There are a ton of amazing hidden gems in Zanzibar waiting for you to explore. Unfortunately, many tourist attractions are often out of reach without your own car due to the poor public transportation infrastructure.
In order to do justice to Zanzibar, you are going to have to rent a car and drive around yourself to truly see what the island has in store for you. Renting a car in a foreign country can be extremely nerve-wracking, but do not worry, we've got your back.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to rent a car and drive in Zanzibar safely and securely, with tips on where to rent, the price, and more. Without further ado, here is a complete guide to renting a car in Zanzibar.
Should I Rent A Car in Zanzibar?
First and foremost, if you are looking to explore the island and visit other tourist attractions rather than spending most of your days at the beach or in Stone Town, then renting a car is a no-brainer.
That said, if you are looking to relax only at the beach while you are in Zanzibar, then you can just rely on taxis to get from the airport to the beach and back. Driving can be a hassle, and I think it is only worthwhile if you want to explore deeper inland.
If you decide to rent a car, make sure that you know how to drive well, as the roads in Zanzibar are not in the best condition and some areas, like in Nungwi, are unpaved.
They also drive on the left, and it can be quite confusing for a first-timer, so be sure to give it a few minutes to get used to the opposite alignment. Basically, if you have driven in third-world countries like Thailand before, you should be fine in Zanzibar.
All in all, if you are looking to spend at least 2 days exploring the tourist attractions inland, you will definitely get your money's worth by renting a car in Zanzibar. If you are only looking to spend your time at the beach, then the hassle is not worth it in my opinion.
How Much To Rent A Car in Zanzibar?
The price of car rental in Zanzibar can range between 35 USD and 100 USD per day, depending on the car and the level of comfort you require. The cheapest option is a Toyota RAV4-3 SPECIAL, a 3-door 4wd car with A/C that is perfect for solo travelers as well as couples.
For $40 - $45 USD per day, you will get a newer version of the Toyota RAV4 with more space, great for groups that are more than 2. For $100 USD per day, you will get a Toyota Land Cruiser which allows up to 7 people to travel in comfort.
To rent a car in Zanzibar, you will also have to pay an extra 10 USD for a temporary local driving license, which you will need to show if you get stopped by the traffic police while driving.
In total, you will be paying around 35 - 100 USD per day, depending on the car you pick, plus 10 USD for one local driving license, and that is it.
Where to Rent A Car in Zanzibar?
Kibabu Cars is my preferred car rental company in Zanzibar. I sent them an email a day before, and they arranged a car for me in less than an hour. It costs about 35 USD per day to rent a Toyota RAV4-3 SPECIAL car for 2 people, plus 10 USD for a temporary driving license.
You can arrange a drop-off time and place for free with Kibabu Cars if it's within Stone Town or airport/ferry terminals. They can also deliver the car to coastal areas for an extra 25 USD if you need it.
I was staying in Stone Town, and they dropped the car off in front of my hotel right on time and came to pick up the car when I told them to, with no fuss.
The car was in great condition. The aircon works great, although a little dusty, given the state of the roads here in Zanzibar; it is understandable. I had no trouble at all with Kibabu Cars, and if you want to rent a car in Zanzibar, I highly recommend you give them a go.
What are the documents required to rent a car in Zanzibar?
To rent a car in Zanzibar, here are the documents you need:
- A copy of your international driving license.
- A car rental form filled in by Kibabu Cars.
- A 50% deposit should be made.
That is it. You might not even need a deposit if you are renting a car the next day, as I did. All I had to do was pay the money in full to the drop-off guy, and off I went to explore the island. The process was very easy and convenient.
8 Important Things to Know Before Renting A Car in Zanzibar
1. Make Sure You Rent a 4WD Car
Even though the roads between places are paved, many of them are not in the best condition, and you will likely encounter several potholes along the way. Some places, like Nungwi, are not paved at all, and the roads can be extremely bumpy.
With a 4WD, you should be able to go through whatever treacherous road conditions you might encounter. Thankfully, most car rental companies, including Kibabu Cars, know this, and they only list 4WD cars, so you should have no trouble navigating the island despite the road condition.
In case you go with other car rental companies, please make sure that the car you are going to rent is a 4WD car. Otherwise, you won't be able to drive to places like Nungwi and Baraka Natural Aquarium.
2. Know the Speed Limit & Police Corruption
One important thing to keep in mind when driving in Zanzibar is that there is a 40 km/hr speed limit in Stone Town and a 60 km/hr limit on country roads (I know, ridiculous, right?). The corrupt police will use this to their advantage and extort money from you if you exceed the limit, even by a little bit. So, make sure you drive at 60 km/hr at all times.
There is always a group of corrupt police waiting for you between Stone Town and Nungwi (along this road). They will stop anyone who is driving more than 60 km/hr. If you get caught, as I did, they will ask for a bribe of a whopping 100 USD! Yup, extortion in broad daylight is a common practice by the police in Africa!
If you are completely sure you didn't exceed the speed limit, do not make a scene out of it and be sure to ask the police for their badge ID and name. Also, call your rental car company to dispute the case for you.
