Almost everyone arrives on Zanzibar at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), just outside Zanzibar City, or at the ferry port in Stone Town. Nungwi is at the opposite, northern end of the island — about 60 km by road, which takes roughly an hour to an hour and a half depending on traffic.
There is no train and no scheduled airport bus, so the choice is between four options. Here is how they compare.
The options, compared
| How | Time | Cost (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked private transfer | 1–1.5 h | from ≈US$50 per car | Arrivals, families, late flights |
| Airport taxi | 1–1.5 h | ≈US$40–60 per car, negotiated | Flexibility if you did not pre-book |
| Dala-dala (via Stone Town) | 2.5–3 h+ | A few thousand shillings | Backpackers with light luggage |
| Hotel transfer | 1–1.5 h | Set by the hotel | Convenience, often pricier |
1. Pre-booked private transfer — easiest
A driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign and drives you to your hotel door in an air-conditioned car. Prices are per vehicle, so it is excellent value for families and groups. Pre-booking also fixes the price, which removes the negotiation at the end of a long flight. See the airport transfer we recommend.
2. Taxi from the airport
Taxis wait outside arrivals. Fares to Nungwi are negotiated rather than metered — agree the price (and the currency) before you get in. Expect the price to be in the same range as a pre-booked transfer, sometimes a little less if you bargain and sometimes more late at night.
3. Dala-dala — cheapest
Dala-dalas are the local shared minibuses. From the airport you first need to get to the Darajani terminus in Stone Town (a short taxi ride), then take route 116 to Nungwi. It is very cheap and a real slice of island life, but slow, crowded and impractical with big suitcases.
4. Hotel transfer
Most resorts will arrange a pickup. It is convenient and reliable, though usually more expensive than booking a transfer yourself — compare before you accept.
Arriving by ferry from Dar es Salaam
Fast ferries link Dar es Salaam with Stone Town in roughly two hours several times a day. From the Stone Town ferry terminal, a taxi or transfer to Nungwi takes about 1.5 hours. Buy ferry tickets from the official operator offices or websites, not from touts at the port.
Getting around once you are there
- Nungwi ↔ Kendwa: 3 km. Walk along the beach at low tide (about 45 minutes) or take a tuk-tuk or taxi.
- Day trips: most tours include pickup from northern hotels — the easiest way to reach Stone Town, the spice farms or Jozani.
- Car or scooter hire: possible, but you need an international driving permit plus a local Zanzibar driving permit, and police checkpoints are frequent. Most visitors do not bother.
Before you fly: entry paperwork
You will need a Tanzanian visa (e-visa in advance or, for many nationalities, on arrival) and Zanzibar’s mandatory inbound travel insurance, bought online before arrival. See the practical section of our Nungwi travel guide.
