Zanzibar is a breathtaking island with bright blue lagoons, white coral beaches, and forests filled with rare wildlife. Add historic towns like Stone Town, and the island becomes a dream for travelers who love nature and culture.
For first-time visitors, driving is the best way to explore this. Renting a car in Zanzibar allows you to visit hidden coves, spice farms, and quiet fishing villages far from the usual tourist spots.
Zanzibar’s road network can surprise first-time visitors. Some routes are smooth highways, while others turn into sandy village paths. Here are some important tips to know if it’s your first time in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar has a mix of paved roads, dirt paths, and coastal tracks. Some routes to beaches or villages are narrow or uneven.
A small car works fine for towns, but choose an SUV or a 4x4 for full island access. These cars handle bumps better and give you more freedom to explore remote spots without worry.
Driving in Zanzibar is on the left-hand side of the road. Road signs are usually in English, but become rare once you leave the main towns. Some routes in rural areas aren’t marked, so pay attention to your surroundings.
Tourists are required to obtain a temporary Zanzibar driving permit. An international driving permit alone isn’t accepted.
The good news is that most rental car companies will help you apply for the permit when you book. It usually costs about $10 and is valid for up to three months.
To get it, you’ll need a valid driver’s license from your home country, a copy of your passport, and a passport-sized photo.
Police checkpoints are common across the island. Officers may ask for your temporary permit, original license, and passport. If a fine is mentioned, ask for an official ticket and avoid paying cash directly to the officer unless it’s a formal transaction.
Speed limits are typically around 40 km/h in towns and 80 km/h on highways.
Zanzibar’s dry seasons are ideal for road trips from June to October and December to February. Roads stay clearer and safer during these months. Rainy seasons can flood some rural roads and make dirt paths slippery.
If you want to swim, snorkel, or enjoy the beaches at their best, avoid March to May when heavy rains are common.
Petrol stations are easy to find in places like Stone Town, Nungwi, and Paje, but rare in remote villages or along coastlines. Always fill your tank before a long drive.
Some stations may only accept cash, so carry enough Tanzanian shillings. It’s also smart to check the fuel gauge before leaving your accommodation.
Internet access can be spotty once you’re outside the main areas. Online maps works well in Zanzibar, but offline maps are helpful if you lose signal.
Some rural roads don’t appear on every map, so double-check your route in advance. A printed map or written directions can also be useful for backup.
Due to its location off the coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar offers many scenic drives. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, which gives it turquoise waters, coral reefs, and lush greenery.
Apart from the beaches, here are some of the most beautiful drives in Zanzibar that you can explore by car.
Stone Town is one of the most beautiful places in Zanzibar because it combines striking architecture, cultural landmarks, and a coastal setting. Its coral stone buildings feature carved wooden doors with Arabic calligraphy and brass studs, showing strong Arab and Swahili influences.
A key highlight is the House of Wonders, the largest and tallest building in Stone Town. It’s one of the city's most iconic landmarks and now serves as a museum.
Other notable sites include the Old Fort, built by Omani Arabs in the 17th century, and the Anglican Cathedral, which stands on the island’s former slave market. Inside the cathedral grounds is a memorial to the people who were once enslaved here.
Stone Town’s narrow streets are lined with spice stalls, local markets like Darajani Market, and historical mosques.
Another must-visit is Forodhani Gardens, a seafront park. In the evening, it becomes a lively open-air food market. You’ll find grilled seafood, Zanzibar pizza, sugarcane juice, urojo soup, and other Swahili dishes. Families gather, kids play near the fountains, and vendors set up stalls facing the ocean. It's one of the best spots to watch the sunset while enjoying fresh local food.
Set along the Indian Ocean, Stone Town also offers stunning sunset views and daily dhow cruises that leave from the harbor.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is one of Zanzibar's most beautiful and ecologically important places. It’s the only national park on the island and protects Zanzibar’s last large area of indigenous forest. Located between the bays of Chwaka and Uzi, it offers a complete nature experience different from Zanzibar’s beach-focused spots.
The park is best known as the habitat of the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, a species found nowhere else on Earth. These monkeys are easily recognized by their reddish backs, black faces, and long tails. They move freely through the trees, sometimes even down to the forest floor.
The forest is dense and green, filled with mahogany, palm, and eucalyptus trees. The air feels cooler here, and sunlight filters through the canopy. Nature trails let you explore the forest floor, where you might see bush babies, butterflies, and various birds. Some trails lead to swampy areas, where unique plants and fungi grow.
On the park's eastern side is the Chwaka Bay mangrove boardwalk, where a wooden path leads deep into a quiet mangrove forest. These mangroves are vital to Zanzibar’s ecosystem, protecting the coastline and serving as nurseries for fish and crabs. From the boardwalk, you can observe this habitat without disturbing it.
