Zanzibar driving and travel guides
Written from the island, not from a search result. Where we do not know something for certain, we say so.
Driving in Zanzibar
The permit, the roads, the checkpoints and the weather — everything between the airport and the coast road.
Zanzibar driving permit: why your international licence isn't enough
Your home licence and an IDP are not enough to drive in Zanzibar. What the island permit is, the documents you need, and the two ways to arrange it.
Driving in Zanzibar: an honest guide to the roads and the rules
Left-hand traffic, unpainted speed bumps and sand tracks at the end. What driving in Zanzibar is really like, plus realistic journey times by route.
Zanzibar road conditions: what to expect on each route
The main tarmac is fine. The last 500 metres is where cars get damaged. Route by route road conditions, the five real hazards, and the enforced rules.
Police checkpoints in Zanzibar: what to expect and what to carry
Being waved down is routine and takes about two minutes. What officers check, the four documents to keep within reach, and what to do after an accident.
Zanzibar rainy season: what it does to the roads and your rental car
Masika, Vuli and rainfall month by month. What the rain does to hotel access roads, when four wheel drive stops being optional, and why low season is cheaper.
Zanzibar driving etiquette: the dos and don'ts nobody tells you
Cover up before you get out. Give with your right hand. Never throw sweets from a window. The village courtesies nobody will tell you that you got wrong.
The best car to rent in Zanzibar, and when a smaller one will do
The last 500 metres decides the car, not the 60 kilometres before it. Why a compact all-wheel drive SUV suits this island, and four cases where it doesn't.
Exploring the island
Where the car actually takes you: the coasts, the forest, the spice farms and the tides that decide your day.
Zanzibar by car: which sights you can drive to, and which need a boat
About half of Zanzibar's sights are a straightforward drive from Stone Town. The rest need a boat. Honest drive times, and two self-drive days that work.
Zanzibar dos and don'ts: what visitors get wrong
Cover up away from the beach, leave plastic bags at home, and ask before you photograph anyone. The mistakes nobody here will ever tell you that you made.
Zanzibar tides: why the sea disappears, and which beach to choose
On the southeast coast the sea retreats hundreds of metres twice a day. Why it happens, which beaches it affects, and how to plan a trip around the tide.
Stone Town Zanzibar: where to park, how to navigate, and what to see
You cannot drive into Stone Town. Where to leave the car, how to find your way through alleys with no street names, and the sites worth a morning on foot.
Where to stay in Zanzibar: choosing a coast by tides, drive times and access
The coast matters more than the hotel. Every area compared on tides, airport drive times and access roads, so you get the holiday you thought you booked.
Zanzibar spice tours: which farms are worth it and how to book direct
The same two hour walk costs several times more through a platform than at the gate. How to spot a working farm, and how to arrange a spice tour directly.
Jozani Forest Zanzibar: red colobus, timing and driving yourself
The only place on earth with the Zanzibar red colobus, and you will see them. Drive time from Stone Town, how long to allow, and the best time of day.
7 days in Zanzibar by car: a route that uses the island properly
Two bases, not one. A seven day Zanzibar itinerary by car with drive times, what to fold into transfer days, and how to shorten it to five or stretch to ten.
What to eat in Zanzibar: street food, seafood and where to find it
Urojo, Zanzibar pizza, mishkaki and samaki wa kupaka. The dishes worth seeking out, where people who live here actually eat, and how not to get ill doing it.
Zanzibar with kids: what works, what doesn't, and the practical realities
Which coast suits toddlers, why child seats must be booked rather than assumed, and the heat, sun and sea urchin realities that no brochure mentions.
Nungwi vs Kendwa: Zanzibar's north coast, honestly compared
Twenty minutes apart and not the same holiday. Kendwa for swimming and quiet, Nungwi for restaurants and nightlife. Both beaches compared without the gloss.
How much does Zanzibar cost? Where the money actually goes
Three decisions set your Zanzibar budget: how you book excursions, how you get around, and where you eat. Where the money leaks, and how to keep hold of it.