Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam ferry
Fares, classes, luggage limits and the practical advice for the Stone Town to Dar es Salaam fast ferry.
One company runs the fast ferry between Stone Town and Dar es Salaam: Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries. The crossing takes about two hours and is the usual way to reach the island without flying.
Fares
| Class | Resident adult | Resident child | Non-resident adult | Non-resident child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 40,000 TZS | 30,000 TZS | 35 USD | 30 USD |
| Business | 50,000 TZS | 50,000 TZS | 40 USD | 40 USD |
| VIP | 80,000 TZS | 80,000 TZS | 60 USD | 60 USD |
| Royal | 120,000 TZS | 120,000 TZS | 100 USD | 100 USD |
Fares as published by the operator on 14 September 2026. They change, so check the operator's own rates page before you travel. We do not sell ferry tickets and take nothing from them.
Before you book
- Residents and non-residents pay different fares, and you will be asked for your passport or residence permit when you buy and again when you board. Bring the physical document, not a photograph of it.
- The crossing takes about two hours. The channel is genuinely rough in the June to September wind season, so if you are prone to seasickness take something before boarding rather than after.
- Buy from the Azam office or their own website. The men selling tickets outside the terminal do not work for the ferry company, and the ticket they sell you may not exist.
The operator's conditions
- A child fare covers ages 5 to 11, and the adult fare is 12 and above. Children under 5 cannot be issued a ticket at all.
- Luggage is 25kg per person. Anything over that is charged at the desk.
- There is no refund for a missed sailing. To cancel, the operator has to be told at least two hours before departure.
- An online booking is not confirmed until it has been paid for.
- Carrying alcohol on board is heavily restricted.
There is no published timetable, and departure times move with the season and the weather, so we do not print any here. Confirm the day's sailings with the operator on 0800 785 555, by email at cs@azammarine.com, or on their website.