Mnemba Marine Area is a protected marine reserve off Zanzibar’s northeast coast, known for its crystal-clear waters and thriving coral reefs. It surrounds Mnemba Island, about 3 kilometers from the village of Matemwe.
While the island is privately owned and access is restricted to guests of the exclusive lodge, the waters around it are open to visitors for snorkeling and diving.
The reef system around Mnemba supports over 600 species of coral reef fish. You can spot creatures like angelfish, parrotfish, moray eels, and sometimes dolphins swimming near the boats.
Green sea turtles and humpback whales can be seen in the area during certain seasons. The reef is shallow in places, which makes it perfect for both beginner snorkelers and experienced divers.
Diving spots like Kichwani and Wattabomi offer sloping reefs that reach depths up to 30 meters. These dive sites are filled with healthy coral formations, schools of fish, and clear visibility.
Another site, Eel City, is famous for its population of moray eels hiding in crevices. Visibility is best between November and March, when the sea is calm and the water is clearest.
Many snorkeling trips from Zanzibar include Mnemba as a main stop. These trips usually include two sessions in the water with a break for snacks and tea in between.
While in the water, the reef’s shallow depth and clear conditions allow close-up views of marine life without diving deep.
Chumbe Island Coral Park is a private nature reserve about 8 kilometers southwest of Zanzibar's Stone Town. The island encompasses a fully protected coral reef sanctuary and a closed forest reserve.
The reef hosts over 500 fish species and over 200 types of hard coral genera, making it one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in East Africa.
Visitors can engage in guided snorkeling tours to explore the vibrant coral gardens, where they might encounter angelfish, groupers, and hawksbill turtles. The island's forest trails offer a chance to see rare species like the Ader’s duiker and giant coconut crabs.
Accommodation on Chumbe Island consists of seven eco-bungalows. These structures utilize solar power, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets to minimize environmental impact.
To preserve its delicate ecosystems, access to the island is limited to a small number of guests. Visitors typically reach Chumbe via a 45-minute boat ride from Stone Town. Activities are scheduled to align with tidal patterns and optimal conditions for snorkeling and intertidal walks.
Zanzibar's interior is dotted with spice farms that showcase the island's rich agricultural heritage and the cultivation of spices.
Notable spice farms include Kizimbani, known for its variety of spices and historical Persian baths; Tangawizi Spice Farm, offering interactive spice sampling and herbal tea tastings; and Jambo Spice Farm in Dole village, which provides comprehensive tours with lunch and fruit tastings.
These tours are typically half-day excursions, and they can be combined with visits to other attractions, such as Stone Town or Jozani Forest.
During a spice farm tour, visitors can see, smell, and taste a variety of spices in their natural form. Commonly featured spices include cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, and ginger.
The Rock Restaurant is one of Zanzibar’s most iconic dining spots. It sits on a small coral outcrop just a few meters offshore from Michamvi Pingwe Beach on the island’s southeast coast. You can walk to the restaurant along a sandy path during low tide.
When the tide rises, a small wooden boat takes guests across the clear turquoise water.
The setting is what draws people in. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean on all sides, the restaurant gives a full 360-degree view of open sea, sky, and beach.
From the outdoor terrace, you can watch the waves roll in and the colors of the water change with the light. During sunset, the sky turns golden, and the reflections on the ocean make the view even more striking.
The restaurant's simple, natural design blends into its surroundings. Its whitewashed walls, thatched roof, and wooden furnishings make it feel rustic and elegant.
The menu focuses on fresh seafood, with dishes like grilled lobster, prawn pasta, and octopus carpaccio. Many ingredients are sourced from nearby waters or local farms, adding a farm-to-table feel to the experience.
Makunduchi Village is located on Zanzibar's southeastern coast, about 70 km from Stone Town. It comprises two parts: Old Makunduchi, a coastal fishing village, and New Makunduchi, a more developed and inland area.
The village offers visitors an authentic experience of Swahili coastal life, with traditional mud and thatched-roof houses.
One of the most significant cultural events in Makunduchi is the Mwaka Kogwa festival, which takes place each year on the 23rd or 24th of July. This festival is famous for its lively rituals, including mock fights with banana stems, singing, dancing, and lighting a ceremonial fire.
Tour guides often show visitors how coconut ropes are made. This beach is quieter than Zanzibar's more famous coastal areas, surrounded by natural bushes and providing a more intimate experience of local life.
Although accommodations are limited, places like the Ujamaa Beach Resort offer a comfortable stay.
Exploring Zanzibar by car allows first-time visitors to go beyond the beaches. From historic towns to spice plantations, the island’s inland and coastal roads unveil a richer, more authentic side of travel.
Renting a car with Finalrentals makes this adventure even more effortless. We ensure your journey is seamless and comfortable with convenient pick-up and drop-off locations, a fleet of well-maintained vehicles, and top-notch customer service.
