Flights to Zanzibar

A flight from London Gatwick to Zanzibar takes approximately 12 hours. Your journey time includes a brief stop in Kilimanjaro, where the plane will remain on the runway for an hour – you don’t have to disembark. The return journey from Kilimanjaro to London Gatwick will take approximately 10 hours.

We offer multi-city itineraries from London Gatwick that allow you to visit both Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar as part of the same trip. You can fly from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and return from Zanzibar to London Gatwick. Please note that travel between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar is not included in your ticket. If you'd like to visit both destinations, you'll need to arrange your own travel between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar separately.

Find out more about multi-city flights

We fly to Zanzibar from London Gatwick.

British Airways flies to Zanzibar during our summer months, which is the best time to visit. The cheapest flights can usually be found at either end of the season, during early June or late October.

British Airways flies to Zanzibar in the summer between June and October. It's the country’s main dry season, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the 30s. The sea temperatures are warm too, so it’s the perfect time to snorkel or scuba dive around the islands’ vibrant coral reefs.

A holiday to Zanzibar can fit every budget. If you’re looking to save some cash, stay in a hostel or guesthouse off the main beaten track. You can pick up street food in the main beach resorts cheaply too. If you want to level up the luxury, lots of five-star hotels are on hand to make your getaway extra special.

Taxis are readily available in Zanzibar, but it’s best to prebook a taxi ahead of your journey as taxi apps aren’t available. There are also local minibuses, known as dala-dalas, which are the cheapest way to get around and cover most of the main island. They can get very crowded and aren’t usually air-conditioned, so you might want to avoid using them as a method of transport to or from the airport. And if you’re looking to adventure off the main island, there are plenty of boat tours available from Stone Town, Nungwi and Kendwa.

You can also hire a car with British Airways if you want to get out of the city and see more of what Zanzibar has to offer. You’ll receive great benefits, with all mandatory charges included and 24-hour customer support, plus you’ll collect Avios points on every rental.

Foodies should choose Zanzibar for its cuisine, which fuses African, Arab, Indian, Persian and Portuguese influences. The blend of flavours can be traced back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when the archipelago was at the centre of the global spice trade. It was the main producer of nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper. 

If history is your thing, you’ll want to plan a trip to Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island, which is a 30-minute boat trip from Stone Island. It was first built as a holding detention camp in the 1860s, but these days it’s home to giant tortoises, some of which are over 100 years old. 

You’ve got plenty of options if you prefer to relax on the beach. Zanzibar is home to more than 25 named beaches across the archipelago, as well as lots of smaller, unnamed stretches of sand. The main island has around 10 beaches, including Paje, a popular spot for kitesurfing, and Jambiani, a quieter stretch that usually goes below the radar of most beachgoers.

Citizens of the UK and Ireland and EU passport holders need a visa to visit Tanzania and you may need to apply for a visa before you travel. You can find out more about visa requirements for all the countries we fly to at the IATA Travel Centre.

Discover outstanding service from the moment you book. Fly with just hand baggage and you can carry two bags free of charge. Choose our checked baggage option and you can travel with hand baggage and a 23kg bag checked into the hold, plus enjoy free seat selection 24 hours before you fly. On board you’ll find HEPA-filtered air, quality on-board catering, and a warm, uniquely British welcome.

Simply relax and let us take care of you, every step of the way.