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How to travel to Zanzibar from South Africa?

Getting to Zanzibar from South Africa is quite straightforward and is commonly preferred by the holidaymaker who wants a mix of tropical beaches, historical attractions and to go and have fun on the Island. Leaving Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban you can choose out of a variety of convenient flights offering you to fly close to this island paradise in the Indian Ocean.

1. By Air – The Fastest and Most Practical Option

The most convenient way of travelling between South Africa and Zanzibar is by flight. Direct and connecting flights to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), Zanzibar, can be found within the major cities of South Africa.

Direct Flights

  • Airlines:
    • There are occasional direct seasonal or charter links within Johannesburg (JNB)  to Zanzibar (ZNZ) by FlySafair.
  • Flight Duration:
    • Around 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours direct.

The direct flights are best suited to the holiday makers who come to Zanzibar as tourists and are more frequent during the South African school holidays or during peak seasons.

Connecting Flights

If a direct flight is not available, travelers can choose from several connecting routes via East African or Middle Eastern cities:

  • Via Nairobi (Kenya Airways)
  • Via Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines)
  • Via Doha (Qatar Airways)
  • Via Dar es Salaam (Air Tanzania or Precision Air)

Flight duration including layovers can range from 7 to 15 hours, depending on the connection time.

2. Visa and Entry Requirements

Visa Requirements

  • Holders of South African passports do not need a visa to travel to Zanzibar (Tanzania) as tourists, on business motives or family visitations which do not exceed 90 days.
  • In case you intend to be in the country longer than 90 days, want to work or study in the country, then you have to apply through the immigration authorities in Tanzania to get the correct long term visa or permit.

There is no requirement to apply in advance as well as after travel to apply for a visa in case of upcoming stay less than 90 days and of eligible purpose.

Passport Requirements

  • You need to have a valid South African passport that must be valid at least 6 months after entry in Zanzibar
  • Make sure that your passport contains a minimum of two blank pages to obtain entry and exit stamps.

Health and Vaccination Requirements

  • Yellow Fever:  Potentially mandatory in case of arrival in a country where Yellow Fever has been identified (e.g. Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda), as well as, or transit in a yellow fever-endemic country. Not necessary in direct flights coming to South Africa except one is advised to bring along with a certificate.
  • COVID-19: As of 2025, there will be no need of COVID-19 testing and vaccination documentation in order to travel to Tanzania, including Zanzibar.
  • Malaria prevention: Zanzibar is an endangered malaria region. Lather up with mosquito repellent, wear protective clothing and pay attention to anti-malarial drugs.

Arrival in Zanzibar

  • Port of Entry: All international travelers arrive via Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) on Unguja Island (Zanzibar).
  • You may be asked for:
    • Proof of accommodation booking
    • Return or onward travel ticket
    • Sufficient funds to support your stay (not always enforced)

3. Travel Tips

  • Best Time to Visit: Beach holiday and sightseeing is possible in the dry seasons between June and October and December to February.
  • Currency: The national currency is the Tanzanian Shillings (TZS). Many tourism services in Zanzibar accept US dollars, especially in hotels and tour agencies
  • Airport Arrival: All the international flights arrive at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), which is located near Stone Town on Unguja Island

Conclusion

Trav‌eling from South Africa to Zanziba‌r is strai‌ghtfo‌rward‌, offering both dire‌ct and connecti‌ng flight optio‌ns. With visa-fr‌ee entry for South Africa‌ns, breath‌takin‌g beaches, and a welcomin‌g island atmosp‌here, Zanz‌ibar is an idea‌l holiday desti‌natio‌n, only a few hours´‌ flig‌ht away. Wheth‌er a quick dire‌ct flight or a conne‌cting jour‌ney appeal‌s more, reachin‌g Zanzibar from Sout‌h Africa is easily accomp‌lishe‌d and well wort‌h the trip‌.

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