Zanzibar Ferry
During my time in Tanzania, I decided to take a trip to Zanzibar. Most people tend to fly directly to Zanzibar and spend most of their holiday there, but I choose to stay on the mainland in Dar Es Salaam and make a day trip instead.
Admittedly, I was initially worried about being able to get to Zanzibar by ferry. However, I found it to be very easy and not difficult, but it can be a bit overwhelming since the area around the ferry tends to be packed with persistent touts, and it can be very easy to get stressed out from the noise and confusion surrounding the area.
Here is some important information for the Zanzibar Ferry:
1) Departure Times
There are 4 daily departures from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar. The times are as follows:
7:00
9:30
12:30
16:00
Depending on weather conditions, the ferry takes about two hours to make the journey. When I made the journey, I went to Zanzibar for a day trip, so I took the 7am ferry and then took the 4pm ferry back to the mainland. The ferry arrived in Zanzibar at about 9am, and on the return, I got back to Dar es Salaam around 6pm. People who have done the ferry in the late afternoon have reported that the waters tend to be a bit rougher on the return, but I did not notice this.
Leaving Dar es Salaam
2) Bring a Passport to Buy Tickets and Departure Day
It is very important to bring your passport to the ticket office and on the day of the departure since Zanzibar does have immigration formalities. If you do not have your passport, you will not be able to buy a ticket or even board the ferry.
It is also recommended to bring a Yellow Fever Vaccine Card since it might be checked upon arrival in Zanzibar.
3) Tickets
I used Azam Marine, and they had several options for tickets. There is Economy, Business, VIP, and Royal class. In my view, the main differences is in the levels of comfort. The Economy class seats area are hard and mainly outside, the Business class are slightly more comfortable and inside, and VIP and Royal are much more comfortable with plush seats, more amenities, and meals included.
I purchased a round-trip Economy Plus ticket for 168,000 Tanzanian Shillings, which is about $72. To be honest, I am not entirely sure what perks the Economy Plus ticket bought aside from being able to wait in a slightly more comfortable departure area at the port (cushioned chairs but still outside). Other than that, I still had to sit in the back of the ferry in economy with everyone else.
Dar es Salaam Skyline
4) Buy Tickets in Advance
The ferry can be very popular at certain times, so it is recommended to buy tickets in advance. In my case, I went the day before and had no problem, but this is not a guarantee.
On the day of departure, it is recommended to arrive a bit early. For example, I booked a 7am departure but got to the port at 5:30am where there was already a line.
Overall, even though I was initially nervous about using the ferry, I found it to be very easy to use and not difficult at all. Taking the ferry was a wonderful experience, and I would certainly do it again.
