By Boat
There are many ferries and catamarans that can take you
between Dar es Salaam and the Island. Azam Marine,Sea Express, Sea Star and
Sepideh are among the nicest available. Azam runs at 14h30 and 16h15 on
weekdays
and Sea Express at 07h30 daily. Fares range $35 to $40 for non-residents,
including a $5 Port Tax. First class is only $5 more expensive than economy
and certainly worth the money. Most ferries schedules allow you to do the
return trip the same day. For instance leave Dar es Salaam at 07:30 and
return from Zanzibar on the 16:30 ferry. That leaves plenty of time to
explore the Stone Town, the museum and have a nice lunch. The trip is
beautiful and lasts about two hours approximately. However, if the weather
is bad it can take much longer and the trip can be very unpleasant. If you
suffer from seasickness you are advised to take some anti-seasickness pills
prior to boarding. The on board personnel hands out free sickness bags at
the start of the journey.
You may be able to hire a private boat for cheaper, but the trip will take
considerably longer and unless you know something about boats, you could be
on a vessel that is not equipped for bad weather conditions or an emergency.
Remember: you get what you pay for.
Be aware that the "porters" at the Dar ferry terminal will hassle you for
money and expect tips for referring you to "the best boat." If you don't
want their help, be forceful. The dock is a prime hangout for pickpockets.
Passport. Although Zanzibar is part of the Union it maintains its own
immigration service and you need to have a valid passport to enter, even if
you come from mainland Tanzania.
By Air
There are several flights from Dar to Zanzibar. Air Excel, Regional Air,
Coastal, Precision Air and ZanAir, run at least over a dozen of flights
between themselves a day.
As of March 2007, Coastal was charging 87,000 Tsh for a return flight from
Dar with a 15kg baggage limit preferably in soft bags. The planes are small
so luggage can be an issue if
you're doing a lot of shopping. A Precision Air ticket will cost 116,000 Tsh,
but with a more generous baggage allowance.
Zanzibar has two (2) departure taxes. Domestic flights: 5,000 Tsh (or $5)
and International flights: $25
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