw, Rome, Brussels, Frankfurt, Doha, Muscat, Tel Aviv, Johannesburg and other international flights with the likes of KLM, Condor, and Oman Air.
It is also served by all Tanzanian airports. So, you can book ahead for a transfer to Zanzibar Island with operators such as As Salaam Air, Auric Air, Precision Air, ZanAir, and Coastal Aviation. This is a short and enjoyable 20 minute flight which gives you some impressive views of the archipelago as you are getting to Zanzibar.
Alternatively, the Azam ferry service from Dar es Salaam is a two-hour journey but it is recommended you arrive at the ferry port an hour before departure and, as online purchase of ferry tickets is not possible, buy your tickets the day before. This is recommended if you plan to stay a night in Dar es Salaam before getting to Zanzibar: using the ferry, which is right in the city centre, often turns out quicker than flying because the car traffic in Dar is notoriously slow.