Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar ferry: prices, times and tips

Zanzibar Ferry is a booking service run by Horizon Hospitality Group, a tour company based in Dar es Salaam. We don't own or sail the boats. We book seats on the fast ferries between Dar es Salaam and Stone Town, arrange a driver to the terminal if you want one, and answer questions on WhatsApp before and after you pay. This guide covers the questions people ask most before they book: what it costs, when the boats go, what happens if plans change, and how to make the day easy.

How much is the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar?

Fares depend on the class you choose. The prices below are for one-way tickets for non-residents and are the same in both directions. They are the totals you pay us: the operator's fare plus our USD 10 service charge per ticket.

A few things worth knowing about these numbers:

• They are per ticket, per direction. A return trip means one set of tickets for each direction, so two adults travelling there and back in Silver pay 4 × USD 45 = USD 180 for the crossings.
• Not every class sails on every boat. If the class you want isn't on your preferred sailing, we tell you before anything is booked and offer the nearest option.
• Fares can change. The ferry company sets its fares, not us. If a fare has moved since our price table was last updated, we confirm the new price with you before we book.
• VIP has limited seats and the fare depends on the sailing, so we quote it on WhatsApp.

Why pay a service charge instead of buying at the port?

What the USD 10 per ticket buys you is a seat that is booked before you arrive, e-tickets on your phone, a real person to message if something changes, and no need to deal with the crowd outside the port. The UK government's travel advice for Tanzania specifically warns about aggressive ticket touts at ports. With tickets already in hand you can walk past them.

What does a hotel transfer cost?

If you're staying in Dar es Salaam, our driver can collect you from your hotel and drop you at the ferry terminal. It costs USD 30 per one-way transfer, priced per vehicle rather than per person, so a family or a group of friends shares one price. You can add it in the same checkout as your tickets, or book a transfer on its own. Need to come back from the port to a hotel after a return crossing? That's a second one-way transfer.

On the Zanzibar side, transfers from the port in Stone Town to your hotel are available on request. They're priced by location, because a hotel inside Stone Town and a beach resort on the far side of the island are very different drives. Message us your hotel's name and we'll quote.

What time do the ferries leave?

There are several fast-ferry departures a day in each direction, spread from early morning to late afternoon. The exact times are set by the operator and can change from day to day and season to season, so we don't promise a fixed timetable here. Our ferry schedule section shows the departures we last saw in the operator's booking system, with the date we checked them. Our timetable guide explains the crossing itself in more detail.

The practical way to book is to choose the part of the day that suits you and tell us at checkout:

• Early morning if you want the most time on the island, or a smoother sea. Wind tends to build during the day, so morning crossings are often calmer.
• Midday if you're landing at Dar's airport in the morning or checking out of a hotel around noon.
• Late afternoon if you have a day in Dar first. Arrange your Zanzibar pickup in advance so you aren't looking for a taxi in the dark.

The crossing usually takes somewhere between about 1 hour 20 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the boat and the sea. We confirm your exact sailing on WhatsApp before you travel.

How booking works, step by step

1. Choose your trip. On our booking form, pick the direction (Dar to Zanzibar or Zanzibar to Dar), the class, the number of adult and child tickets and, if you like, a hotel transfer.
2. Pay securely by card. Checkout runs on Stripe. You add your travel date and preferred sailing time there.
3. Get your confirmation. A booking confirmation email arrives right after payment.
4. Receive your e-tickets. We book your seats on the sailing you asked for, or the closest one with space, and send the tickets on WhatsApp.
5. Turn up with your passport. Be at the terminal in good time with your passport and tickets.

Prefer to ask first? You can message us on WhatsApp without paying anything, and we'll reply with availability for your date.

Changes, cancellations and refunds

This is the part people skip, so here it is plainly:

• Ferry tickets are non-refundable once issued. The operator doesn't refund issued tickets, so we can't either.
• You can change the date or time for USD 15 per ticket, as long as the new sailing has seats. Message us as early as you can.
• If your plans are still uncertain, wait to book until they're firm, or ask us on WhatsApp about availability before you pay.

The full wording is in our terms and cancellation policy.

Tips for an easy crossing

Bring your original passport. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, but passports are checked when you travel to and from the island. A photocopy isn't enough, and the passport should be in your day bag, not in a suitcase.

Check the entry paperwork before you travel. Tanzania's rules for foreign visitors, including inbound travel insurance, have changed recently. Check the official requirements for your nationality before you go, or ask us and we'll point you to the right source. Our timetable guide covers the insurance rule in detail.

Arrive early. Plan to be at the terminal well before departure. Allow about an hour, and more for early sailings and busy holiday periods. Boarding, passport checks and luggage all take time.

Leave a buffer after flights. If you're coming straight from Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar's traffic can turn a short distance into a long drive. Don't book the first sailing after your landing time; leave a few hours spare. The same goes in reverse: don't plan a same-day international flight around the last boat back.

Pack for the boat. Keep water, any medication and a light layer with you. If you're prone to seasickness, take your tablet before you board and choose a seat low down towards the middle of the boat.

Agree taxi fares before you get in. If you haven't booked a transfer, agree the price with the driver before the car moves, at both ends.

Choosing a class

Silver and Silver Plus are the standard economy-style classes and what most travellers choose for a crossing of under two hours. Gold and Platinum give you more space and comfort. On-board amenities vary by boat, so we don't promise particular features. On some sailings, for example, our tickets are on Zanfast boats, and the layout differs from one vessel to the next. If comfort matters to you, or you're travelling with older relatives, tell us and we'll suggest a class.

Short on time? Do Zanzibar as a day trip

If you only have one free day in Dar es Salaam, you don't have to sort ferry tickets at all. Our Zanzibar day trip includes hotel pickup in Dar, return ferry tickets, Prison Island, a spice farm with lunch and a Stone Town walk, and gets you back to your hotel the same evening. Prices and what's included are on the day-trip section. Want a few hours in Dar es Salaam itself before or after the boat? Our sister brand Dar Day Tours runs city, food and Old Town walking tours.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar?

Booked through Zanzibar Ferry, a one-way non-resident ticket costs USD 45 in Silver or Silver Plus, USD 60 in Gold and USD 80 in Platinum, including our USD 10 service charge per ticket. Children aged 2 to 11 pay USD 40 in Silver and Silver Plus. VIP is quoted on request.

Is the price the same from Zanzibar back to Dar es Salaam?

Yes. Our listed fares are the same in both directions. A return trip needs one ticket for each direction.

What time does the ferry leave Dar es Salaam?

There are several departures a day, from early morning to late afternoon, but the exact times vary by day and season. Choose your preferred time of day when you book and we confirm the exact sailing on WhatsApp.

Can I get a refund on my ferry ticket?

No. Ferry tickets are non-refundable once issued. You can change the date or time for USD 15 per ticket, subject to seats on the new sailing.

How much is a transfer from my Dar hotel to the ferry terminal?

USD 30 per one-way transfer, per vehicle. Transfers on the Zanzibar side are available on request and priced by location.

Do I need my passport for the Zanzibar ferry?

Yes. Bring your original passport. Passports are checked on the way to and from Zanzibar.

How do I receive my tickets?

You get a booking confirmation email right after payment. Then we book your seats and send the e-tickets to you on WhatsApp.