Search Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume Intl. Airport Flight Tickets

About Abeid Amani Karume Intl. Airport

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) is located in the Kisauni area of Zanzibar Urban/West Region, within the West District, about 5 km south of Zanzibar City centre. Opened to civil air traffic in 1953, the airport is operated by Zanzibar Airports Authority and serves as the main aviation gateway for Zanzibar, supporting tourism, trade and regional connectivity across the Indian Ocean and East Africa.

The airport has separate terminal facilities for domestic flights and international flights, with the newer Terminal 3 handling most international passenger operations and older terminal infrastructure supporting domestic and special services. Its annual capacity is generally understood to be around 2 million passengers, supported by check-in areas, immigration and customs facilities, baggage handling, lounges, retail, food and beverage outlets, ground handling and cargo services. Traffic is strongest during Zanzibar's main holiday seasons, especially mid-year and year-end travel periods, while demand is softer but still active during wetter shoulder months.

Airlines operating from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport include domestic and regional carriers such as Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Coastal Aviation, Auric Air and ZanAir, alongside international operators serving Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Key direct destinations include Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Pemba for domestic flights, as well as Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Muscat and selected European leisure markets for international flights. Demand for flight tickets is driven mainly by beach tourism, business travel, inter-island movement and connections to mainland Tanzania.

Abeid Amani Karume Intl. Airport to Zanzibar City Center Transport

Transport from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport to Zanzibar city center is available by local dala-dala bus, taxi, car rental, hotel shuttle, or pre-booked private transfer. The airport is about 5 km south of Zanzibar City, so most road journeys to Stone Town or Darajani take around 15-30 minutes, depending on traffic and luggage.

Bus

Local public transport is provided by dala-dala minibuses rather than conventional municipal buses. They are the cheapest way to travel from Zanzibar Airport to the city center, usually departing from stops near the airport road or Terminal 2 area and heading toward Darajani Market, the main transport hub for Stone Town. The average journey time is about 20-30 minutes.

• Line 505: airport area to Darajani Market / Stone Town
• Other airport-area dala-dala routes may include 516, 526, 535, and 536, but these may serve outer parts of Zanzibar City rather than the historic center
• Darajani Market is the most useful stop for travelers continuing into Stone Town

Airport Shuttle

There is no Havas or Havabus-style airport shuttle system at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. Some hotels and tour operators offer scheduled or shared airport shuttles, and these should normally be arranged before arrival. Travel time to Zanzibar city center is usually around 15-25 minutes.

• Hotel shuttle to Stone Town accommodations
• Shared shuttle to Darajani or central Stone Town, when offered by local operators
• Resort shuttle with city-center drop-off by prior arrangement

Taxi

Taxis are available at Zanzibar Airport 24/7 and are the simplest option for direct transport to Stone Town, Darajani, the ferry terminal, or hotels in Zanzibar city center. The average taxi ride takes about 15-20 minutes in normal traffic.

• Direct taxi from the arrivals area to Stone Town hotels
• Taxi to Darajani Market for onward dala-dala connections
• Taxi to Zanzibar Ferry Terminal for boats to Dar es Salaam

Car Rental

Car rental is available through airport-based and local rental offices, with vehicles typically collected at the terminal exit or delivered to the arrivals area. Driving to Zanzibar city center takes about 15-25 minutes, but a car is more useful for exploring beaches and villages outside Stone Town than for moving around the compact historic center.

• Airport car rental office pickup
• Terminal-exit vehicle handover
• Pre-arranged rental car delivery for arrival flights

Transfer

A private airport transfer is a reliable and comfortable choice for travelers with luggage, late arrivals, families, or first-time visitors to Zanzibar. Booking in advance is recommended so the driver can meet you at arrivals and take you directly to your hotel or address in the city center. The average journey time is around 15-25 minutes.

• Private transfer from Zanzibar Airport to Stone Town hotel
• Meet-and-greet pickup at the arrivals hall
• Pre-booked transfer to Darajani, the ferry terminal, or central Zanzibar City