Zanzibar Transfers by Local Drivers: Private Hotel and Island-Wide Rides
Zan Drive Taxi offers private transfers and shared shuttles across Zanzibar, 24 hours a day. Our licensed local drivers cover hotel-to-hotel rides, airport and ferry pickups with flight tracking and meet and greet, and trips anywhere on the island. Private transfers are priced per vehicle, not per person.
What Are the Best Ways to Get a Transfer in Zanzibar?
The best way to get a transfer in Zanzibar is to pre-book a private transfer with a licensed local driver. Your driver comes to you, the price is agreed upfront, and there is no haggling. Shared shuttles suit travelers happy to share the ride, and self-drive suits confident drivers.
Not sure which one fits? Send us your pickup, drop-off and group size, and we will suggest the right option. For a wider look at moving around the island, read our Zanzibar taxi hire guide.
Ask on WhatsApp| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Our pickPrivate pre-booked transfer | Families, groups and late arrivals who want a set price per vehicle | You need to send your pickup details before the trip |
| Shared shuttle | Travelers happy to share a vehicle on a common route | Pickup times are less flexible when other passengers are involved |
| Taxi from the rank | Last-minute rides when nothing is booked | Taxis are unmetered, so you must agree the fare before you get in |
| Bolt | Short hops around Stone Town | Very limited in Zanzibar, so it is not reliable for long trips to the beaches |
| Self-drive car | Confident drivers who want to explore at their own pace | Unfamiliar local roads and the permits you need to drive |
Which Zanzibar Transfer Fits Your Trip?
Choose the transfer by where your trip starts. Landing at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport needs an airport pickup with flight tracking. Arriving by ferry at Malindi port needs a port meeting. Moving between hotels is a hotel-to-hotel ride, and a full day across the island needs one private driver.
Not sure which one fits? Send us your arrival time and hotel name and we will tell you.
WhatsApp Us-
Arriving by air
Your driver tracks your flight and waits at arrivals, so a delayed or early landing does not leave you stranded. Best for first visits and late-night flights.
See Airport Pickups -
Arriving by sea
We meet you at the port in Stone Town and drive you straight to your hotel on the north, east or south coast. Ferry times can shift, so share your ticket time when you book.
See Ferry Port Pickups -
Changing hotels
Switching from the north coast to the south-east, or the other way around? The hotel transfer section below explains how pickup times and pricing work.
Go to Hotel Transfers -
Full day out
One driver and one car all day, so you can stop at beaches, markets or tours without rebooking each leg.
See Private Driver Hire
How Do Hotel Transfers Work in Zanzibar?
A hotel transfer is a private ride between two hotels in Zanzibar, booked before you travel. You send your hotel names and pickup time, we confirm the vehicle and price, and your driver meets you at reception and takes you door to door to the next hotel, with no stops you did not ask for.
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1
Send your two hotels
Tell us where you stay now, where you go next, and the date and time you want to leave.
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2
Get a confirmed price
We reply with the vehicle, the price in US dollars and the pickup time before anything is final.
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3
Meet your driver
A licensed driver arrives at the agreed time and waits for you at reception.
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4
Pay your way
Pay in cash, in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings, or by card.
When should the pickup be?
Set the pickup for when you are ready to leave, not only for when the hotel needs the room back. Tell the driver your checkout time and we plan around it.
Rides from one coast to another, such as the north to the south-east, cross the whole island, so allow extra time and aim to arrive before your next hotel's check-in time.
If your hotel is down a sandy or narrow lane, say so when you book. Your driver will know the best place to meet you.
Hotel transfer prices
US dollars per vehicle. 1 to 4 people, or 5 or more in a Toyota NOAH or Alphard.
| Hotel to hotel | 1 to 4 people | 5 or more |
|---|---|---|
| Nungwi to Paje | $50 | $90 |
| Matemwe to Paje | $50 | $90 |
| Nungwi to Kizimkazi | $60 | $105 |
| Matemwe to Michamvi | $60 | $105 |
Other hotel pairs are priced by distance. Send us your two hotels and we quote the exact price.
Get My Hotel Transfer PriceIs a Zanzibar Transfer Priced Per Person or Per Vehicle?
