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Last checked: October 2026

Car rentals in Zanzibar: taxis, daladalas and driving

Tree-lined country road in Zanzibar with a cyclist riding away

Day tour

Zanzibar: Stone Town, Spice tour & Prison Island with Lunch

fromUS$55

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See dates on GetYourGuide

Self-drive

Hiring a car in Zanzibar, step by step

Renting a car is a good idea if you want to move between beaches on your own schedule. Even one-day or one-way hire2 can make sense, according to Wikivoyage, and the main roads from Stone Town to Nungwi and Paje are paved and generally in decent shape1.

Permit: US$10 per driver1

  1. Choose your car

    Zanzibar Rentals quotes a Toyota RAV4 from US$25 to US$30 a day; a Toyota Prado is US$150 a day.

  2. Send your licence when you book

    Zanzibar Rentals applies for the temporary permit for you, using a photo of your driving licence sent with the booking.

  3. Keep the permit on your phone

    The permit arrives digitally and a screenshot is enough. Kizingo Cars says it usually covers your whole stay, up to 3 months.

  4. Drive on the left, and slowly

    Zanzibar drives on the left. Limits are 40 km/h in villages and built-up areas and 60 km/h on open country roads.

  5. Fuel up and finish by dark

    A full tank for a RAV4 costs roughly TSh 60,000–100,000. Plan to arrive before nightfall and avoid driving at night.

Sandy village road under coconut palms in northern Zanzibar with a jeep and people walking
Sandy village road under coconut palms in northern Zanzibar with a jeep and people walking

Roads turn unpaved1 once you leave the main routes for the more remote beaches, so allow extra time for the last stretch.

Minibus to the north

Daladala timetable: Stone Town to Nungwi

Daladala No. 116 leaves Creek Road in Stone Town for Nungwi every half-hour from 5:30 AM to 9 PM4 (checked October 2026). Expect a good 2 hours2 on board.

Every 30 min, 05:30–21:004

Daladala to Nungwi from Creek Road, Stone Town

Wikipedia

Stone Town (Creek Road) to Nungwi

  • 05:30 first
  • Every 30 min
  • 21:00 last

Runs daily. The crew may insist on a TSh 5,000 tourist rate, so check the fare before boarding.

Heading east instead? Daladalas 309 and 340 run from Stone Town to Paje, and the ride is not much slower than a taxi5.

Budget for the road

What car hire and fares cost

Daily car hire runs from US$25 for a Toyota RAV4 to US$150 for a Toyota Prado1. Wikivoyage gives US$50 a day6 for self-drive hire, so quotes vary: compare a couple of firms before you pay.

Full tank: TSh 60,000–100,0001

Car hire, permit and fuel costs

TicketAdultChild
Compact SUV hire, per day
Toyota RAV4: US$25–30
–
Premium SUV hire, per day
Toyota Prado: US$150
–
Self-drive hire, Wikivoyage figure, per day
US$50
–
Temporary driving permit, per driver
US$10–15
–
Full tank of fuel, compact SUV
TSh 60,000–100,000
–
Shared shuttle, booked ahead
US$10
–
Daladala, Stone Town to Nungwi
TSh 2,000–2,500
–
Daladala, Stone Town to Paje
TSh 2,000
–

Zanzibar Rentals (operator); Kizingo Cars (operator); Wikivoyage

Pick your ride

What’s the best way to get around Zanzibar?

A taxi or private car is the most comfortable way to travel outside Stone Town, says Wikivoyage, while daladalas serve all the major villages2 very cheaply.

Stone Town to Nungwi: about 90 min by car1

  • Fastest: your own car, about 90 minutes1 from Stone Town to Nungwi, the longest trip on the island.
  • Cheapest: the daladala (see the fares table above).
  • Least hassle to the north: a hotel-arranged car to Nungwi at US$50–60 each way6.
  • Short hops in town: a bajaj (tuk-tuk), at TSh 3,000–5,0007 a trip in urban Unguja, The Citizen reported.
Main routes by taxi, daladala and hire car
RouteTaxiDaladalaDriving yourself
Airport to Stone Town
Wait outside the terminal; fare negotiable
Stop just outside the airport gate
About 15 minutes
Stone Town to Nungwi or Kendwa
About 1.5 hours; TSh 70,000–100,000 from the ferry terminal
No. 116, a good 2 hours
About 90 minutes on a paved road
Airport or Stone Town to Paje
About 1 hour, from TSh 50,000
Nos. 309 and 340
Paved main road
Nungwi to Kizimkazi
About 2 hours, from TSh 80,000
No direct bus: change in Stone Town
–

Wikivoyage; Wikipedia; Zanzibar Rentals (operator)

Big Tree beach in Stone Town with small boats and the ferry at the terminal behind
Big Tree beach in Stone Town with small boats and the ferry at the terminal behind

Taxis and Bolt

Taxis wait outside the airport terminal and fares are negotiable2. Pick one up just outside the airport and a taxi or minibus to Paje costs around US$40, against about US$605 from the terminal.

The Citizen reported that Zanzibar licensed the ride-hailing company Bolt in August 2025, starting on Unguja8 (Zanzibar Island). Bolt’s standard ride uses everyday mid-size cars9.

If you’d rather not drive or haggle at all, a guided day trip such as the Stone Town, spice farm and Prison Island tour covers the sights near town. For more ideas, see what to do in Zanzibar.

Avoid these

Common mistakes on Zanzibar’s roads

  • Driving after dark. Avoid driving at night if you can: roads are sometimes in horrendous condition2.
  • Paying a fine with no receipt. The island has many police checks2. If an officer fines you, ask for an official written receipt1.
  • Cutting it fine for the ferry back. Arrive at the port at least 30 minutes before departure, and remember that in bad weather the crossing can take much longer2. Fares and boats are on our page on getting to the island.
Blue Vespa scooter parked against a weathered wall in a Stone Town lane
Blue Vespa scooter parked against a weathered wall in a Stone Town lane

Pick your base before you plan your transport: start with our top hotels list, and read our guide about Zanzibar and its layout to see where everything sits.

Questions people ask

Can I rent a scooter or bike in Zanzibar?

Yes, in Paje you can rent a bike, scooter or motorcycle, and many resorts have rental offices.

How do I get from Zanzibar to Pemba?

The flight takes about 30 minutes. Wikivoyage says the Pemba ferries run only a few times a week.

Do Stone Town hotels pick you up from the airport?

Some Stone Town hotels offer a free airport shuttle, so ask when you book.

How far is the airport from Stone Town?

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) is about 5 km south of Zanzibar City.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. Authors and licences: image credits

Checked against 10 sources · last checked October 2026
  1. Zanzibar Rentals (operator) · checked October 2026
  2. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  3. Kizingo Cars (operator) · checked October 2026
  4. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  5. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  6. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  7. The Citizen (news) · checked October 2026
  8. The Citizen (news) · checked October 2026
  9. Bolt (operator) · checked October 2026
  10. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
Page history · last changed 21 October 2026