Visiting Zanzibar by yacht

When to come, the anchorage and navigation aids at Zanzibar Port, and how to reach Zanzibar Town.

Picture made with AI. It shows the place but is not a photograph.

Seasons

When to come

Season	Months	Daily high	Monthly rain
Peak	June to September	29.0 to 30.4 °C	31 to 52 mm
Shoulder	January, February, October, December	31.2 to 33.2 °C	51 to 168 mm
Off season	March to May, November	29.7 to 32.5 °C	177 to 409 mm

WMO normals 1991 to 2020, Zanzibar (63870). Season bands are our own estimate.

At anchor

Anchorage at Zanzibar Port

Zanzibar PortZanzibar Ports Corporation lists safe anchorage at Zanzibar Port, with buoys, lights and beacons marking the approaches and anchorage areas.

Harbour controlContact is by VHF radio.

Outer anchorageThe 2018 tariff book exempts vessels lying in the outer anchorage only to land or embark passengers and mail from port dues. Normal dues apply if they load or discharge cargo. Water by barge to ships at the outer anchorage is USD 12.00, with a minimum of USD 140.00.

Zanzibar Ports Corporation, navigation services page, and tariff book, June 2018.

Getting here

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the main airport of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Zanzibar Airports Authority says it is about 5 km south of Zanzibar City.

Entry

Foreign visitors need the Tanzania visa and the mandatory inbound travel insurance. The Jobs page gives the details from the immigration and insurance sources.

Port authorities

Zanzibar Ports Corporation and the Zanzibar Maritime Authority both have their offices at Malindi, Zanzibar Town.

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