Short answer: on the dates we checked (12 to 20 October 2026), the fast ferries we book left Dar es Salaam at 07:00, 12:00, 14:15 and 16:30, and left Zanzibar at the same four times. The crossing takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours. Bring your original passport and your inbound travel insurance certificate, and be at the terminal about an hour before your boat.
This guide is written by the Zanzibar Ferry team at Horizon Hospitality Group, a tour company based in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. We are a booking agent: we book ferry seats, arrange hotel transfers to the terminal and run Zanzibar day trips. We don't operate the boats. Our prices, shown further down, are the operator's non-resident fare plus a USD 10 service charge per ticket.
The timetable, both directions
These are the departures we saw in the operator's booking system for sailings between 12 and 20 October 2026. Arrival times are approximate and depend on the boat and the sea.
| Departs (both ports) | Dar → Zanzibar, arrives about | Zanzibar → Dar, arrives about |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 08:20 | 08:20 |
| 12:00 | 13:20 | 14:20 |
| 14:15 | 15:45 | 15:20 |
| 16:30 | 18:20 | 17:45 |
More than one company runs fast ferries on this route, and each has its own timetable. Times also shift with demand and the season. Use the table to plan, then check the exact sailing for your date when you book. We confirm your boat on WhatsApp before you travel. The live version of this table, which we update when it changes, is on our ferry schedule section.
Which sailing to pick?
- 07:00 gives you the most daylight on the island, and on most days the sea is calmest in the morning (more on that below). The catch is an early start: you need to leave a city-centre hotel by about 05:45 to 06:00.
- 12:00 and 14:15 suit people landing at Dar's airport in the morning or checking out of a hotel at noon.
- 16:30 gets you to Stone Town in the early evening. Arrange your hotel pickup before you sail. Arriving in the dark and then negotiating a taxi at the port gate is no fun.
- Coming back for a flight? Don't plan a same-day international departure from Dar around the last boat of the day. Take an earlier sailing and leave several hours spare.
Ticket prices
Prices are per one-way ticket for non-residents, the same in both directions, and include our USD 10 service charge.
| Class | Adult | Child 2–11 |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | USD 45 | USD 40 |
| Silver Plus | USD 45 | USD 40 |
| Gold | USD 60 | same as adult |
| Platinum | USD 80 | same as adult |
| VIP | on request | on request |
Not every class sails on every boat. Once issued, tickets are non-refundable. A change of date or sailing time costs USD 15 per ticket, as long as the new sailing has seats. Full details are in our ferry prices and terms.
Before you go: documents and the 2026 insurance rule
Passport. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, and one Tanzanian visa covers both the mainland and the island. Zanzibar still runs its own immigration check, though, so your passport is looked at when you board in Dar and again when you get off in Stone Town. Carry the original, not a photocopy, and keep it in your hand luggage, not in a bag that goes into the hold. If you need a visa, apply on the official eVisa portal (linked below) and nowhere else.
Inbound travel insurance. Tanzania now requires government-issued inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors. Under the 2026 regulations it costs USD 44 per visitor and is valid for up to 92 days. Which company issues it depends on where you first enter Tanzania:
- You flew into Dar es Salaam (or entered anywhere on the mainland) first: buy it from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC). Since 1 October 2026, that policy also covers your trip to Zanzibar. Under the official notice you should not be asked to buy a second policy from Zanzibar's insurer.
- You landed in Zanzibar first: buy it from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC). It also covers the mainland while it is valid.
- You bought a ZIC policy before 1 October 2026: it remains valid for that journey, even if your trip starts on the mainland.
Keep the certificate and its QR code on your phone or printed out. It can be checked at points of entry. Residents and some travellers from EAC and SADC countries are treated differently, so check the official pages if that applies to you.
On the day: Dar es Salaam ferry terminal
The terminal is on Sokoine Drive in the city centre, opposite St Joseph's Cathedral. It is not at the airport. Julius Nyerere International Airport is roughly 12 km away, and the drive can take well over half an hour in traffic. If you're coming straight from a flight, leave plenty of time.
Plan to arrive about an hour before departure. That leaves time for the passport check, the luggage drop and boarding without rushing. The UK government's travel advice warns about aggressive ticket touts at Tanzanian ports. If you already have e-tickets from us, you don't need to deal with anyone offering "help" outside. Walk in with your passport and tickets ready. If you'd rather not handle the traffic and the drop-off yourself, our driver can take you from your Dar hotel to the terminal for USD 30 per vehicle, one way. Add the transfer at checkout.
The crossing: seats, sea and seasickness
The fast ferries are catamarans, and higher classes give you more space and comfort. What you get on board varies by boat, which is why we don't promise particular amenities.
The Zanzibar Channel is open sea. Most crossings are uneventful, but two things make a rough one more likely:
- The season. From roughly June to September, the south-east monsoon wind (the kusi) blows across the channel and builds a swell.
- The time of day. Wind usually picks up as the day goes on, which is why travellers often find the 07:00 boat the smoothest.
If you get seasick, take your medication before you board, not after the first wave. Pick a seat low down and towards the middle of the boat rather than at the front, and look at the horizon if you can. If you have a tight onward connection, or you suffer badly, think about flying instead.
Arriving in Stone Town (Malindi port)
The ferry docks at the port on the edge of Stone Town, a short walk from the Forodhani waterfront. After the Zanzibar passport check you walk out of the port gate and you're right next to the old town. If your hotel is in Stone Town you can often walk. For beach areas further away, either arrange a pickup in advance or agree the taxi fare before you get in. We can arrange Zanzibar-side transfers on request, priced by location.
Coming back to Dar
Give yourself the same buffer on the way back: be at the Stone Town port about an hour before your sailing, with your passport out. Boats arrive at the same terminal on Sokoine Drive, in central Dar es Salaam. If you're heading on to the airport, allow for city traffic.
Day trip instead of tickets?
If you only have one free day in Dar es Salaam, our Zanzibar day trip handles the crossing for you. Hotel pickup in Dar is at 06:00 to 06:30. Then you take the 07:30 economy-class ferry, see Prison Island by private boat, visit a spice farm with lunch and walk through Stone Town, and you're back at your hotel around 19:00 to 19:30. It starts from USD 199 per person for groups of five or more. Inbound insurance isn't included.
Quick checklist
- Original passport (plus visa or eVisa approval if you need one)
- Inbound insurance certificate with its QR code (NIC if you entered on the mainland, ZIC if you entered via Zanzibar)
- E-tickets on your phone, and the sailing time confirmed on WhatsApp
- At the terminal about an hour before departure
- Seasickness tablet taken before boarding, if you need one
- Pickup arranged in Zanzibar, or a taxi fare agreed before you set off
Questions about a specific date? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person on our team in Dar es Salaam will reply.