Exploring Zanzibar without a rented car and other Zanzibar Island, Tanzania Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: There are quite some options to get around zanzibar, especially from Stone Town to other coastal villages. Taxi is the most comfortable and hassle free - and is reflected in the price. Another alternative would be to get one of the many tourist-mini buses leaving from stone town to the other villages. Ask your hotel or else the tourist office in Stone town to arrange such transport. Should cost you $5 tops. There are also buses, but are mainly used by the locals, and I heard it can take ages to get from one place to another - even though it looks like real fun.

Always take into consideration 2 factors :
1) You have to go to stone town to get from one village to another unless they are in the same direct path
2) Even though the island seems small, certain roads are in bad condition, thus slowing down expected arrival times. 'Just' 30km may take 1-2 hours.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Having some free time in Zanzibar, we decided to rent a car to have some flexibility. We had already used public transport - but whilst quite satisfied, we felt we needed some extra freedom.

Anyway - it is a good idea to rent 4x4, though I believe this is the main choice. There are very few asphalted roads in zanzibar - the rest are either tracks in the sand or soil. Pot holes are enormous, and in the rainy season you may end up with your 4*4 half submerged in water. Or else honking the horn to scare off the ducks happily swimming in them. Believe me it does happen - I have experienced this first hand. Another major 'danger' in the secondary roads is the amount of children, cows and chickens running around, unaware of any road protocols - so always keep a sharp eye out for such 'obstacles'.

Still, driving through secondary roads of 'remote' villages is fun - you get a chance to see the real everyday life of the locals away from the tourist industry.

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