Arusha to Zanzibar flights
Zanzibar lies 418 km (259 mi) south-east of Arusha, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 17 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Arusha | Zanzibar | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Tanzania | Tanzania |
| Population | 617,631 | 709,809 |
| Elevation | 1,415 m (4,642 ft) | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+3 (Africa/Dar_es_Salaam) | UTC+3 (Africa/Dar_es_Salaam) |
| Nearest large airport | JRO, 44 km out | ZNZ, 7 km out |
Airports at each end
Leaving Arusha
Arusha is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), 44 km (27 mi) from the centre, whose 11,811-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Arusha Airport (ARK, 6 km).
Arriving in Zanzibar
Zanzibar is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), 7 km (4 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,915 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR, 79 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abeid Amani Karume International Airport | ZNZ | 7 km (4 mi) | 9,915 ft | 54 ft |
| Julius Nyerere International Airport | DAR | 79 km (49 mi) | 9,843 ft | 182 ft |
Book a flight to Zanzibar
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Zanzibar
Our booking partner lists 1 places to stay in Zanzibar. Of the 1 with a star rating, the largest group is 2-star (1).
Book a hotel in Zanzibar
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Zanzibar from Arusha?
418 km (259 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Arusha.
How long does it take to get from Arusha to Zanzibar by air?
About 1 h 17 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Arusha and Zanzibar?
No, both are on Africa/Dar_es_Salaam at the moment.
Which airports are used for Arusha to Zanzibar flights?
Typically Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ); Zanzibar also has DAR.
Where can I stay in Zanzibar?
Our booking partner lists 1 places to stay in Zanzibar, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.