If you know that you have exceeded the speed limit, do not pay the amount they ask for. Negotiate first and drive the price down as low as you can. I was able to negotiate with them and reduce the bribe to 40 USD, and they let us go. To avoid being robbed in broad daylight by the police, stick to 60 km/hr.
3. Carry A Decoy Wallet
Speaking of police corruption, one thing I learned from the locals I talked to in East Africa is that, in order to avoid police extortion, most people carry a decoy wallet with a few coins in it, in order to prevent the police from emptying their real wallets.
This is an extremely common occurrence in most places in East Africa, especially if you drive a car. In the minds of these corrupt policemen, people with cars are considered to have money that can be extorted.
When they see a foreigner driving a car, they know they can extort more money from us than if they were to stop a local car. So, be sure to carry a decoy wallet with you when driving a car in Zanzibar.
Keep around 10 USD in the decoy wallet and hide all your 100 USD notes away somewhere safe. This is because if they see you have a crisp 100 USD, they will not go for anything lower.
4. Make Sure You Have A Temporary Local Driving License
One of the first things the police will ask you to show when they stop you is a temporary local driving license, and if you do not have one on hand, you will give them another reason to extort money out of you.
Most notable car rental companies like Kibabu Cars will provide you with a local driving license, so you shouldn't have any trouble with the police. But if you choose other rental companies, please make sure that a local driving license is provided before you start driving.
5. Watch Out For Speed Bumps
Speed bumps in Zanzibar are notorious for being extremely disruptive, almost invisible, and there are way too many of them even in the countryside. So, make sure you watch out for them when driving.
Unlike speed bumps elsewhere, most speed bumps in Zanzibar are very high and are unpainted, making them extremely difficult to locate while driving, especially at night.
You will also find many speed bumps when you are approaching and leaving urban areas, and there are always like 4 or 5 of them all in close proximity. So, if you do not want to scare the bejesus out of yourself and your passengers, drive slowly and always be ready for one when you least expect it.
6. Watch Out For Pedestrians Especially At Night
As with speed bumps, you should also watch out for pedestrians when you are driving in Zanzibar, especially at night. None of the country roads are lit, and most villages have poor lighting infrastructures, which make it difficult for you to make out bikes and people crossing the streets.
In crowded areas, you can also expect people to cross the street abruptly or a boda boda taking a turn without turning on their direction lights, so be extra careful when driving in Zanzibar at night.
7. Avoid Driving In Stone Town
Stone Town is extremely crowded with narrow roads that are often one-way, which makes navigation difficult, especially for first-time visitors. Additionally, there are not many available parking spots, so if possible, I would suggest avoiding driving in Stone Town.
Thankfully, most of the tourist attractions in Stone Town are concentrated in one area, making it easy to just walk around instead of driving to places.
There is also a lot of traffic in Stone Town with dalla dallas (vans) and boda bodas (motor taxis), zooming through the narrow streets like there's no tomorrow. If you are not used to the chaotic nature of Zanzibar roads, it is best to drive in and out of Stone Town as fast as possible.
8. Call 999 In Case of Emergency
In case of an emergency, such as crashing the car or being involved in an accident, call the police (999 or 024 223 0772) and your car rental company immediately using the number on the copy of the form you filled.
Do not agree to go anywhere with the police or sign anything until your car rental company can talk directly with the police and explain the procedure to you in English, so you can understand. The car rental company should be able to assist you with the insurance claim and help guide you through the process.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Tanzania
I have plenty of articles to help you further with your trip planning for Tanzania. Here is a selection of articles you might find useful:
- Planning to visit Tanzania for the first time? Here are the 10 best things to do in Tanzania.
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Tanzania? Here is a 10 Days to 2 Weeks Backpacking Itinerary for Tanzania.
- Want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and not sure where to start? Here is A Complete Hiking Guide To Kilimanjaro with all the information you need to hike Kilimanjaro successfully.
- If you plan to hike Kilimanjaro, you are going to have to know what to pack and what not to. Here's The Ultimate Packing List for the Kilimanjaro Hike.
- Serengeti is probably the best place in the world to go on a safari, and it is a must-do if you are in Tanzania. To start planning a safari trip to Serengeti, check out: A Complete Safari Guide To Serengeti, Tanzania.
- Zanzibar is one of the most popular island destinations in Africa, and to truly do the place justice, you are going to need a complete travel guide to help plan the best trip of your life. Here are the 10 Best Things To Do In Zanzibar and a complete travel guide to the pearl of the African Indian Ocean.
- Stone Town is a historical town full of rich history and culture, and it is a place you shouldn't miss when you are traveling to Zanzibar. Here are the 10 Best Things To Do In Stone Town, Zanzibar.
- To see all articles about Tanzania, visit Tanzania Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for Africa? You can find more on my Africa Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
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2 Comments
Hi! is it okay to stay in stone town the whole time and just drive to the beach and sites? thank you!
Hey RIca,
Yes of course, as long as your hotel has a proper parking space, you should have no problem driving in and out of the city and finding parking spots for the night. That's what I did as well when I base myself from Stone Town and explored the island. :)