Quick Answer: Before your first trip to Zanzibar, get a Tanzanian visa (online or on arrival, depending on nationality), buy the mandatory $44 inbound travel insurance online, and check whether you need a yellow fever certificate. Bring US dollars in newer notes plus a card, dress modestly away from the beach, book transfers in advance and plan your stay around one or two bases.
First-timers usually arrive in Zanzibar with two worries: “Have I got the paperwork right?” and “Am I going to get ripped off?” Neither needs to spoil your trip, and both are easy to sort out before you fly.
I’ve welcomed first-time visitors to the island for years, and the questions are always the same: visas, insurance, cash, SIM cards, how much to tip, how to get from the airport, what to wear, and what’s actually worth doing. This first time in Zanzibar guide answers all of them in one place, in the order you’ll need them.
Read it once when you book your flights and again the week before you travel, and you’ll land feeling like you’ve been here before.
What Do You Need Before You Fly to Zanzibar?
You need a valid passport, a Tanzanian visa (unless your nationality is exempt), Zanzibar’s mandatory inbound travel insurance and, for some travellers, a yellow fever certificate. Sort these at least two to three weeks before you travel.
Do you need a visa for Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so Tanzanian visa rules apply. Most visitors need a visa: many nationalities can get one on arrival at Zanzibar airport, but applying online in advance saves queues. Use only the official Tanzania Immigration Services website and avoid look-alike agent sites that charge extra. Your passport should be valid for at least six months with blank pages.
What is Zanzibar’s mandatory travel insurance?
Since October 2024, every foreign visitor entering Zanzibar must hold the government’s inbound travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation. It costs $44 per adult, covers up to 92 days and is bought online through visitzanzibar.go.tz. It doesn’t replace your own travel insurance, so keep that too. If you arrive in mainland Tanzania first (for example, for a safari), the mainland’s equivalent policy, introduced in October 2026, covers your Zanzibar visit as well, and you don’t need to buy both.
Do you need vaccinations?
You’ll need a yellow fever certificate if you’re arriving from, or have transited through, a country with yellow fever risk. Zanzibar has malaria, so speak to a travel clinic about prevention well before you go. The US CDC’s Tanzania page is a clear starting point for vaccines and health advice, but your own doctor should have the final word.
How Does Money Work in Zanzibar?
The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), but US dollars are widely accepted for tours, hotels and transfers. Use shillings for small purchases such as street food, taxis and markets.
Cash, cards and ATMs
- Bring US dollars in newer, clean, untorn notes. Older or damaged notes are often refused, and $50 and $100 notes get better exchange rates than small ones.
- ATMs are easy to find in Stone Town and at some beach areas, but less reliable in small villages. Withdraw in Stone Town or at the airport before heading to a remote beach.
- Cards work at most hotels and larger restaurants, sometimes with a fee. Small businesses and markets are cash only.
- Change money at banks or official bureaus, never with people on the street.
How much should you tip?
Tipping isn’t compulsory but is appreciated, especially for guides and drivers. As a rough guide: around 10% in restaurants if service isn’t included, and $5–$10 per person per day for a tour guide on a group trip, more for a private guide or a long day. Tip boat crews directly if they looked after you well.
How much do tours cost?
Most half-day tours cost $25–$80 per person and full-day boat trips $70–$140, depending on group size and whether the boat is private or shared. Our guide to how much Zanzibar tours cost breaks down real prices for every major tour.
How Do You Get Around Zanzibar?
The easiest way is to pre-book an airport transfer and tour pickups, then use taxis for short trips. Zanzibar has no ride-hailing apps you can rely on everywhere, and drive times between areas are longer than they look on a map.
From the airport
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is just outside Stone Town. Pre-book a private airport transfer so a driver is waiting with your name: from $20 per vehicle to Stone Town (15–20 minutes) and from $45 to the main beach areas (about 1–1.5 hours). Agree any taxi fare at the airport before you get in.
Taxis, daladalas and driving yourself
- Taxis are fine for short trips; always agree the price first.
- Daladalas (shared minibuses) are very cheap and local, but slow and crowded with luggage.
- Self-drive is possible with an international licence and a local permit, but police checkpoints, unmarked roads and night driving make it stressful for first-timers.
Do you need to book tours in advance?
For December to February and July to August, book key tours a week or two ahead. In quieter months a day or two is usually enough. Book directly with a licensed local operator, and read the booking and cancellation policy before paying a deposit, particularly what happens if bad weather cancels a boat trip.
What Should First-Timers Know About Local Culture?
Zanzibar is a friendly, mostly Muslim island where a little respect goes a long way. Dress modestly away from the beach, greet people before asking questions, and ask before photographing anyone.