Zanzibar taxi transfers are priced per vehicle, not per person. You pay one fixed price for the car, whether two or four people ride in it. Groups of five or more ride in a Toyota NOAH or Alphard, which costs more, but the price per person usually drops because more people share the fare.
What changes your price
Group size. One price covers 1 to 4 people. Five or more move to a larger vehicle.
Distance. Where you start and where you end decides the price band.
Timing and car. Your pickup time and the car you choose can change the quote.
The price we confirm is the price you pay, with no extra charges added. Shared shuttle rides are quoted separately.
Ask for My Group's PriceWhat the fare works out to per person
One vehicle price, shared by everyone in the car. Bars show the cost per person.
2 people, $20 per vehicle$10 each
4 people, $20 per vehicle$5 each
6 people, $35 per vehicleAbout $6 each
4 people, $50 per vehicle$12.50 each
8 people, $90 per vehicleAbout $11 each
Prices are in US dollars. The six-person and eight-person rides use a Toyota NOAH or Alphard.
What Do You Need to Send to Book a Zanzibar Transfer?
To book a transfer, send your pickup and drop-off hotels, the date and pickup time, the number of people and bags, and a phone number we can reach on WhatsApp. For airport or ferry rides, add your flight number or ferry ticket time. With these details we can confirm your vehicle and price.
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Pickup hotel
The hotel name and area, for example Nungwi, Paje or Stone Town. Send a map pin if the hotel is hard to find.
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Drop-off hotel
Where you are going next, with the same detail: hotel name, area and a map pin if you have one.
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Date and pickup time
The day and the time you want to leave. For a hotel transfer, include your checkout time.
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People and bags
How many people and how many bags. Our cars carry one bag per person, so tell us early if you have more.
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Flight or ferry details
Your flight number or ferry ticket time, so we can track delays and meet you at the right moment.
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Child seats
Child seats are not included as standard. Ask for one and we confirm it with your booking.
Add your name and a WhatsApp number we can reach. You can also send all of these details in one WhatsApp message.
Which Vehicle Do You Need for Your Group and Luggage?
Pick the car by group size and bags: the Toyota RAV 4 3 door seats 4, the RAV 4 and Suzuki Escudo seat 5, the Toyota Alphard seats 7 and the Toyota NOAH seats 8. Plan one bag per person, and all our cars are air conditioned and automatic.
Up to 4 people
Toyota RAV 4 (3 door), 4 seats. A good fit for couples and small groups with light luggage.
Up to 5 people
Toyota RAV 4 (5 door), 5 seats. Suits families and friends traveling together.
Suzuki Escudo (5 door), 5 seats. Another option for small groups.
Up to 7 people
Toyota Alphard, 7 seats. Made for larger families and groups.
Up to 8 people
Toyota NOAH, 8 seats. Our biggest group size.
Luggage
Plan one bag per person. Tell us if you carry extra or oversized bags and we will advise on the right car.
Comfort
Every car is air conditioned and automatic, which matters on Zanzibar's hot and humid days.
Child seats
Child seats are generally not included. Ask when you book and we will confirm what we can provide.
Group larger than 8? Message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we can do.
What Goes Wrong With Transfers in Zanzibar, and How Do We Prevent It?
The most common transfer problems in Zanzibar are unmetered taxi fares, flight delays, finding your driver, long hot drives and narrow Stone Town lanes. Zan Drive Taxi prevents them with prices agreed upfront, flight tracking, meet and greet, air-conditioned cars and a planned drop-off point.
Book a Stress-Free Transfer-
Your flight lands early or runs late
Our fixWe track your flight, so your driver is ready when you actually land.
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You land tired and cannot find your driver
Our fixWe meet and greet you at the airport or ferry port, and our licensed drivers speak English and local languages.
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Haggling over the fare at the taxi rank
Our fixYour price is agreed before the trip, and private transfers are priced per vehicle, not per person.
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A long drive to the beach in the heat
Our fixThe trip to the north or east coast can take over an hour. Every car is air conditioned and automatic, and we match the vehicle to your group and bags.
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Narrow Stone Town lanes block the car
Our fixMany old town lanes are pedestrian-only, so a car may not reach your hotel door. Give us your hotel name when you book and we plan the closest drop-off point with you.
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You arrive without the right cash
Our fixPay in US dollars, Tanzanian shillings or by card.
