Transport
Public Transport
The best way to get to know the local people and the cheapest way to get from A to B is the daladala. It is an adventure on it’s own but it does require a certain technique.The daladala station in situated near the market on Creek Road. DalaDala’s going north will be found on the market side of the road and daladala’s heading south will be found on the other side.
Try at first to keep your destination for yourself and find the right Daladala by looking at the destinations written on the front. If you can’t find it ask one of the drivers rather then one of the loud screaming Daladala pushers (they will just put you in any Daladala in order to get it full).
Once you have found the right one, choose the one which appears the fullest, don’t be scared off by a daladala which looks overloaded because a daladala will only leave when there are so many people inside that you will need assistance to scratch your own nose. If it leaves half full then you will know that it will fill up soon.
Now that you have found your Daladala let’s talk about the seating arrangement. Try to stay near the exit, if a new person comes in move your bum towards the exit so that a few centimetres of space becomes free next to you towards the front of the vehicle. Whatever happens do not take place at the front (and I do not mean next to the driver) but in the front of the back because you will be squeezed like an orange, as all pressure over too many people concentrates on that area.
A daladala ride to Nungwi will cost you approximately TSH 1500, to Paje TSH 1500, short rides to Bububu or Mtoni Marine are usually Tsh 200, it all depends on the day, the weather, the mood of the conductor. Look first at what the others are paying. Be patient with getting your change, it might take a while; you will get it eventually, just keep looking at the conductor.
Getting off a full daladala is an art of its own; you somehow swim through the crowd and hope that you will end on your feet instead of your head. Stay low, you are free to use others heads, shoulders and knees for balance but be fast so that the daladala does not start riding again while you are trying to get off.
Don’t forget to check at what time the last daladala goes back.
Beach Transfers
A good and comfortable alternative is the sharing minibus, these buses go twice daily from Stonetown to the north coast and daily to the east coast. They return immediately upon arrival. If you want to go back on the same day you will have to find another minibus at the place or ask the driver if he knows anything. The price is between TSH4000 and TSH5000 one way. The buses depart from the Old Ford. You can go there to book your ride or you can ask the Kawa Tours to book for you.Rent a …..
It is fairly cheap to rent a car on Zanzibar, it is usually between $30 and $35 per day. You have to fill the tank yourself. Driving on Zanzibar is a bit hectic as the roads are used by trucks, cars, daladala’s, motorbikes, scooters, bicycles, donkey carts etc. etc. and everybody is overtaking everybody else at the same time and nobody seems keen to use their brakes. Also there are hardly any signposts around. But with a good map and some steel nerves you will get where you want eventually. There are loads and loads of roadblocks with “thursty” police (they all want tea) if your papers are in order they shouldn’t give you any more hassle.
You can rent motorbikes, scooters or bicycles which are very nice ways to explore the island. You can ask the Kawa Tours to help you and to give you some advice of where to go and how to get there.