More Travel Tips

Travel Tips

What to wear

It never gets really cold in Zanzibar and light clothes are advisable. We are located very close to the Equator, so you should bring a sunhat/cap, suntan lotion and good sunglasses.

Getting Around

Taxis and minibuses are available from good tour operators and can also be found at most major arrival points and around town. Local buses (known as daladala's) span the entire island. Vehicle hire is a possibility - but remember to bring an International Driver's Permit, as this will be required. Tourists hiring motor-cycles should ensure that they wear a crash-helmet for safety purposes.

Tour operators & Travel agents

There are a growing number of travel businesses offering Zanzibar as a destination. Internationally, Zanzibar Travel and Tanzania Odyssey specialise in tailor-made holidays to the spice islands. Locally based tour operators include Tima Tours and Ocean Tours.  For more information, see the Tour Operators page.

Health precautions

Zanzibar is a malaria area and communication with your doctor at home regarding what malaria pills to take is essential. It is also a good idea to bring a good mosquito repellent for use in the evenings. Your chances of getting malaria are dramatically reduced if you sleep under a net, and all good quality hotels provide these as standard. It may also be advisable to get some immunisations prior to visiting Zanzibar, and your doctor at home will be able to help you with this.

Money

The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling. It is not available internationally, so visitors are advised to bring a sensible mix of hard currency traveller's cheques and cash. These are easily changed into local currency in Bureaux de Change or Banks. US Dollars are recommended for the best rates of exchange. There is not an active currency black market in Zanzibar.

You can use credit cards at larger establishments - Visa, MasterCard and JCB are the most widely accepted, but American Express and Diners Club cards can also come in handy.
There are currently no ATM's (cash machines) in Zanzibar - the nearest one can be found in Dar es Salaam.

Internet

Many cyber-cafes can be found in Stone Town and some out-of-town hotels offer internet access too.  Zanzibar has two main ISP's, Zanlink and Zanzinet.

Essential Reading

If there is one book that you should buy to prepare yourself for a visit to Zanzibar, it is David Else's Guide to Zanzibar, published by Bradt Publications. This excellent book contains a wealth of information for all travellers.  For more information, visit Zanzibar Books.

Public Holidays

1 Jan	New Year's Day
12 Jan	Zanzibar Revolution Day
5 Feb	CCM Foundation Day
26 Apr	Union Day
1 May	Mayday - Worker's Day
7 Jul	Peasant's Day (also called Saba Saba which means 7 - 7)
9 Dec	Tanganyika Independence Day

Muslim festivals, including Ramadan, and the Prophet's Birthday, account for four days of public holiday, and their precise dates depend on the lunar calendar

Good Friday and Easter Monday are also observed