Where Do Our Transfers Go?
Zan Drive Taxi runs transfers to every part of Zanzibar, from Nungwi and Kendwa in the north to Matemwe and Kiwengwa on the north-east coast, Paje and Jambiani in the south-east, and Stone Town in the west. Tell us your hotel and we will confirm the ride.
North Coast
North-East Coast
- Matemwe taxi
- Kiwengwa taxi
- Pwani Mchangani
- Uroa
- Pongwe
- Chwaka
South-East Coast
- Paje taxi
- Jambiani taxi
- Bwejuu
- Michamvi
- Pingwe
South Coast
- Makunduchi
- Kizimkazi
Stone Town
Your hotel is not listed?
We cover all of Zanzibar. Send us the name of your hotel and we will confirm your transfer.
Ask About Your HotelWho Will Be Driving You?
Your transfer is driven by a licensed local driver from Zan Drive Taxi, a Zanzibar team with 5 years in business and a fleet of 15+ vehicles. Our drivers speak English and local Tanzanian languages, know the island's roads well, and the service runs 24/7.
Licensed drivers
Every driver is licensed and experienced on Zanzibar's roads.
Your language
Drivers speak English and local Tanzanian languages, so directions and requests are simple.
Local knowledge
Our drivers and local guides know the island, its beaches and the lanes of Stone Town.
5 years, 15+ vehicles
A fleet and team built over five years of serving travelers across Zanzibar.
A family of five moving from Nungwi to Paje
Picture a family of five finishing breakfast at their Nungwi hotel and moving on to a beach hotel in Paje. They send us both hotel names, the group size and their check-out time on WhatsApp. We confirm a Toyota Alphard at $90 for the whole vehicle, and the driver arrives at the agreed time and takes them across the island to Paje.
Want to know more about the team? Read about Zan Drive Taxi.
Need More Than a Ride?
If you want a driver for the whole day instead of a single trip, book a Zanzibar private driver and set your own stops. If you would rather see the island with a guide, our Zanzibar tours cover Stone Town, Prison Island, the spice farms, Jozani Forest, Nakupenda Sandbank and Safari Blue.
Hire a driver for the day
A driver and vehicle for your whole day, planned around your own stops.
Zanzibar Private DriverExplore with a guided tour
Choose from our island tours, from Stone Town and Prison Island to the spice farms, Jozani Forest, Nakupenda Sandbank and Safari Blue.
Zanzibar ToursZanzibar Transfers: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a transfer in Zanzibar and how is it different from a taxi?
A transfer is a pre-arranged ride between two points, such as one hotel to another. The pickup time and price are agreed before you travel, while a taxi from the rank is hired on the spot and the fare is negotiated first.
Is a private transfer better than a shared shuttle in Zanzibar?
A private transfer is better if you want your own vehicle, a pickup time that suits you and no stops for other passengers. A shared shuttle works when you are happy to share a vehicle on a common route. Zan Drive Taxi offers both, so tell us your plans and we will suggest one.
Can I book a transfer between two hotels in Zanzibar?
Yes. Send us both hotel names, your group size and the date and time you want to leave. We confirm the vehicle and the price, and your driver collects you from the first hotel and takes you to the next. For example, Nungwi to Paje is $50 for 1 to 4 people and $90 for 5 or more.
Are Zanzibar transfers priced per person or per vehicle?
Our private transfers are priced per vehicle, not per person. The price depends on your group size, the route, the timing and the vehicle you choose, and we confirm it before you travel.
Can I change my transfer if my plans change?
Message us on WhatsApp as soon as your plans change, with the new date, time or hotel, and we will confirm the update with you. If your flight is delayed, we already track it, so your pickup follows your real landing time.
What should I be careful of with transport in Zanzibar?
Agree the fare before you get into any unmetered taxi, and do not rely on ride-hailing for long trips, because Bolt covers only a very limited area and there is no Uber. Booking a licensed driver in advance avoids both problems.
Can I pay in cash or by card for a transfer?
Yes. You can pay in cash in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings, or by card. Tell us how you plan to pay when you book.
Are child seats available on transfers?
Child seats are generally not included. If you are traveling with a child, tell us when you book so we can confirm what we can provide for your transfer.