Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar ferry tickets: prices and how to book from abroad

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.

You can also check the latest Zanzibar ferry schedule and prices and book in one step on our homepage.

A few things worth knowing about these numbers:

Book the direction you need: Dar es Salaam → Zanzibar · Zanzibar → Dar es Salaam.

• 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.

Our transfers run in Dar es Salaam only: Dar hotel → Dar ferry terminal when you travel to Zanzibar, and Dar ferry terminal → Dar hotel when you come back. We don't offer hotel transfers on the Zanzibar side, so for Stone Town or the beaches ask your hotel to arrange a taxi and agree the fare in advance.

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. Ask your Zanzibar hotel to arrange a taxi in advance so you aren't looking for one 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.

Booking from the UK, US or UAE

You don't need a Tanzanian bank account or a local phone number to book. Prices are shown and charged in US dollars, and you pay once by card through a secure Stripe checkout. If your card is in pounds, dirhams or another currency, your bank converts the amount and may add its own foreign-transaction fee. A booking confirmation email arrives right after payment, and we send your e-tickets and sailing details on WhatsApp, which works on a UK, US or UAE number.

Paying in US dollars from the UK or US

We charge in US dollars only, and the total shown at checkout is the USD amount charged; we don't convert currencies. With a card in pounds or another currency, your bank converts the amount at its own rate, so the figure on your statement is set by your bank, not by us. Some banks also add a foreign-transaction or cross-border fee, even on USD payments, so check with your card issuer before you book.

How booking works, step by step

1. Choose your trip. On our Dar es Salaam ↔ Zanzibar ferry 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 valid ID. Be at the terminal in good time with your passport (or other valid ID) and tickets.

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

Planning a return trip

If you fly home from Dar es Salaam, it helps to plan both crossings together. Our fares are the same in both directions, and a return trip simply means one ticket for each direction: book Dar es Salaam → Zanzibar for the way out and Zanzibar → Dar es Salaam for the way back. Choose a return sailing that leaves you plenty of time to reach the airport, and remember that our driver service covers the Dar side only. For more on the trip back, read our Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam return trip guide.

Changes, cancellations and refunds

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

• Ferry tickets are non-refundable once issued. This is our booking rule; the ferry company's own terms are summarised below.
• 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 ferry company has its own rules too. Zan Fast Ferries' terms (on its website) allow cancelling or rescheduling up to 2 hours before the scheduled departure, accept no requests after departure, require valid ID, and say late passengers may be refused boarding without a refund. For tickets we issue, our terms above apply.

The full wording is in our terms and cancellation policy.

Where are the ferry terminals in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar?

Dar es Salaam: Zanzibar ferries leave from the harbour front on Sokoine Drive in the city centre. Each operator uses its own booking office and boarding point, so check the boarding point printed on your ticket; we confirm it at booking.

Zanzibar (Unguja): boats dock at the Malindi Ferry Terminal in Stone Town. It was renovated in 2026 and stays the main terminal while the new Maruhubi terminal is developed, which is expected to take about three years. Many Stone Town hotels are a short walk away; beach areas such as Nungwi or Paje need a car.

• Changes and missed boats: the operator's cancellation and missed-sailing rules for your boat are confirmed at booking. Our own change rules are in the cancellation policy.
• Luggage: the allowance depends on the operator and is confirmed at booking.
• Buy only at the operator window inside the terminal, online, or through us. Ignore anyone selling tickets on the pavement outside (GOV.UK warns about ticket touts).
• Getting to the terminal: we can book a driver from your Dar hotel to the terminal for USD 30 per one-way transfer, per vehicle. Message us on WhatsApp with your hotel and sailing.

Departure times change by season and weather, so confirm your sailing with the operator a day before you travel.

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 current government 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 is the standard economy-style class 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. For a side-by-side comparison, see our Zanzibar ferry class guide.

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, USD 60 in Gold and USD 80 in Platinum, including our USD 10 service charge per ticket. The Silver child fare is USD 40 (ages 5–11; in Gold and Platinum children pay the adult fare); passengers aged 12+ pay the adult fare, and children under 5 travel free, but no ticket or seat is issued automatically – please confirm arrangements with us on WhatsApp before travel. 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. We don't offer hotel transfers on the Zanzibar side.

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.