Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Gateway to the Spice Island of Zanzibar.
- ›Named after Abeid Amani Karume, the first President of Zanzibar following the 1964 revolution.
- ›Located approximately 6 km south of Zanzibar Town (Stone Town).
- ›Tourism is the dominant driver of passenger traffic, particularly from European charter flights.
- ›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 54 feet (16 meters) above sea level.
- ›It is one of the busiest airports in Tanzania, second only to Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, named after Zanzibar's first president, serves as the primary air gateway to the semi-autonomous Tanzanian archipelago. Situated just a few kilometres from Stone Town, the airport handles a growing mix of regional African carriers, charter flights, and international connections driven by Zanzibar's booming tourism industry. Its relatively compact infrastructure reflects the island's character — unhurried yet increasingly connected to the world.
- International Terminal — Handles all international and regional scheduled flights with immigration, customs, and basic retail facilities.
- Domestic Terminal — Serves short-hop island and mainland Tanzania connections, primarily operated by smaller regional carriers.
- Taxis (metered and negotiated) available outside arrivals — the most common option
- Dalla-dalla (shared minibus) routes connecting to Stone Town and nearby areas
- Pre-booked hotel shuttle transfers arranged through most resorts
- Car hire desks available at the terminal from local and regional operators
- Motorbike taxis (boda-boda) for budget solo travellers near the airport exit
- Zanzibar Airport Hotel
- Msasani Hotel Zanzibar
- Tembo House Hotel (Stone Town)
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar (Stone Town)
- Zanzibar Serena Hotel (Stone Town)
Inside the terminal, food options are limited to a small café and snack counter serving basic meals, sandwiches, and beverages — arrive fed if you have a long wait. Stone Town, just minutes away, offers a far richer experience with Forodhani Gardens Night Market being a legendary open-air food destination for Zanzibari street food. Spiced coffee, fresh seafood, and Swahili-influenced dishes are the highlights of eating on the island.
- Arrange your Tanzania visa or Zanzibar entry stamp in advance online or expect queues at the on-arrival counter during peak season.
- Negotiate taxi fares firmly before getting in — fixed-rate boards are sometimes posted but not always followed.
- USD and Tanzanian Shillings are both widely accepted; carry small denominations for taxis and market purchases.
- High season runs June–October and December–January — book transport and hotels well ahead during these months.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (7 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
Routes
Pick what matters for your layover or early flight, then compare on your favorite booking site.
IndianAirports may receive compensation when you book or purchase through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider and may change. We never share your private trip details with partners — only the destination, dates and party size you searched.
City & Place Guide
No guide exists for this place yet — Click to generate a Traveler Pulse guide.
Passport, Visa & Immigration
Flying internationally via ZNZ? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Tanzania from official government sources.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the main airport in the Zanzibar Archipelago located on Unguja Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. It is approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar, and has flights to East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. It was previously known as Kisauni Airport and Zanzibar International Airport. It was renamed in 2010 in honour of Abeid Amani Karume (1905–1972), the island's first president.
Read full article on Wikipedia