It is one of the most common questions tourists ask before landing in Zanzibar. Should I rent a car, or is it easier to just take taxis? What about the permits? Is it safe to drive there? Are the roads manageable?
We run a car rental company in Zanzibar. We are going to give you the honest answer, including the cases where renting a car is not the right choice.
The Short Answer
For most tourists visiting Zanzibar for three or more days, yes, rent a car. The freedom it gives you is worth more than the daily rate, and for any stay longer than two days, a rental car almost always costs less than taxis.
For tourists staying one or two nights in Stone Town with no plans to explore the coast, taxis are fine. The car is not worth it for a short stay in one place.
The rest of this guide gives you everything you need to make the decision confidently for your specific trip.
Who Should Rent a Car in Zanzibar
Travellers staying 3+ days and visiting multiple destinations
Zanzibar's beaches are spread across the island Nungwi in the north, Paje and Jambiani on the east coast, Kendwa in the northwest.
If you want to visit more than one, a rental car makes the logistics simple and the cost significantly lower than taxis.
A taxi from Stone Town to Nungwi costs $40–60 each way, negotiated per trip with no fixed rate.
A Toyota RAV4 rental costs $25–30 per day with unlimited mileage. For a three-day trip visiting two or three beaches, the car pays for itself before day two.
Independent travellers who want total freedom
With your own car, you leave when you want, stop wherever you like, and change your plans spontaneously. You find the quiet beach that the tour groups never reach.
You drive to Paje for sunrise and Nungwi for sunset on the same day without negotiating a fare twice.
That freedom is impossible to put a price on, and it is the number one reason our customers say they are glad they rented. There is no Uber in Zanzibar. Taxis are unmetered. Every trip is a negotiation.
Families and groups of 3 or more
Once you have three or more people, the cost per person of a rental car drops to almost nothing. A $30/day RAV4 5-door split across four people is $7.50 each, less than a bottle of water at some Zanzibar resorts.
For families, the Toyota Alphard seats seven and costs $60/day, which is under $9 per person for a 7-seater with air conditioning, unlimited trips, and full insurance.
Anyone staying near the beaches (not in Stone Town)
If you are based in Nungwi, Paje, Kendwa, or Jambiani and want to explore the rest of the island, taxis become expensive and complicated very quickly.
A rental car collected at the airport or delivered to your hotel on day one gives you the whole island for the cost of one long taxi ride.
Who Probably Shouldn't Rent a Car in Zanzibar
We told you we would be honest. Here are the cases where a rental car is not the right answer.
Tourists staying one or two nights in Stone Town only
If your entire trip is Stone Town, the spice markets, the old city, and Forodhani Gardens, you do not need a car. Stone Town is best explored on foot.
The streets are too narrow to drive comfortably, parking is a challenge, and everything worth seeing is within a 15-minute walk. Take taxis for the airport transfer and walk the rest.
Very nervous drivers or first-time left-hand drivers
Zanzibar drives on the left, like the UK, Kenya, and South Africa.
If you have never driven on the left before and feel genuinely anxious about it, consider booking with a driver for your first day or two to get oriented. Most people adjust within an hour, but if the idea causes real stress it may not be worth it for a short holiday.
The alternative is our self-drive service with an optional driver start with a driver for day one, takes over the wheel from day two when you feel comfortable. Many of our customers do exactly this.
Anyone visiting only during the rainy season peak without planning ahead
During the long rains (April to May), some remote beach access roads become soft and difficult. If you plan to drive to very remote areas and have not considered vehicle choice, you may end up stuck.
The solution is not to avoid renting, it is to rent the right vehicle. A Toyota Prado with proper ground clearance handles rainy season roads easily. A compact car does not.
Real Cost Comparison — Car Rental vs Taxis in Zanzibar
Here is what a typical 7-day trip looks like with taxis versus a rental car. These are real figures, not estimates.
| Journey | Taxi cost | Car rental equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Airport → Stone Town hotel | $10–15 one way | $175–210 total 7-day RAV4 rental unlimited trips full insurance included |
| Stone Town → Nungwi (return) | $80–120 | |
| Stone Town → Paje (return) | $70–100 | |
| Stone Town → Kendwa (return) | $90–130 | |
| Nungwi → Paje (cross island) | $60–80 | |
| Day trip to Jozani Forest | $50–70 | |
| Hotel → Airport (departure) | $10–15 one way | |
| Total taxis | $370–530 |
That is a realistic itinerary for a tourist visiting Zanzibar's main attractions in a week.
The taxi cost for that same week is 2–3x the cost of renting a car, and with the car, you have unlimited flexibility to add more trips, change plans, and stop wherever you want.
Important: There is no Uber in Zanzibar. All taxis are unmetered, and prices are negotiated per trip. The figures above are estimates; actual prices vary significantly depending on the driver, time of day, and your negotiating position. With a rental car, you pay a fixed daily rate, and that is it.
What Are the Roads Actually Like in Zanzibar?
Better than most first-time visitors expect, and worse than some travel blogs suggest. Here is the honest breakdown.
Main roads — good condition
The primary route from Stone Town north to Nungwi is paved, well-maintained, and perfectly comfortable at normal speeds. The road east to Paje is the same.
The south road to Jambiani via Jozani Forest is paved and in good condition. These are the routes 90% of tourists use.
