TRAVEL TO ZANZIBAR ON A BUDGET

Zanzibar is an ultimate beach destination famous for its pristine azure waters, soft white sands, and bending palm trees. A hub of beach clubs, fish restaurants with sea views, and sunset cruises. A paradise for honeymooners, divers, and sunbathers. And, as such, one would expect it to be expensive. Well, not necessarily. Let me show you how to travel to Zanzibar on a budget.

On this post you’ll find everything you need to enjoy a vacation in East Africa that won’t break the bank. I’ll tell you how to find the best accommodation, food and things to do in Zanzibar so you can make the most of this paradise without spending a fortune. 

Things to know before traveling to Zanzibar

Zanzibar is not a country nor an island. It’s an archipelago belonging to Tanzania. There are two main islands in Zanzibar very different to one another: Unguja and Pemba. Unguja is the biggest and most touristic while Pemba is an off the beaten path destination not many explore.

Zanzibar, as part of Tanzania, is a muslim area and people are expected to dress accordingly. Just as it happens in other dream destinations such as the Maldives or Kenya. Locals speak Swahili and English. The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling, yet most tours will call their prices in US dollars. Plugs in Tanzania are in the same than those in the UK, bring along an adapter if required. The weather is warm all year round, with rainy seasons around April and November.

Flights to travel to Zanzibar on a budget 

As Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, its islands can only be reached flying or by ferry. Unguja and Pemba have very different transportation facilities and you will need to familiarise with these ahead of deciding where to spend your holiday in Zanzibar.

Cheap flights to Unguja Zanzibar

Unguja has an international airport receiving several daily flights from all over the world. Middle Eastern airlines such as Qatar Airways, Etihad, Emirates or the low cost Fly Dubai usually have the best connections to Zanzibar. The flying time from their hub airports is approximately 5 hours and prices are around $500 return. Zanzibar can also be easily reached on a national flight from Dar es Salam, the capital of Tanzania. Such flight would take around 20 minutes and cost less than $100 return.

Cheap flights to Pemba Zanzibar

Pemba island is harder to reach. Expect no international flights here. The tiny airport on the island can only be reached via regional flights. These take around an 70 minutes from Dar es Salaam and 30 minutes from Zanzibar. Prices are about $200 return.

Accommodation to travel to Zanzibar on a budget 

Affordable accommodation in Unguja

The main island of Zanzibar, Unguja, is divided into three areas: The North or Nungwi area, the South or Paje area, and the capital city of Stone Town. They all offer plenty of accommodation options, from hostels and home stays to mid range hotels and high end resorts. I recommend staying in a clean and basic hotel and then heading to nicer restaurants and/or resorts for some special meals and drinks. You don’t need the pool nor the fancy lobby area, the beach is much nicer and free.

When looking for accommodation to travel to Zanzibar on a budget bear in mind that the cheapest options will be away from the beach, yet this could increase your transportation costs. As the north is the most touristic area, prices tend to be higher here. Nevertheless, there’s also more options so you could avail of a better price/quality balance near Nungwi. To stay in an affordable mid-range beach hotel, souther cities such as Page and Jambiani could make the best choice.

Affordable accommodation in Pemba

In this tiny island options are much more limited. These are usually in the capital city of Chake Chake or by the beach. And I definitely recommend to stay by the beach and as close to Misali island as possible, as this is the highlight of visiting Pemba’s seaside. Get on to your usual booking site and keep in mind that all you need is a clean and comfortable room as you are there to enjoy the outdoors.

Transport to travel to Zanzibar on a budget 

The transport tips on how to travel to Zanzibar on a budget apply both to Unguja and Pemba islands. Transportation in Zanzibar is mostly done by bus, taxi, or guided tour.

Getting on to public buses or dala dalas in an experience on itself. These are open, people jump in and out constantly, and some passenger carry their human and animal babies with them. So chicken and lambs are among the frequent passengers too. Plus, they run all day and are very inexpensive.

If you’d rather travel in the comfort of a local taxi, you can safely stop one by the streets or ask your hotel to arrange the ride. It’s frequent to negotiate day trips with taxi drivers so they take you around exploring the local highlights for a fixed price. Don’t forget to bargain.

Those who prefer having their holidays organised in advance to skip the uncertainty and the bargaining can book day trips and guided tours in Zanzibar via Getyourguide, Viator, and Civitatis.

Food to travel to Zanzibar on a budget

Optimisation and efficiency are key when traveling, and especially when traveling on a budget. If you are looking at making the most of your time in Zanzibar and savouring local cuisine without spending a fortune, I’ve got you covered.

My go-to eating plan when traveling is having a good breakfast, eating some fruit and snacks for lunch, and then having a sit-down dinner. This allows me to save money on lunches while enjoying the country in day light instead of wasting time waiting and eating in a restaurant.

Most hotels in Zanzibar offer plenty of toasts, fruit, and eggs to keep you going during the day. Bring some nuts, protein bars, and chocolates from home and buy some bread and fruit in the market and that’s lunch sorted. In the evening, find an affordable restaurant in town or go to a nicer place by the beach. Dishes such as curry and noodles will fill you up for very little.

I’d also recommend buying fresh fish at the market and asking the seller to cook it your you for a small fee. Or negotiating with a tour guide to include some home coked rice and vegetables in their package. Finally, consider booking a cooking class so you have a morning packed with local experiences and food for almost the same price than the food alone in a restaurant.

Excursions to travel to Zanzibar on a budget  

There endless great things to do in Zanzibar, both in Unjuga and in Pemba. Indeed, you can find out my favourite in this post on the 15 best things to don in Zanzibar.

If you are looking for budget activities to do in Zanzibar, swimming, sunbathing, walking, and chatting with locals are your go-to plans. The beach sin Zanzibar are really nice and enjoy snorkelling from the shore so you won’t need a fancy tour to see some fish. Likewise, reading a book, practising yoga, and enjoying sunrise or sunset on the sand are free and absolutely amazing things to do in Zanzibar. And so is joining locals on their trainings and chatting with them for a while. Or walking around markets, sampling local treats, and admiring fishermen unload their boats.

Those who would like to go a bit further during their Zanzibar holiday, sometimes asking local taxi drivers to take you around for a fixed daily fee makes a great deal. They can show you around town, take you to local highlights, or drive you to to your favourite places such as a certain beach or a spice farm.

Finally, websites like Getyourguide, Viator, and Civitatis offer great deals when booking in advance and will ensure you are never overpriced by an unfriendly local or lost in translation if someone doesn’t speak the language.

Recap on how to travel to Zanzibar on a budget 

Traveling to Zanzibar on a budget is possible. Very possible indeed. All you need to do is understand that traveling and being on vacation are two different things, and that works best to save money at home also does abroad.

To travel to Zanzibar on a budget, start by getting there cheap. Gulf airlines usually have the best deals, so look them up on Skyscanner and try adjusting your dates to the best deals. Then lower your expectations with regards to accommodation: you don’t need the best resort, a clean and comfy room near the beach will do the job. You’ll spend most of the time outdoors anyway, as you didn’t come to Zanzibar to sit on the coach and watch a movie.

Finally, keep up your bargainign skills and seal deals with taxi drivers to take you around for the day. Eating lots at breakfast and dinner to have a smaller and more affordable lunch is also helpful. If there are any activities you certainly would love to do when in Zanzibar, you may wish to book them in advance via Getyourguide, Viator, and Civitatis to avoid disappointment and overcharging.

Additional information on my trip is available on my social media channels. Feel free to leave a comment below or reach out through my Instagram and Tiktok pages with any questions. Have a wonderful Zanzibar holiday.