Zanzibar Car Hire — Explore the Island on Your Terms
Everything you need to know about hiring a car in Zanzibar — fleet options, prices, self-drive vs. chauffeur, top destinations, and how to book. Updated March 2026.
Is Hiring a Car in Zanzibar Worth It?
Absolutely. Zanzibar's most beautiful spots — deserted northern beaches, the forests of Jozani, the spice farms of the central highlands — are spread across an island that is roughly 85 km long. Public transport is infrequent and shared taxis mean fitting your day around other people's plans.
A hire car gives you the freedom to leave at sunrise for Nungwi, take the scenic coast road past Kendwa, and still be back in Stone Town for sunset without glancing at a timetable. Starting from $25 per day, it is also remarkably affordable — often cheaper than a single return taxi fare to the north of the island.
Zanzibar Car Hire Fleet & Prices
Live prices updated directly from our booking system. All vehicles include insurance and 24/7 roadside support.
Self-Drive or Chauffeur — Which Is Right for You?
Both options have their appeal. Here is a straightforward comparison to help you decide.
Not sure? Many of our customers choose self-drive for the first few days, then add a driver for a full-day spice farm or dolphin tour excursion.
How to Hire a Car in Zanzibar with Kizingo
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Enter your dates & pick-up location
Use the booking form on our homepage. Choose your pick-up date, drop-off date, and where you want the car delivered — airport, ferry terminal, or hotel.
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Choose your vehicle
Browse our fleet with live prices. Pick the car that suits your trip — a compact city car for Stone Town or a 4x4 SUV for the north coast tracks.
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Confirm & we deliver
Complete your details and receive an email confirmation. We'll deliver the car to your chosen location. No queues, no airport counters.
Top Destinations to Explore with Your Hire Car
These are the places that make Zanzibar car hire genuinely worth it — all best reached by road on your own schedule. See our full guide to things to do in Zanzibar →
Stone Town
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the cultural heart of Zanzibar. Narrow alleys, carved doors, Darajani Market, and the House of Wonders are all on foot — but you'll want a car parked nearby to escape to the beaches. Learn more about Stone Town →
Nungwi & Kendwa
The island's most famous beaches, with crystal-clear water and white sand that stretches for miles. The drive north on the main road takes under an hour and passes spice farms and fishing villages.
Jozani Forest
Zanzibar's only national park and home to the rare endemic red colobus monkey. The road to Jozani passes through rural Zanzibar at its most authentic. A 4x4 is useful on the forest tracks. See all things to do →
Kizimkazi
Head south to Kizimkazi for dolphin tours, one of the oldest mosques in East Africa, and calm reef-sheltered waters. The coastal road from Paje to Kizimkazi is one of the island's most scenic drives.
Driving in Zanzibar — What You Need to Know
Zanzibar is one of the more straightforward East African islands to drive on, but there are a few things worth knowing before you set off.
Drive on the left
Zanzibar follows left-hand traffic, the same as the UK and Australia. The main roads are paved and well maintained. Rural tracks can be rough — choose a 4x4 if you're heading off the main routes.
Documents required
Bring your original driving licence plus a valid International Driving Permit (IDP). Your passport is also recommended. Keep copies in the glove box.
Speed limits
Urban areas: 50 km/h. Open roads: 80 km/h. Speed bumps (known locally as sleeping policemen) are frequent — even on main roads between towns.
Fuel
Petrol stations are in Stone Town and Nungwi. Fill up before long trips south or east — stations are scarce in rural areas. All Kizingo vehicles are provided with a full tank.
Night driving
Avoid driving at night where possible. Road lighting is minimal outside Stone Town and pedestrians, cyclists, and livestock can be hard to see.
Insurance
All Kizingo hire cars include comprehensive insurance cover. Check your personal travel insurance policy too — some provide additional rental excess cover.