Secondary roads — variable
Once you leave the main tarmac routes, roads become unpaved red dirt tracks. These are fine in a Toyota RAV4 at 20–30 km/h, just not at speed.
Some beach access roads are sandy. None of them is genuinely dangerous in an SUV driven sensibly.
Stone Town — avoid driving inside
The medina streets of Stone Town were built for donkeys, not cars. They are narrow, busy with pedestrians, and one-way in confusing patterns.
Park at the Forodhani Gardens car park near the Old Fort (attended, around 1,000 TZS per hour) and walk. This is what local drivers do too.
Things to know before you drive
- Drive on the left — 20–30 minutes to adjust, easy after that
- Speed bumps appear without warning in villages — slow down in every settlement
- Petrol stations are cash only — fill up in Stone Town before heading out
- Police checkpoints are routine — keep your permit, licence, and passport accessible
- Avoid night driving — no road lighting outside Stone Town, and speed bumps are invisible in the dark
For the complete road guide, speed limits, driving on the left, what happens at checkpoints, and the best routes, read our full guide to driving in Zanzibar.
The Zanzibar Driving Permit — What You Actually Need
This is the part that causes the most confusion and anxiety before a trip. Let us clear it up.
Every driver in Zanzibar needs two things:
- Your valid home country driving licence - any national licence is accepted
- A Zanzibar temporary driving permit costs approximately $10, valid for up to 3 months
You cannot legally drive without the Zanzibar permit. However, the process is simple when you book with a reputable operator. Here is how it works with Zanzibar Rentals:
- Book your car on WhatsApp
- Send us a photo of your driving licence at least 24 hours before your flight
- We arrange the permit before you land it arrives as a PDF on your phone
- At the airport, our agent hands over the car and the permit together
No government offices, no queuing, no paperwork on your end. The $10 permit fee is paid at collection. At police checkpoints, which are routine and friendly, you show your home licence, the Zanzibar permit (a screenshot on your phone is fine), and your passport.
How to Rent a Car in Zanzibar: Step by Step
The process with Zanzibar Rentals is designed to be as straightforward as possible.
- WhatsApp us your travel dates, group size, and preferred vehicle. We confirm availability within 15 minutes — day or night.
- Send a photo of your driving licence at least 24 hours before your flight. We arrange the Zanzibar permit before you land.
- Choose your collection point — we deliver to Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ), your hotel, your villa, or the ferry terminal. No extra charge within Stone Town.
- Our agent hands everything over together — keys, permit, GPS, and a quick briefing on the roads. You are driving within 10 minutes.
- Return the car at the end of your stay — we collect from your hotel, the airport, or the ferry terminal.
No deposit required. You pay only when you collect in cash or mobile money. No credit card needed.
For the full airport pickup process, see our airport car rental page. Our agent meets you at ZNZ arrivals with a name board, so you never have to search.
Which Car Should You Rent in Zanzibar?
For most tourists the answer is simple. Here is the quick guide:
| Your situation | Recommended vehicle | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveller or couple | Toyota RAV4 3-door | $25/day |
| Family or group of up to 5 | Toyota RAV4 5-door | $30/day |
| Group of 6–7 / honeymoon | Toyota Alphard | $60/day |
| Off-road / rainy season | Toyota Prado | $150/day |
The Toyota RAV4 is the right vehicle for the vast majority of Zanzibar trips. It handles tarmac and sandy tracks, fits families, and starts at $25/day with full insurance and unlimited mileage.
If you are unsure, WhatsApp us your itinerary and we will tell you exactly which vehicle suits it.
Browse our full fleet to compare all available vehicles with current pricing and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Traffic outside Stone Town is light, main roads are paved and in good condition, and most visitors find it significantly easier than they expected.
The two main adjustments are left-hand traffic and driving slowly through villages.
Our team provides a road briefing with every rental and is available 24/7 on WhatsApp throughout your trip.
No, but you do need a Zanzibar local permit (~$10) on top of your home country licence.
We arrange this before you arrive. An IDP is optional and not required by Zanzibar law or by us.
For stays of 3+ days and multiple destinations, renting is almost always cheaper.
A taxi from Stone Town to Nungwi costs $40–60 each way.
A full week of RAV4 rental is $175 total with unlimited trips.
For one or two nights in Stone Town only, taxis are fine, and a rental is not worth it.
The left side includes the UK, Kenya, and South Africa.
The adjustment takes around 20–30 minutes on quiet roads before it feels natural.
All our vehicles have an automatic transmission, which removes one layer of complexity.
Yes. There are no on-site rental desks at ZNZ; all operators use meet-and-greet.
Our agent meets you at arrivals with a name board. See our airport car rental page for the full process.
During peak season (July–August and December–January), book at least 2 weeks in advance, as vehicles sell out.
Off-peak, 48–72 hours is usually fine. WhatsApp us to check availability for your specific dates.
Not with Zanzibar Rentals. You pay only when you collect the car in cash or mobile money.
No credit card hold, no blocked funds.
Always confirm the deposit policy in writing with any operator before booking.
Ready to Rent a Car in Zanzibar?No deposit · Permit arranged before you land · Airport meet & greet · Toyota SUVs from $25/day→ View Zanzibar Rentals — book directly on WhatsApp→ Toyota RAV4 from $25/day — most popular self-drive car→ Browse the full fleet — RAV4, Alphard, Prado & more