Driving in Zanzibar: Permit, Rules & Roads
Zanzibar drives on the left, and every foreign driver needs a local permit on top of their home licence — your rental company arranges it for about $10 before you arrive.
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The Zanzibar driving permit, explained
Start here, because it is the rule almost every guide gets wrong. Zanzibar is semi-autonomous within Tanzania and issues its own driving credentials, so your home licence — even paired with an International Driving Permit — is not legally enough to drive here. You must also hold a temporary Zanzibar driving permit. The UK Foreign Office confirms it: to drive in Zanzibar you need a local permit, obtained through your hire car company.
In practice this is painless, because the rental company does the legwork. The permit itself is a stamped paper document issued under the Zanzibar Revenue Authority, valid for the length of a normal tourist stay (up to three months), and your operator usually hands it over at the airport meet-and-greet with the keys.
- Send a clear photo of your home driving licence when you book, ideally 24–48 hours ahead
- The operator processes the permit and hands you the paper slip with the car keys
- Expect to pay about $10 per driver; some operators include it free on longer rentals
- An International Driving Permit is recommended too, but it does not replace the local permit
- You collect it at the airport or your hotel — no government office visit needed
Driving without the local permit risks an on-the-spot fine at a checkpoint that is far higher than the permit itself. It is the cheapest insurance on the island — let your operator sort it before you land, then compare cars and confirm it is included.
Rules of the road
Zanzibar follows the British system: drive on the left, overtake on the right, and give way to the right at roundabouts. Most rental cars are right-hand-drive automatics, which keeps the adjustment manageable for visitors used to driving on the right — the indicator and wiper stalks are reversed, so expect to flick the wipers a few times on day one.
| Zone | Speed limit |
|---|---|
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h |
| Open trunk roads | 80 km/h |
| School zones and Jozani park | 30–40 km/h |
- Seatbelts are mandatory; handheld phone use while driving is prohibited
- The legal blood-alcohol limit is low and enforced — treat it as do not drink and drive
- Speed bumps appear, often unmarked, at the edge of nearly every village — slow right down
- Use headlights in rain and after dark; many bicycles and carts travel unlit
Road conditions and hazards
The island is flat — no mountain passes — so the challenge is traffic culture, not terrain. The good tarmac that links Stone Town to the island's day trips is shared with motorbike taxis (bodaboda) that weave and undertake, dala-dala minibuses that stop without warning, pedestrians, children near schools, and the odd goat or cow. The biggest single hazard is hitting an unmarked speed bump too fast.
- Sandy or coral access tracks to some beach hotels — a higher car or 4x4 helps
- Heavy rain and slick, occasionally flooded roads during the March–May long rains
- Sparse street lighting outside Stone Town, making night driving genuinely risky
- The narrow lanes of Stone Town's old town, which are closed to cars — park on the edge
Plan to reach your hotel before dark, especially in your first day or two. Unlit roads, dark-clothed pedestrians and roaming livestock make nighttime the riskiest time to drive — pick up the car in the morning if your flight lands late.
Fuel, parking and checkpoints
Fuel prices are regulated and uniform across the island, working out to roughly $1.10–1.60 a litre; most rental cars take petrol, so confirm at pickup. Stations cluster around Stone Town and the main roads and thin out on the far coasts, so fill up before any long drive and carry Tanzanian shillings, as small stations are cash-only. Our Zanzibar car rental overview sums up costs and what to budget.
You cannot drive into Stone Town's old town — leave the car in a guarded edge lot near the port or Forodhani Gardens and continue on foot, as our Stone Town base guide explains. Beach hotels and major sights like Jozani and the spice farms have their own parking.
Police checkpoints are routine across the island, especially on the roads to the beaches. They are quick document checks: hand over your home licence, the Zanzibar permit and a passport copy, and you will be on your way in a minute or two.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Zanzibar driving permit and how do I get it?
Does an International Driving Permit work on its own in Zanzibar?
What are the speed limits in Zanzibar?
Can I drive at night in Zanzibar?
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