Private jet charter to Zanzibar: airports, pricing and flight guide

Charter rates to Zanzibar range from $6,000 to $150,000+ depending on aircraft category and departure city. From Dar es Salaam, approximately $3,500 to $6,000 on a light jet. From Nairobi, $10,000 to $16,000. From Dubai, $35,000 to $55,000. From London, $80,000 to $130,000. Zanzibar is served by Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ).

Zanzibar is served by a single international airport on the western coast of the main island, Unguja, with general aviation handling providing efficient processing for charter arrivals.

• Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ / HTZA): Located 5 kilometres south of Stone Town on the west coast of Zanzibar. General aviation and VIP handling available with private customs and immigration processing. The 3,050-meter runway accommodates heavy jets. Ground transfer to Stone Town and the Park Hyatt is 10 minutes, to Nungwi and the north coast resorts 60 minutes, to the east coast (Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu) 45-60 minutes and to Matemwe 50 minutes.

Zanzibar is accessible from East African hubs by light aircraft and from the Gulf and Europe by heavy jets, making it both a safari extension destination and a standalone luxury resort arrival.

• Regional East African routes (30 min - 2 hours): Light jets and turboprops such as the Cessna Caravan, Pilatus PC-12, Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3 cover Dar es Salaam (20 minutes), Nairobi (1 hour 30 minutes), Kilimanjaro (1 hour), Arusha (1 hour) and Serengeti airstrips (2 hours). The most common connection for safari-beach combinations.
• Medium-haul African and Gulf routes (3-5 hours): Heavy jets such as the Challenger 604 or Legacy 650 serve Johannesburg (4 hours), Dubai (5 hours), Mauritius (3 hours) and Addis Ababa (3 hours).
• Intercontinental routes (8+ hours): Ultra-long-range jets such as the Global 7500 or Gulfstream G650 cover London (9 hours 30 minutes), Paris (9 hours) and European destinations. Typically combined with a Serengeti or Masai Mara safari as part of a multi-stop African itinerary.

Zanzibar pricing is most accessible from East African hubs (Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro), making it an efficient beach extension to mainland safari itineraries. Intercontinental rates reflect the distances from European and Gulf hubs.

Zanzibar is most efficiently reached from East African hubs, making it an ideal beach extension to Serengeti or Masai Mara safari itineraries.

• Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar on a light aircraft: approximately 20 minutes, from $2,000 to $4,000.
• Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar on a light jet: approximately 1 hour, from $6,000 to $10,000.
• Nairobi to Zanzibar on a light jet: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, from $10,000 to $16,000.
• Serengeti airstrip to Zanzibar on a light aircraft: approximately 2 hours, from $5,000 to $9,000.
• Johannesburg to Zanzibar on a heavy jet: approximately 4 hours, from $30,000 to $45,000.
• Dubai to Zanzibar on a heavy jet: approximately 5 hours, from $38,000 to $58,000.
• London to Zanzibar on an ultra-long-range jet: approximately 9 hours 30 minutes, from $80,000 to $130,000.
• Mauritius to Zanzibar on a heavy jet: approximately 3 hours, from $22,000 to $35,000.

Peak season (December-March and June-October) drives the strongest pricing. Christmas-New Year's and European summer holidays (July-August) are the absolute peak periods. The heavy rains (April-May) are the quietest period with the lowest rates but some resort closures. Safari combination itineraries (Serengeti + Zanzibar, Masai Mara + Zanzibar) are the most common charter routing and are priced as multi-leg packages by broker partners.

The Nairobi-Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam-Zanzibar corridors produce regular empty leg availability, particularly during safari high season when aircraft reposition between mainland and island destinations. Post-safari beach extension drop-offs generate return empty legs from Zanzibar. Broker partners can alert you when a matching flight becomes available.

Zanzibar airport's VIP handling provides relaxed island-style processing with private immigration, customs and vehicle staging. The pace reflects the island's Swahili coastal culture. From the airport, Stone Town and the Park Hyatt Zanzibar are 10 minutes. Fumba and the south coast are 20 minutes. The north coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) and premium resorts (Melia, Zuri, Essque Zalu) are 60 minutes. The east coast (Paje, Bwejuu, Matemwe) is 45-60 minutes. Broker partners coordinate luxury 4x4 or minibus transfers. Boat transfers to private island properties (Mnemba Island, Chapwani) can be arranged from Stone Town harbour.

Zanzibar is one of East Africa's most iconic destinations, combining pristine Indian Ocean beaches, UNESCO World Heritage Stone Town, spice plantations and a collection of boutique luxury properties that includes Mnemba Island Lodge (exclusive-access private island), Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Baraza Resort and Essque Zalu. The island is most commonly visited as a beach extension to a mainland Tanzania or Kenya safari, with the Serengeti-Zanzibar combination being one of the most sought-after luxury itineraries in Africa. Standalone resort stays, honeymoons and dive holidays also generate significant charter demand. Peak charter demand runs from December through March (dry season, European winter escape) and June through October (dry season, safari combination season). The heavy rain period (April-May) sees the lowest demand and some resort closures. Eid periods generate demand from the Gulf.