Dress and behaviour
Swimwear is fine on the beach and on boats; in Stone Town, villages and markets, cover your shoulders and knees. Our guide to what to wear in Zanzibar goes situation by situation. Public displays of affection beyond holding hands are frowned upon, and drinking alcohol is fine at hotels and bars but not in the street.
Language and time
Swahili is the everyday language, and English is spoken in tourist areas. Learn “Jambo” (hello), “Asante” (thank you) and “Hapana, asante” (no, thank you) for beach sellers. Zanzibar is on East Africa Time (UTC+3). Some locals count “Swahili time” from sunrise, so “saa moja” (hour one) means 7am: always confirm times in normal clock format.
Beach sellers and “beach boys”
On popular beaches you’ll be offered tours, souvenirs and boat trips. A friendly but firm “Hapana, asante” works. Never pay a deposit to someone on the beach for a tour you can’t verify; book with a registered operator instead.
What Mistakes Do First-Time Visitors Make?
The most common mistakes are trying to see the whole island from one hotel, stacking long boat days back to back and not checking the tides.
- Choosing the wrong base. Picking a beach far from the things you want to do means hours in a car each day.
- Ignoring the tides. East-coast beaches such as Paje and Jambiani go far out at low tide; check before you book a hotel there for swimming.
- Over-scheduling. Two full boat days in a row leaves you sunburned and tired.
- Forgetting reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard for snorkeling.
- Only seeing beaches. One culture day in Stone Town changes how you see everything else.
If you’d like a ready-made plan, our Zanzibar itinerary for 3, 5 or 7 days shows how to fit the highlights around one or two bases.
What should you do on your first trip?
For a first visit, I’d prioritise Stone Town and Prison Island, one big marine day (Safari Blue or Mnemba), Jozani Forest and a sunset dhow cruise, then rest. Browse our full list of Zanzibar tours to see everything, or read our local picks of the best tours and excursions in Zanzibar.
Frequently Asked Questions for First-Time Visitors to Zanzibar
Is Zanzibar good for first-time visitors to Africa?
Yes. Zanzibar is one of the easiest places in Africa for a first visit: it’s small, welcoming, used to tourists and has a good range of hotels and tours. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, and transfers and tours are simple to arrange. Many visitors combine it with a short mainland safari for their first Africa trip.
Is Zanzibar expensive?
Zanzibar can suit most budgets. Guesthouses and local food are inexpensive, while luxury resorts can be very pricey. Tours are moderately priced and get cheaper per person as your group grows. The biggest costs are usually flights, accommodation and private boat trips. Budget a little extra for the mandatory insurance, transfers and tips.
Can you drink the tap water in Zanzibar?
No, don’t drink tap water. Use bottled or filtered water, which is cheap and available everywhere; many hotels provide refill stations. Ice in hotels and good restaurants is usually made from treated water. Brushing your teeth with tap water is a personal choice; use bottled water if you have a sensitive stomach.
What plugs are used in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar uses the British-style three-pin Type G plug at 230V. Bring a universal adapter. Power cuts happen occasionally, so a small power bank is useful, especially for phones on boat trips. Most hotels have generators.
Should you get a local SIM card?
Yes, it’s cheap and makes WhatsApp, maps and contacting your driver easy. You can buy a SIM from Vodacom or Airtel at the airport or in Stone Town with your passport. Coverage is good in towns and most beach areas, weaker at sea and in some remote spots. Many phones also support eSIM plans, which you can set up before you fly.
What is the best month for a first visit?
June to October is the most reliable: dry, sunny and slightly cooler, with good sea conditions for boat trips. December to February is hotter and also dry, but it’s peak season. April and May bring the long rains and the lowest prices. See our best time to visit Zanzibar guide for month-by-month detail.
Is it safe to walk around Stone Town at night?
The main streets, the seafront and Forodhani Gardens are lively and generally safe in the evening. Take normal city precautions: avoid quiet alleys late at night, keep valuables out of sight and take a taxi back to your hotel if it’s far. Your hotel or guide can suggest the safest routes.
Final Thoughts
Your first time in Zanzibar will be easy if you sort a few things out before you fly.
- Visa, the $44 mandatory insurance and (if needed) yellow fever certificate
- Newer US dollar notes plus a card, and a local SIM on arrival
- A pre-booked airport transfer and one or two well-chosen bases
- Modest dress away from the beach, and a culture day alongside the boat trips
Our team is local and on WhatsApp 24/7, so you’re never on your own if something comes up. For help planning your first trip, message us on WhatsApp at +255 773 315 736.
