Renting a car in Zanzibar is one of the best ways to explore the island. However, you’ll need to decide where to pick up your vehicle. Should it be right when you land at Zanzibar Airport or later on in Zanzibar City (Stone Town)? Choosing between the two can affect your travel convenience, costs, and overall experience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through both so you can decide which is the best place to rent a car for your trip.
Zanzibar offers several convenient car rental options for visitors. The main Zanzibar city car rental locations are Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and Stone Town. Most international travellers arrive through the airport, making it easy to rent a car at Zanzibar Airport immediately after landing. This option suits visitors who want maximum flexibility from the start of their trip.
If you prefer to settle in first, you can also pick up a car in downtown Zanzibar, where many rental offices are located near hotels and popular tourist areas. These offices are often within walking distance and work well for travellers staying in Stone Town.
Vehicle choices range from compact cars, which suit city driving and fuel efficiency, to 4×4 SUVs, better for rough roads, rural areas, and beach access. Families or travellers exploring remote locations often benefit from a larger vehicle, while solo travellers or couples may prefer a smaller car.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the island’s main gateway, and it has several car hire desks and meet-and-greet services available, often 24/7, for arriving passengers. This convenience lets you skip arranging a taxi or shuttle to town. However, the ease of airport pickup may come with a slightly higher price tag and a few trade-offs.
Opting to pick up your rental car in downtown Zanzibar is a choice for travellers who plan to explore the city first or want to save on costs. Stone Town, the historic heart of Zanzibar City, has numerous local car hire agencies. You can arrange to get your car after you’ve settled into your hotel, rather than immediately at the airport. Let’s look at the pros and cons of renting with a downtown pickup.
Every traveller has unique priorities. Let’s break down whether airport or city pickup might suit you better based on your travel stle or situation:
If it is your first time in Zanzibar or travelling abroad, feeling uncertain is completely normal. Choosing to rent a car at the airport can significantly reduce arrival stress. Everything is arranged in advance, someone is ready with your vehicle, and you avoid the confusion outside the terminal where taxi drivers compete for attention.
Many first-time visitors value handling all logistics at once, especially if they want to drive directly to a beach hotel without navigating busy town streets. However, confidence matters. If left-side driving and unfamiliar roads are overwhelming, taking a taxi first and collecting a car later is reasonable.
For budget-conscious travellers, keeping costs low is often the main goal, and small savings can add up. In this case, a Stone Town pickup is usually the better option.
First, you avoid paying for a car on days when you do not need one. If you spend your first days exploring Stone Town on foot or using inexpensive local transport, there is no reason to pay daily rental fees for a car sitting idle. You only start paying once you are ready to travel further around the island.
Second, downtown rental rates are often lower than airport prices. Even a difference of 5 USD per day adds up over a week and can cover a meal or an activity. Some local agencies may also offer discounts for longer rentals, especially if you are flexible.
You will need to pay for a taxi from the airport, usually around 20 USD, but this often balances out the higher airport rental cost within a few days. For travellers who do not mind minor inconvenience, arranging a car in town can be worthwhile. Just make sure permits, insurance, and the full price are agreed in advance, and inspect the car carefully before driving away.
When travelling with family or a larger group, the decision is less about saving money and more about convenience, comfort, and timing. For families with children, airport pickup is often the easiest option. After a long flight, having a rental car waiting at the airport allows everyone to load luggage once and leave without delay. This avoids juggling multiple taxis, waiting in queues, or squeezing gear into small vehicles.
Having your own car also means flexibility for stops, whether to buy water, food, or let children stretch their legs. If you need child seats, it's easier to arrange them in advance with a rental company than with a taxi.
For groups of friends, the logic is similar. Renting one larger vehicle keeps everyone together and avoids coordination issues. Splitting the cost of a minivan or 7 seater is often cheaper than paying for multiple long-distance taxis, especially when travelling to beach areas.
For business travellers, time and reliability matter more than cost. If you are visiting Zanzibar for meetings, conferences, or site visits, renting a car at the airport is usually the most practical option.
The main advantage is time efficiency. There is no need to wait for taxis or coordinate transport later in the day. When schedules change suddenly, having your own car gives you immediate flexibility to travel across the island as needed.
Airport rentals also work well for tight arrival and departure windows. Many business travellers arrive early and leave late to maximise working hours. With an airport rental, you can drive directly to appointments on arrival and return the car just before check-in on departure day. This avoids extra transfers and saves valuable time.
If your trip is limited entirely to Stone Town, a car may not be necessary. However, for anyone who values punctuality, independence, and control over their schedule, an airport rental is the most efficient and reliable choice.
The best place to rent a car in Zanzibar depends on your travel priorities. If convenience and time are your main concerns, the airport wins. If cost and flexibility are higher priorities, downtown is better. Either way, having a car in Zanzibar opens up a world of adventure, from pristine beaches to spice farms and everything in between. Consider your itinerary, budget, and comfort, and choose the option that lets you enjoy your Zanzibar trip.
Rent a car in Zanzibar with Final Rentals to get the best balance of comfort, cost, and convenience. With Final Rentals, booking a car online is fast and simple. Select Abeid Amani Karume International Airport or Downtown Zanzibar as your pickup location, enter your travel dates, and choose a vehicle for your trip. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
