Private jet to Zanzibar

The archipelago off the coast of Tanzania is a long-haul trip from Europe: 6,400-7,500 km from the hubs of western and central Europe, about eight to nine hours non-stop in a long-range jet, or a day with a fuel stop in a heavy jet. Almost every private flight lands at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on Unguja, the main island, about 5 km south of Stone Town. From there most beach hotels on the north and south-east coasts are about an hour by road.

Zanzibar has its own semi-autonomous government, which matters for a private flight: besides clearance from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, the landing needs a separate permission from the Zanzibar authorities, and every visitor buys a compulsory local travel insurance. Many clients combine a week on the beach with a safari in northern Tanzania or Kenya, or continue to the Seychelles or Mauritius. As a broker, we compare long-range aircraft from operators in Europe and the Gulf and plan permits, handling and transfers as one trip.

Send the route, the dates, the number of passengers and the hotel, and say whether a safari is part of the trip. A consultant replies with aircraft, routing and prices.

Why take a private jet to the island

Flight times from Europe and the region

Non-stop times in a Falcon 7X unless stated, from the price tables below, including taxi, climb and descent:

• Larnaca: 5:48 h, Athens: 6:26 h, Istanbul: 6:38 h
• Rome Ciampino: 7:23 h, Nice: 7:52 h, Vienna: 7:54 h, Milan Linate: 7:56 h
• Munich: 8:07 h, Geneva and Zurich: 8:11 h, Madrid: 8:18 h, Frankfurt: 8:27 h
• Paris Le Bourget: 8:40 h, Hamburg: 8:46 h, Amsterdam: 8:52 h, London Farnborough: 9:03 h
• Nairobi: 1:18 h, Addis Ababa: 2:45 h, Seychelles: 2:55 h in a Phenom 300
• Dubai: 5:20 h, Doha: 5:11 h in a Praetor 500

From most European hubs a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650 has to stop once for fuel, which adds well over an hour and a half: London takes 10:45 h that way, against 9:03 h non-stop in a Falcon 7X. From Larnaca, Athens, Istanbul and Rome it flies non-stop. The route itself is chosen by the operator around open airspace and overflight permits, so the real track is often a little longer than the straight line, and the operator confirms the time in the quote.

Private jet prices to Zanzibar

All prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, plus landing permits, handling, airport charges and taxes, and assume an aircraft available near the departure airport. The flight time column refers to the first aircraft in each row; where a fuel stop is needed, it is shown.

From European cities

The non-stop Falcon 7X costs EUR 97,000-98,000 from Milan, Nice or Vienna and EUR 110,000 from London. The heavy jet with a fuel stop is a little cheaper on the same routes, at the cost of over an hour and a half more. From Rome and Athens the Challenger 650 flies non-stop, at EUR 69,000 and EUR 62,000.

From Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf

Within the region the sectors are short enough for light and midsize jets. Nairobi is the start of many Kenyan safaris, and the Seychelles, Mauritius and the Maldives are common second stops:

From the Gulf, Cape Town and Malé the Phenom 300 would need a stop and is quoted on request; the Praetor 500 flies these sectors non-stop.

To Kilimanjaro for a safari first

Kilimanjaro International Airport, with a runway of about 3,600 m, serves Arusha, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro. Fly there first, then on to the island:

On a route this long the price is mostly flight time. A long-range aircraft is rarely based on the island, so it positions from Europe or the Gulf, and an aircraft already in Nairobi or Dubai brings the price down. Overflight and landing permits, the fuel stop and the crew's rest add to the bill. Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger on flights to and from the country on sectors beyond 1,500 km, France a per-passenger tax on jets that rises with distance, about EUR 2,100 to Tanzania against about EUR 420 within Europe, and Germany, the Netherlands and the UK charge departure taxes. UK Air Passenger Duty is charged at the higher private-jet rate on aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which covers the heavy and long-range jets in these tables. The Zanzibar departure tax and airport charges are listed in the quote.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

What a trip really costs

Price per person

The aircraft is chartered as a whole, so a larger group lowers the share per person. Visas, insurance and taxes are paid per head on top:

Online calculator

The calculator sends a first estimate for your route and dates by e-mail. It covers the flight only; permits, the stay of the aircraft and safari flights are added in the detailed quote.

Abeid Amani Karume airport and the mainland options

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ, HTZA) lies about 5 km south of Zanzibar City on Unguja. It is run by the Zanzibar Airports Authority and has one asphalt runway, 18/36, of 3,022 m and 45 m wide, at an elevation of about 16 m, so every business jet up to the Global 7500 can use it. Terminal 3 handles international flights and Terminal 2 domestic ones. Jet A-1 is available.

Private passengers are met on the apron by a handler chosen by the operator, among them Transworld Aviation and dnata Zanzibar, and go through immigration, visa and customs checks with the handler's help. Slots are not required. The control tower is staffed round the clock, but the published airport hours are weekday daytime, so a night or weekend arrival is requested together with the permit.

Permits take the most time. The operator applies through the online system of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, with aircraft documents, crew and passenger details and the schedule, and asks the Zanzibar authorities for a separate landing permission. Agents quote at least 48 hours as the minimum lead time, a landing permit is usually valid for 24 hours, and we apply as soon as the passenger list is final.

Other airports for the trip

Pemba, the second island of the archipelago, has a short runway for turboprops. On the mainland, three airports matter for safari, business and alternates. Distances are straight-line from Zanzibar:

Business jets cannot land inside the parks: the airstrips are built for light turboprops, which fly from Arusha to Seronera in the central Serengeti in about 45 minutes and only in daylight. These local flights take about 15 kg of luggage per person in soft bags, so the beach suitcases stay with the jet or at the hotel. A domestic leg between the mainland and the island with a foreign-registered aircraft has its own rules, so we usually book it with a local operator.

