How to Visit Zanzibar On A Budget
How to Visit Zanzibar On A Budget
How to Visit Zanzibar On A Budget
Zanzibar has a reputation for being an expensive destination, but incredibly enough once you land you may find this pretty misleading. If you’re looking to be a traveling budget backpacker, you can avoid much of the hyped-up stuff and average $20 a day the moment you set in. You could also bring your costs much lower if you team up with other travellers and split the costs.
Many people don’t believe that Zanzibar can be cheap. Stone Town especially can be a good option if you’re on a budget. If you feel the content in travel brochures that advertise honeymooner’s paradises, you will end up getting ripped off over everything and anything, but if you dig deeper, you could end up finding pretty affordable rooms going for $12 per night to $2 street-food snacks. As a rule of thumb, here’s what you’d expect to spend in Zanzibar while on a budget:
Affordable flights
Many popular airlines fly to Zanzibar. About 25 airlines operate out of the Zanzibar’s only airport, Kisauni, daily and offer 14 non-stop flights to 14 cities. Each week, at least 90 international flights depart from Kisauni Airport. Here are the cheapest fares you can pay to reach Kisauni:
Affordable ferry from Dar Es Salaam
From the airport, you may need to take a taxi to the ferry docks. The cost is about $20, and this will depend on how good you are at bargaining taxi fares in Dar es Salaam. You can purchase your ferry ticket at the ferry docks windows. The ferry ticket to Zanzibar is $35, and it takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours to reach Stone Town, Zanzibar. There are several ferries during the day and sailing times are 7.00 am, 09.30 am, 12.30 pm and 15.45pm
Accommodation
Unless you’re the lazy type, if you widen your search around Stone Town, you can get a hostel with dorm rooms that have double beds. You can have curtains around your bed to accord you privacy and your power socket and light too. It's not clear how the janitors screen travellers but all dwellers appear pretty well behaved and polite. There is a fun atmosphere, and the rooms are quiet at night. You can part with $11 per room. The Lost and Found Hostel in Stone Town is an excellent place to start. Others are Al Minar, Tembo House, and Asiya Beach Bungalow.
Transportation in Zanzibar
The cheapest way to move around Zanzibar is through the Dala Dala. (This is a single cabin minivan widely used in East African cities and has its origins in Kenya). They’re usually recklessly driven at high speeds and accidents and other mishaps are common in Zanzibar. The fare from Stone Town to most destinations in the island is US$1.50 per person and passengers are packed and squeezed tightly together. You can share a taxi for around $10, and if your pockets are thicker, you can fork out US$50 for a tour of the island.
One of the most popular car rental services in the island is the Zanzibar Express Car Hire. They have a fleet of more than 60 cars available for hire from about $25 per day. They’re located about 5 km from the main airport, and they offer various types and models including 4 x 4 vehicles for both self-drive or chauffeur driven. They have experienced drivers who are fluent in several languages including French, German and Spanish.
Food
The food in Zanzibar is incredible, and you can eat your heart out. You need not struggle to find budget eats in places like Forodhani Gardens Night Market, where its cheap to grab dinner for a couple of dollars. Sometimes some of the meals can be covered in your budget tours, which helps keep costs down. A hot favourite for many visitors is the Zanzibari Pizza, which is a cross between a chapatti and crepe, which is stuffed full of your choice of meats, eggs and vegetables and chili smothered on top. Other food options that are served in large portions include Biryani, Pilau rice, Octopus curry, Mandazi, Mshikaki, and many others. You could eat Zanzibar pizza for weeks without hungering for other recipes. The total cost for food, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, could come to say, $45. A week.
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