Zanzibar car rental questions
The questions we are asked before a booking, answered directly. Where we do not yet know something for certain, the answer says so instead of filling the gap.
Before you book
Do I need a Zanzibar driving permit?
Yes. Every visiting driver needs one, and your home licence on its own is not enough. We arrange it with your booking, so you are given it at the car rather than queueing for it on your first morning. Send a scan of your licence and passport when you reserve, for each person who will drive.
How the permit is arranged, and the permit explained in full.
What does it cost?
40 $ per day for a self-drive RAV4, with unlimited mileage. The same price for any RAV4 in the fleet. The Zanzibar driving permit and additional drivers are charged separately and written out on the prices page.
How do I pay, and when?
You pay at handover and receive a receipt. Nothing is charged on this website and no card details are stored here. You are told the amount and the currency before you travel, and no prepayment is needed to hold a car.
Which payment methods the provider accepts onsite is being confirmed. Ask us before you travel and we will tell you what applies to your booking.
Is there a security deposit?
No. We take no security deposit, so nothing is blocked on your card and there is no held amount to chase afterwards. The damage terms are confirmed with you in writing before handover.
Can I cancel?
We are not stating a cancellation policy yet. Ask on WhatsApp before you reserve and we will tell you what applies to your dates.
We have seen more than one version of the provider’s cancellation terms, which is exactly why we are not repeating one here.
What insurance is included?
The car is insured, and the terms are confirmed with you at handover before you sign. We have seen more than one description of what that cover includes, so we are getting it in writing before we publish it here.
The excess is not confirmed. We will not guess at it. What we can say today.
How old do I have to be, and how long must I have held my licence?
The insurer’s age and experience rules are being confirmed, so we will not quote a number. Tell us the ages of the drivers when you ask about dates and we will check before you commit to anything.
The car
Which car will I get?
A Toyota RAV4 — a compact SUV with the ride height for speed bumps and sand tracks, and the width for a village lane. Body style and transmission vary between cars, so we confirm the exact car, its registration and its transmission before you travel.
Do I need four-wheel drive?
For most of the island, no. It matters for a sand access road at the wrong time of year, and for a few properties on the east and north coasts. Tell us where you are staying and we will say plainly whether it matters for your dates.
Is the mileage limited?
No. Mileage within Zanzibar is unlimited, so the price does not change with how far you drive.
Can I add a second driver?
Yes. An additional driver is $25. Every driver needs their own Zanzibar permit, so send that person’s licence and passport scan too.
Can I get a child seat?
Ask us. Whether a seat can be supplied for your dates, and what it costs, is not something we can confirm on this page yet, so we will check with the provider and tell you before you book.
Can I take the car to the mainland?
Ask before you plan it. Where the car may be taken, and on what surfaces, sits in the rental terms that are still being confirmed, and a ferry crossing is not something to improvise.
Arrival, handover and support
Where do I collect the car?
At the airport. A representative meets you with a name sign, and your exact meeting point is sent with your booking confirmation, at the latest 24 hours before you land. Collection and return are both at the airport.
What if my flight is delayed?
Nothing to do. Your flight is tracked and the handover moves with it. Send us a message once you have landed and cleared immigration.
How long does the handover take?
About ten minutes at the car: the controls, your permit and papers, the condition record and photographs, payment and the receipt, then the keys. Everything that can be read in advance is sent to you before you travel.
What do I bring to the handover?
Your passport, your national driving licence for each driver, the amount due in the agreed currency, and your phone with the support thread on it. Your Zanzibar permit is handed to you at the car.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Message the support number. Send your booking reference and registration, your live location, what happened, a photograph including the dashboard, and whether everyone is safe. We decide with the provider whether the car continues or stops. Do not authorise a repair yourself.
Who am I actually renting from?
Kibabu Cars, a local rental provider in Stone Town, Zanzibar. They own the car, hand it over, take payment and issue the receipt. We arrange the booking, check the car against our standard, prepare your documents and answer support.
Ask us your question
If it is not here, send it. A real answer beats a guess, and if we do not know we will tell you that too.