Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) is the main international airport serving the Zanzibar Archipelago, located on Unguja Island. It is also the second-busiest airport in Tanzania, after Dar Es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) on the mainland.
Named after the island’s first president, the airport was formerly known as Kisauni Airport and Zanzibar International Airport.
ZNZ lies approximately 6 km south of Stone Town, Zanzibar’s capital and seat of government.
As recently as 2020, the airport’s infrastructure was modernized, and a new Terminal 3 was inaugurated.
Zanzibar Airport handles around 2-2.5 million passengers per year, receiving flights from 25 destinations in 16 countries, operated by nearly 30 airlines.
Major Airlines - Air Tanzania, Auric Air
The airlines serving Zanzibar can be split into four general types:
Domestic airlines such as Air Tanzania, As Sallam Air, Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, Flightlink Limited, Precision Air, Tropical Air, and Zan Air. Some of these offer limited international flights, but the focus is on domestic routes and tourist-heavy areas in Zanzibar.
Regional airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines, Fly540, FlySafair, Global Aviation, Jambojet, Kenya Airways, Malawi Airlines, Rwandair, Safarilink, and Uganda Airlines. These provide direct connections to other countries in Africa.
Large world carriers such as Air France, Etihad Airways, Flydubai, KLM, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines. These offer regular direct flights between Zanzibar and their hubs in Europe and the Middle East.
Seasonal charters operated by airlines like Azur Air, Condor, Discover Airlines, Enter Air, Hi Fly, LOT Polish Airlines, Neos, and World2fly.
Thus, ZNZ offers connections across East Africa, international long-haul flights, and domestic and inter-island services, making it a unique dual-role airport that serves as both a global gateway and a local hub.
Click here to see all airlines at ZNZ and their route maps.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Terminal 3 was inaugurated in 2020 as the new, modern international terminal. It includes 27 check-in desks and as many immigration counters, a modern baggage-handling and security system, and several boarding bridges for direct boarding and covered access to the terminal. Terminal 3 handles all international flights, except those by Safairlink.
Terminal 2 is used only for domestic flights and a few regional ones. This includes all flights (domestic and international) by Flightlink, Precision Air, As Salaam Air, Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, Regional Air Services, Tropical Air, Unity Air Zanzibar, ZanAir, all of Air Tanzania’s domestic flights, and all of Safairlink flights (which are all international, as an exception).
Walking between T3 and T2 takes about 3 minutes via a 250-meter, marked, accessible walkway.
Terminal 1 is currently inactive and used as an airport office.
Connecting Flights and Transit at ZNZ
Zanzibar Airport is relatively small, and transits are straightforward. It is not a major hub airport, and layovers are uncommon. If you happen to have connecting flights through ZNZ, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, if you arrive from abroad (at T3) and proceed to a domestic flight (from T2), you have to clear Immigration and Customs, and then proceed to the other terminal. You are still obliged to pay the mandatory Zanzibar Insurance, costing $44. Depending on the queue at Immigration, this can take between 45 and 90 minutes.
The other way around (domestic to international) is much the same process, and you will once again have to pay the Zanzibar Insurance.
Domestic-to-domestic transits are processed at Terminal 2, which has a special corridor for transfers. Flights from nearby islands like Pemba Island to the mainland (e.g., Dar Es Salaam) are common. As long as both flights are under the same booking, you won’t have to re-check your luggage or go through security.
Transits between two international flights are extremely rare. Some flights make a technical stop at Zanzibar, but since you don’t leave the aircraft, this is not considered a layover, and there are no procedures to worry about.
Check out the best things to do in Zanzibar.
WiFi and other services
Both terminals provide a free Wi-Fi network without limitations in time or bandwidth.
Other passenger amenities at ZNZ include:
Currency exchange offices: Outside Arrivals in both Terminals 2 and 3.
ATMs of Tanzanian banks: in the arrival halls.
Luggage wrapping: in Departures.
Children’s Play Area: near Gate 11.
Smoking lounge: next to Gate 6.
Dining Options at ZNZ
Terminal 3 includes a modest selection of food and beverage options.
Of the few outlets available, notable ones include:
Masai Coffee
Jahazi Cafe
Zanzibar Airport Cafe
Spicecips
Revive Cafe
Albeit branded as cafes, all of those also offer food on their menus. All of them are outside Security, in the common areas of the airport or outside/between the terminals.
Lounges at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
The only lounge option in Terminal 3 is the Marhaba Zanzibar Lounge, located airside, next to Gates 1 and 2. It operates 24/7. The lounge offers free Wi-Fi, charging stations, hot/cold food and drinks, including alcohol, and comfortable seating. Access is via Priority Pass or 39.19 EUR for a 3-hour pass.
Terminal 2 has two lounges:
Zanzibar Dhow Lounge
Premium Lounge Zanzibar
Both accept Priority Pass and are open while there are flights (even though operating times listed online state 24/7). Amenities are basic and may be unsatisfactory if you’re used to modern lounges in larger airports.
Transport to and from the airport
Zanzibar Airport is around 5-6 km from Stone Town, Zanzibar’s main urban centre. This takes around 15 minutes via a taxi under normal traffic. The ride typically costs around 15 USD (36000 TZS), but make sure you agree on the price with the driver before accepting the ride.
There is a price board in Arrivals with the standard taxi fare to different destinations on the island. Taxi drivers may ask for higher prices, especially on journeys to the airport, so it’s handy to take a picture of the board to help keep the fares fair.
The next most popular form of transport is the shuttles that many hotels in Zanzibar offer for their guests. Enquire with your accommodation to see if it offers a shuttle service.
Ridesharing is not available at Zanzibar Airport except for motorcycle taxis called boda via Bolt.
Zanzibar Airport is served by local public transport in the form of minibuses called dala-dala. Line 505 runs between the airport and Stone Town, the ticket costing just 500 TZS (pay the conductor on the minibus). The dala-dala run frequently (leave when full, usually every 10-15 minutes) during the day without overnight service. Lines 516, 526, 535, and 536 serve different areas outside of Stone Town.
Renting a car is not possible at Zanzibar Airport. You need to go to Stone Town to arrange a car. Rental cost per day in the high season is around 30-50 USD.
Hotels near Zanzibar Airport
There is no large hotel physically inside either terminal, but you can find several guesthouses, apartments, and large hotel chains in the nearby area.
The 4-star Golden Tulip Zanzibar Airport is a popular choice for accommodation near ZNZ for its outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, fitness center, and a garden. The hotel is just 300 meters from Terminal 2 and around 800 meters from Terminal 3.
A more budget-friendly option is the Shivo Guest House, which receives acclaim from travelers for its clean, comfortable rooms fitted with ACs, availability of breakfast, lunch, and dinner on site, and attentive staff. The hotel is less than 1 km from the airport, in a quiet residential area.
Due to the airport’s proximity to Stone Town and the small scale of the island, many hotels and resorts across Zanzibar are accessible within a reasonable driving time. Many also offer complimentary shuttles to/from the airport, so you don’t have to worry about organizing transport yourself.
Click here to see more hotels near Zanzibar Airport and book online.
Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
