Zanzibar has beaches, villages, forests, and historic towns spread across the island. A well-planned drive lets you visit more places without rushing between stops.
When you rent a car in Zanzibar, you can plan your routes at your own pace. Four to seven days gives you enough time to cover the north, east, and south coasts. You can also stop at spice farms, quiet beaches, and small villages along the way. Our guide explains how to prepare, choose the best route, and complete the island tour safely.
Match your plans to your group, luggage, route, and dates. Prepare the main details so the collection takes less time.
Plan at least 4 days for a basic loop. If you have 5 to 7 days, you can enjoy beach time, spice farms, viewpoints, and detours. The complete route covers about 250 to 280 kilometres, although village traffic can extend each journey.
A compact or medium car suits 2 or 3 people with light luggage. Families may need an SUV or a 7-seater van. Main roads are paved, while four-wheel drive is helpful in rain or on sandy tracks. Choose space over models, since specific models cannot be guaranteed. You can use one hotel for day trips. However, changing hotels reduces backtracking. Stay near Nungwi or Kendwa after the north, then move towards Matemwe, Paje, or Jambiani.
Foreign drivers need a full licence and the mandatory Zanzibar driving permit. Car rental companies often arrange the permit before collection. It usually costs about 10 to 20 US dollars per driver.
The application may require your licence, passport, entry stamp, and passport photos. An International Driving Permit is not required for licences using English or Latin letters. However, it can make police checks easier.
Keep your agreement, booking voucher, and payment card with you. Confirm the deposit, insurance excess, and added driver charges. Only one permit may be included, so extra drivers may pay another fee. Photograph every car side before leaving. Save the company number, roadside help details, collection point, and return instructions. Keep your licence, passport or ID, permit, and rental papers inside the car.
Some companies include unlimited mileage, while others allow about 200 kilometres daily. Check extra kilometre charges before booking. Plan each day around any limit.
Many rentals provide a full tank and require a full tank at return. Others require the original fuel level. Fuel costs around one US dollar per litre. Stations are reliable near Stone Town, Nungwi, and Paje, but fewer operate beyond Jambiani.
Stone Town's old quarter is too narrow for normal traffic. Use the public car park near Forodhani Gardens and continue on foot. Parking costs about 1,000 Tanzanian shillings per hour. Choose guarded parking at hotels and beaches. Place valuables in the boot or take them with you.
You can book a car with Final Rentals and request free delivery or collection. This service covers Stone Town, the airport area, and the seaport terminal.
Confirm the return details early, including the location and fuel level. Returning early can prevent late fees before a flight or ferry. Check the included collision and theft cover, plus the excess after a claim.
A full loop can begin at Stone Town or the airport. Change hotels along the route for more beach time and fewer repeated drives.
Collect the car at the airport or town office. Park outside Stone Town's old quarter and explore the historic centre on foot. Visit a spice farm near Kizimbani for a guided tour lasting about 90 minutes. You can learn how cloves, vanilla, and nutmeg grow.
Continue north through villages. Slow down for people, bicycles, livestock, and hidden speed bumps. Nungwi has deeper water at low tide and lively sunset bars. Kendwa is about 10 minutes south. Its calmer water suits swimming through most tide changes, including around sunrise. You can also visit the turtle pond near Nungwi. Stay on the north coast instead of rushing back.
Drive east from Kendwa to Matemwe. This long beach changes greatly with the tide. Check tide times before swimming because the water moves far from shore. Continue through Pongwe, Uroa, and Michamvi towards Pingwe. A famous offshore restaurant is on a sandbar. Access may involve walking at low tide or taking a short boat ride.
Paje is known for kitesurfing, wide sandy beaches, beachfront bars, and cafés. It is a useful lunch stop without water sports. Continue south to Jambiani through palm-lined roads and coastal villages. At low tide, you may see local seaweed farms. Choose Paje or Jambiani for an overnight stay.
Leave the East Coast for Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. You may see Zanzibar red colobus monkeys during the forest walk and boardwalk visit.
Continue south to Kizimkazi. The village offers dolphin boat tours and a mosque dating from the twelfth century. Book boat trips early during busy periods. Mtende Beach is a quiet detour east of Kizimkazi. Access is easier at low tide, when you have more walking space in the small bay.
Refuel in Paje before the rural south-west route. It is the last large fuel stop on this route. Return towards Stone Town through villages and join the main road north. Allow extra travel time for slow traffic and one final stop. Return the car at the agreed airport or city location.
Plan around tides, daylight, road conditions, and local checks. These habits support a calmer and safer journey.
Tides affect beaches, boat landings, sandbars, and walking routes along the east and south coasts. Check local tide tables before Pingwe, Jambiani, or Mtende.
Begin longer drives early and leave space for meals, viewpoints, and delays. Avoid remote routes after sunset, as village roads may have limited lighting. Keep most daily driving below two or three hours. Keep daily drives shorter for swimming, tours, and unexpected stops.
Drive on the left and reduce speed before every settlement. Speed bumps are common and may not have clear signs. Watch for people, bicycles, children, livestock, and entering vehicles. Keep your licence, permit, and rental papers within easy reach. Police checkpoints are common on major routes. Officers may ask for your documents.
Check tyre pressure, fuel, and dashboard warnings each morning. Photograph new marks immediately and contact the car rental company.
Refuel according to the agreed policy before returning the car. Remove luggage, rubbish, and personal items the night before departure. Reach the return point several hours before your flight or ferry. Arrive several hours early when traffic, inspections, or paperwork take longer.
Leave room for discovery on a full-island drive. Slow down, respect village life, and let tides guide beach stops. Your favourite memory may come from a quiet café, an unplanned viewpoint, or extra sunset time.
Rent a car in Zanzibar with Final Rentals to enjoy unlimited mileage throughout your island tour. You also receive your first Tanzania driving permit for free. Free breakdown help gives you added support during your multi-day drive. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
You need a valid full driving licence, and an International Driving Permit is recommended. Bring your passport or national ID and the mandatory Zanzibar driving permit. The car rental agency usually arranges this permit. You should also carry the payment card used for booking, your deposit details, and the signed rental agreement.
A popular route starts in Stone Town, then visits Nungwi and Kendwa on the north coast. It continues through Matemwe, Pongwe, Pingwe, Paje, and Jambiani. The route then reaches Jozani Forest, Kizimkazi, and Mtende before returning to Stone Town. Spend a week for a relaxed pace, although 5 days can cover the main highlights.
The coastal road towards Nungwi and Kendwa is scenic. Eastern fishing villages and Paje's kite-surfing beaches add variety. The inland road through Jozani Forest also has a different setting. Many travellers enjoy the views between Matemwe and Paje, plus the ocean road from Paje towards Kizimkazi. These routes combine beaches, villages, forests, and open coastal views.
