Zanzibar Airport Transfers: Taxi and Shuttle

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) is Zanzibar City’s airport on Unguja Island; Pemba Airport is on another island. The Zanzibar Airports Authority calls AAKIA the main airport in the archipelago. Its official airport profile places it about 5 km south of Zanzibar City. (Zanzibar Airports Authority profile, checked 2026-09-28)

Airport Taxi SACCOS Ltd (ZATS) identifies itself as the official taxi service provider at AAKIA and offers airport transfers and local transport. Its current service page advertises 24/7 driver availability but does not display a fixed Airport–Stone Town fare. Confirm the destination and quote with the operator. (ZATS services, checked 2026-09-28)

The Zanzibus is a pre-booked shared shuttle, not a turn-up-and-go city bus. Its live route table shows airport services towards Paje/Jambiani and Nungwi/Kendwa; it does not list an Airport–Stone Town shuttle. Stone Town arrivals should book a taxi or private transfer instead. (The Zanzibus shuttle information, checked 2026-09-28)

Choose the transfer by the destination zone shown on your booking. Stone Town is served by the Airport–Stone Town taxi, while beach destinations use the Zanzibus’ scheduled shared routes or its separately quoted taxi service. If a driver or booking form asks for the hotel area, name the property and nearest arrival point rather than just saying “Zanzibar.” The islands and resort areas are not all on one airport shuttle route.

The Zanzibar Airports Authority’s profile gives the airport’s location, not a standard journey time to each hotel. Your actual trip depends on traffic, baggage collection and the exact destination. Stone Town accommodation may require a final walk or a vehicle drop-off point rather than door access; send your hotel name and entrance to the driver before departure. (Zanzibar Airports Authority profile, checked 2026-09-28)

The Zanzibus publishes its route estimates for specific shared trips: about 1 hour 10 minutes and €8 to Paje/Jambiani, 1 hour 20 minutes and €8 to Nungwi/Kendwa, and 1 hour 55 minutes and €10 for the cross-island beach connection. These are the operator’s route estimates, not taxi times to a Stone Town hotel. Traffic may delay the scheduled shuttle. (The Zanzibus shuttle information, checked 2026-09-28)

ZATS offers a separate airport taxi service but does not publish a fixed journey time on its service page. Give the driver the exact destination; island roads and the last approach to a property can change the total transfer time. (ZATS services, checked 2026-09-28)

For a shared shuttle, check whether the listed endpoint is close enough to your hotel and whether you need a local taxi for the last leg. A road journey may not end at the property entrance, and arriving at a beach stop still requires you to arrange the final accommodation transfer. For Stone Town, book the taxi that names the Airport–Stone Town route.

The Zanzibus publishes €10 for an Airport–Stone Town taxi and €30 from the Airport or Stone Town to other Zanzibar locations, such as Nungwi. These are that operator’s quoted rates, not a regulated airport-wide tariff. Its vehicles seat up to four people plus luggage; larger vehicles are available by quotation. (The Zanzibus taxi information, checked 2026-09-28)

For Zanzibus taxi trips, the driver is paid in cash on the travel day; the operator accepts USD or Tanzanian shillings. A trip starting before 08:00 or after 20:00 adds €5. Book at least two hours ahead, ideally 24 hours, and confirm availability for a short-notice request. (The Zanzibus taxi information, checked 2026-09-28)

The Zanzibus lists €8 for the airport routes to Paje/Jambiani or Nungwi/Kendwa and €10 for the cross-island beach route. The baggage allowance is one larger check-in bag and one smaller carry-on per passenger. Message the operator before booking if you have extra bags. (The Zanzibus shuttle information, checked 2026-09-28)

ZATS identifies itself as AAKIA’s official airport taxi provider but does not post airport destination fares on the page opened for this review. Ask the operator for a quote before boarding rather than applying Zanzibus prices to a different taxi company. (ZATS services, checked 2026-09-28)

The shuttle page lists route prices but does not clearly label in the fare table whether each amount is per passenger or another booking unit. Confirm the total for your passenger count in the booking flow before paying; do not compare its €8 shuttle line with a taxi quote as if both cover the same group size. For taxis, message the provider if you need more than four seats or extra luggage.

Zanzibus publishes scheduled departures, not a continuous service. Its current table shows 10:00 airport/Stone Town departures to Paje/Jambiani and to Nungwi/Kendwa. Other directions have separate 12:30 and 16:00 services. Select the destination and direction on the operator page, then reserve for your travel date. (The Zanzibus shuttle timetable, checked 2026-09-28)

Passengers must be ready at the scheduled departure time so the vehicle does not delay others. The operator says traffic can affect departure and arrival times. Keep meeting-point details with your booking and arrive early enough to identify the shuttle. (The Zanzibus shuttle information, checked 2026-09-28)

ZATS says its airport taxi service has 24/7 driver availability. This is provider availability, not a published taxi rank interval or guaranteed wait time. For overnight arrivals, contact the operator and confirm the meeting point, destination and quote before travel. (ZATS services, checked 2026-09-28)

The timetable shows airport/Stone Town pickups to the two beach corridors at 10:00, with later services at 12:30 and 16:00 listed for return or cross-island directions. Match the column to both your origin and destination; the same time does not apply to every route. If the displayed direction does not match your flight arrival, book a taxi or another confirmed transfer instead.

The published Zanzibus airport departures are daytime services. If your flight arrives after a suitable shuttle, book a taxi before flying. The Zanzibus accepts taxi bookings for flexible departure times, adds €5 to trips starting before 08:00 or after 20:00, and asks passengers to confirm short-notice availability. (The Zanzibus shuttle information, checked 2026-09-28; The Zanzibus taxi information, checked 2026-09-28)

The shuttle page does not publish a separate Sunday schedule or say that every listed departure runs on every date. Check the booking flow and wait for a confirmed reservation before relying on it for a Sunday trip or a flight connection. A listed 10:00 departure alone does not guarantee a seat. (The Zanzibus shuttle information, checked 2026-09-28)

ZATS identifies itself as the airport’s official taxi provider and advertises 24/7 driver availability. Its public page does not list a Sunday timetable or airport fare table. Contact the provider for service time and fare, and keep booking information accessible after landing. (ZATS services, checked 2026-09-28)

The operator asks passengers to be ready at the scheduled time and says traffic can delay a vehicle. Its cancellation terms vary by lead time: it publishes an 80% refund when cancelling more than 48 hours before, 50% more than 24 hours before, and no refund within 24 hours. Read the current booking conditions before paying for a flight-dependent connection. (The Zanzibus shuttle booking terms, checked 2026-09-28)