Pemba to Zanzibar flights
Zanzibar lies 771 km (479 mi) north of Pemba, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 44 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.
| Pemba | Zanzibar | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mozambique | Tanzania |
| Population | 232,932 | 709,809 |
| Elevation | 50 m (164 ft) | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Maputo) | UTC+3 (Africa/Dar_es_Salaam) |
| Nearest large airport | POL, 2 km out | ZNZ, 7 km out |
Clocks in Zanzibar are 1 h ahead of Pemba right now, so a 1 h 44 min journey lands 2 h 44 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Zanzibar
Crossing from Mozambique into Tanzania: money changes from the Metical to the Shilling (TZS); sockets are AC power s and sockets: British and related types, BS 1363; the dialling code becomes +255; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648805.
Airports at each end
Leaving Pemba
Pemba is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Pemba Airport (POL), 2 km (1 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 5,905 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
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 119 places to stay in Zanzibar City. Of the 55 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (24), and 8 are five-star. Across 63 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.2 out of 10. Guests have left 47,879 reviews in total.
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 Pemba?
771 km (479 mi) in a straight line, north of Pemba.
How long does it take to get from Pemba to Zanzibar by air?
About 1 h 44 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Pemba and Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is 1 h ahead at the moment (Africa/Dar_es_Salaam against Africa/Maputo).
Which airports are used for Pemba to Zanzibar flights?
Typically Pemba Airport (POL) to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ); Zanzibar also has DAR.
What currency do I need in Zanzibar?
The Shilling (TZS).
Where can I stay in Zanzibar?
Our booking partner lists 119 places to stay in Zanzibar City, 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 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel 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.