Why Hire Your Zanzibar Car with Kizingo Cars
There are several car hire companies on the island. Here is what sets Kizingo Cars apart. Read more about us →
Free delivery & collection
We bring the car to you — airport, ferry terminal, Stone Town hotel, or anywhere on the island. No shuttle buses, no waiting at a rental desk.
24/7 roadside support
Our team is available around the clock via phone and WhatsApp. If anything goes wrong during your hire, we're minutes away.
Well-maintained fleet
Every vehicle is serviced before each hire. We carry out full checks on tyres, brakes, and air conditioning — essential in Zanzibar's climate.
Transparent pricing
The price you see is the price you pay. No hidden airport surcharges, no fuel top-up scams, no mystery charges on return.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zanzibar Car Hire
Yes. You need a valid driving licence from your home country plus an International Driving Permit (IDP). IDPs are available from motoring associations like the AA (UK), AAA (USA), or ADAC (Germany) and typically cost under £10 / €12. Most European, UK, and Australian licences are accepted alongside an IDP.
Traffic drives on the left in Zanzibar — the same as the UK, Australia, Kenya, and most of East Africa. If you normally drive on the right, take it steady for the first hour.
Yes. We offer free delivery to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), the Stone Town ferry terminal, and most hotels and resorts across the island. Just enter your pick-up location when booking.
The minimum age is 23 years old. All drivers must hold a valid driving licence and IDP. There is no upper age limit.
The main roads linking Stone Town to Nungwi, Paje, Jozani, and Kizimkazi are well paved and easy to navigate. Some beach tracks and rural routes are unpaved and benefit from a 4x4 or SUV. We recommend our Toyota RAV4 or Vanguard for island-wide exploration.
We accept cash payment on arrival only — no card payments, bank transfers, or online payments. We accept all major foreign currencies including USD, GBP, EUR, and other widely used currencies. The amount is calculated at the current exchange rate at the time of payment. Please ensure you have cash ready when the car is delivered.
Yes, single-day hires are available. However, our best rates kick in from 2 days onwards. If you only need a car for one day, we suggest an excursion to the north or south coast — both easily done in a day.
Yes — it is one of the best decisions you can make for your Zanzibar trip. The island is roughly 85 km long and its best beaches, forests, and historic sites are spread across it. Public minibuses (daladala) are slow, infrequent, and crowded. Taxis are expensive for multiple journeys. A hire car from $25 per day gives you complete freedom to leave when you want, stop where you want, and cover far more of the island than you ever could on public transport. For couples or groups, it almost always works out cheaper than taxis too. Browse our guide to things to do in Zanzibar to plan your itinerary.
Zanzibar car hire starts from around $25 per day for a compact 4x4 such as the Toyota RAV4 (2-door). Mid-range SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 (4-door) or Suzuki Grand Vitara typically cost $30–$50 per day. Larger vehicles such as the Toyota Vanguard or Land Cruiser Prado run from $70–$120 per day. Prices vary by season and hire duration — longer hires attract better rates. All Kizingo Cars prices include insurance and free delivery anywhere on the island. See our full car rental price list →
Yes, driving in Zanzibar is perfectly manageable for most travellers. The main roads between Stone Town, Nungwi, Paje, and Jozani are well paved and clearly signed. Traffic is light outside Stone Town itself. The main things to remember are: drive on the left, watch for speed bumps on all roads (they appear without warning), and avoid driving after dark where possible as road lighting is minimal outside towns. A 4x4 is recommended if you plan to explore beach tracks or rural areas in the south or east of the island.
No — Uber does not operate in Zanzibar. The island has no ride-hailing apps. Your options for getting around are: local taxis (negotiate the fare before you get in), daladala minibuses (cheap but slow and crowded), tuk-tuks for short trips in Stone Town, or a hire car for full freedom. For most tourists visiting for more than a day or two, hiring a car from a local company like Kizingo Cars is the most practical, comfortable, and cost-effective choice.