Which aircraft for a long-haul trip

For a flight of eight or nine hours, the cabin matters more than on any European route: say how many passengers need a bed, and we propose an aircraft with enough flat seats. Baggage space differs by model, so send the number of suitcases and any dive or kite bags with the request, and the operator confirms that everything fits. See all ultra long range jets in the catalogue.

Unsure between a non-stop flight and a fuel stop? Leave a phone number and a consultant explains the options for your dates.

When to go: dry seasons, rains and festivals

The island is warm all year, and the calendar follows the rains rather than the temperature:

On the east coast the tide is strong: at low water the sea draws back far over the reef, and for a few hours a day swimming is not possible. Check the tide table when choosing a hotel there.

From the airport to Stone Town and the beaches

Empty Legs to and from Zanzibar

On a route this long empty sectors are rarer than in Europe and follow the holiday pattern. Typical directions:

The operator sets the date and time, and a long leg can disappear when the main booking moves, so an Empty Leg suits a window of several days. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and dates. Permits are applied for again with your passenger details.

Taking a dog or cat

The pet travels in the cabin beside you, if the operator agrees, but the paperwork is heavier than for any European trip:

• Import permit from the Director of Veterinary Services at the Tanzanian livestock ministry, stating the species, breed, age and port of entry.
• Rabies vaccination at least one month and no more than three years before entry, and a health certificate from a vet in the country of departure.
• Possible examination by a vet on arrival; an export permit to leave Tanzania.
• Return to the EU: Tanzania is not on the EU list, so a rabies antibody test in an EU-approved laboratory is needed, taken at least 30 days after vaccination. If it is done before departure and recorded in the pet passport, there is no three-month wait on return.
• Return to the UK: a Great Britain pet health certificate, the antibody test and a wait of three months from the sample date; dogs also need tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before arrival.

Visas, insurance and rules

Before departure: checklist

• Passports valid six months after the trip, with two blank pages.
• Tanzanian visas and the Zanzibar insurance for every passenger.
• Passenger names, dates of birth and passport numbers several days ahead for the permits.
• Yellow fever certificate if the trip includes Kenya.
• Hotel name, and the safari lodges and their airstrips if there is a safari.
• Number of passengers who need a bed on board, and any diving or kite gear.
• Pet import permit, antibody test result and health certificate.

How to book a private jet to Zanzibar

1. Send the route, dates, number of passengers, the hotel and whether a safari or another island is part of the trip.
2. We compare a non-stop long-range jet with a heavy jet and one fuel stop, and check whether the aircraft waits or returns to base.
3. You receive 2-4 options with operator, model, routing, cabin photos and the price for the whole aircraft, with permits and transfers listed.
4. You sign the contract and pay; we collect passport details, apply for the Tanzanian and Zanzibar permits and book the handler and transfers.
5. On the day, arrive 20-30 minutes before take-off with passport, visa and insurance; in Zanzibar the handler meets you at the aircraft.

Our team

Charlotte McKinney

Commercial Director

charlotte.m@jets.flights

Henry Richter

Head of Aviation Department and Data Protection Officer

henry.r@jets.flights

Emma Miller

Director of Development

emma.m@jets.flights

Liam Bishop

Senior Aviation Consultant

liam.b@jets.flights

Oliver Davis

Aviation Consultant

oliver.d@jets.flights

Anna Laurent

Aviation Consultant

anna.l@jets.flights

Questions about private flights to Zanzibar

• • How much does a private jet to Zanzibar cost?

  • From the main European hubs a Challenger 650 with one fuel stop costs from EUR 86,000 one way, and a non-stop Falcon 7X from EUR 93,000, for the whole aircraft. Within the region a light jet from Nairobi costs EUR 11,000.

• • Can we fly non-stop from Europe?

  • Yes, in a long-range jet such as the Falcon 7X or Global 7500: 9:03 h from London and 7:56 h from Milan in the Falcon 7X. Heavy jets need one stop from most hubs.

• • Which airport do private jets use?

  • Abeid Amani Karume International (ZNZ), about 5 km south of Stone Town, with a 3,022 m runway. A handler meets passengers on the apron.

• • What documents do we need?

  • A passport valid six months after the trip, a Tanzanian visa and the Zanzibar travel insurance for each passenger. Arriving from Kenya, also a yellow fever certificate.

• • How long does the landing permit take?

  • At least 48 hours, and we apply as soon as the passenger list is final. The Tanzanian clearance and the Zanzibar permission are separate requests.

• • How far are the beaches from the airport?

  • Stone Town is 10-15 minutes away, Paje and Matemwe about an hour, Nungwi and Kendwa about 70-75 minutes.

• • Can we combine Zanzibar with a safari?

  • Yes. The jet lands at Kilimanjaro, light aircraft fly to the parks, and the group continues to the island before flying home. Safari flights take about 15 kg of soft luggage per person.

• • Does the aircraft wait for us?

  • After eight or nine hours the crew must rest, so a same-day return needs a second crew. For a stay of a week or two we compare parking with two separate one-way flights.

• • When is the best time to go?

  • June to October and January to February are the dry seasons. The long rains from March to May close many lodges, and Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks.

• • Can we bring our dog?

  • Yes, with a Tanzanian import permit and, for the return to the EU or the UK, a rabies antibody test. Plan about four months ahead and check that the hotel accepts animals.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Zanzibar?

  • Occasionally, mostly around Christmas, New Year and the dry season, and between the island and the Gulf. Send your dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.