Renting a car in Zanzibar gives you the freedom to explore Stone Town, the east coast beaches, and the spice farms on your own schedule. Knowing what to pack for a Zanzibar road trip is what makes that freedom stress-free rather than a scramble at the last minute. Here is what we recommend bringing before you pick up your rental and hit the road
Documents for Your Rental and the Road
Carry your original passport and a printed copy of your rental booking confirmation. Zanzibar requires an International Driving Permit alongside your home license, so check this before you fly.
Keep a photo of your documents saved on your phone as a backup. Border and checkpoint officers on the island ask for these regularly, and our fleet comes with the paperwork you need already sorted, so having your own documents within reach saves time at every stop.
Clothing for Zanzibar’s Climate
Pack light, breathable clothing since the island stays warm and humid year round. Cotton and linen hold up better than synthetic fabrics on long driving days.
Bring a light cover-up or sarong for visits to Stone Town and local villages, where modest dress is appreciated outside the beach areas. Dress codes vary a little across our service locations, so pack a mix rather than beachwear alone. A light rain jacket is worth the space if you are traveling during the short or long rains.
Sun and Beach Gear
Reef-safe sunscreen matters here, since ordinary sunscreen can damage the coral reefs around Nakupenda and other snorkeling spots. Pack a wide-brim hat and sunglasses for the drive itself, as the coastal roads offer little shade.
A reusable water bottle and a beach towel are worth keeping in the trunk for spontaneous stops. If your route includes a boat excursion like the dolphin swim at Kizimkazi, water shoes protect your feet on rocky entry points. Check our tours page if you want that built into your itinerary.
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Health and Safety Items
Bring a basic first aid kit with plasters, antiseptic, motion sickness tablets, and any personal medication in its original packaging. Pharmacies exist in Stone Town, but they are harder to find once you leave the main towns.
Insect repellent with DEET is essential, especially in the evenings. A small torch or headlamp comes in handy since street lighting is limited outside the busier areas, and our team is reachable any time you need advice, as explained on our about us page.
Electronics and Navigation Tools
Download offline maps before your trip, since mobile signal drops in the more rural stretches of the island. A car phone mount keeps your navigation visible without distracting you from the road.
Bring a universal adapter and a portable power bank. Tanzania uses UK-style three-pin sockets, and charging points are not always available at smaller guesthouses, so it helps to start fully charged from the moment you land, especially if you are arranging airport transfers for the first leg of your trip.
Money and Local Essentials
Carry a mix of Tanzanian shillings and US dollars in small denominations for fuel, parking, and roadside stalls. Many rural shops and toll points do not accept cards.
A lightweight daypack keeps your valuables close whenever you stop to explore, whether that is a village market or a quiet stretch of coastline. If you have questions about routes or pricing before you set off, our contact us page has the fastest ways to reach our team.
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Snacks and Water for the Drive
Fuel stations and roadside stands are spread out once you leave the main towns, so pack a few snacks and at least two liters of water per person. Fresh fruit from local stalls makes an easy, refreshing stop along the way.
A small cooler bag helps if you plan to pick up seafood or produce during your drive. Start planning your route from our homepage if you have not booked a car yet.
Final Packing Checklist
- Passport, International Driving Permit, and rental confirmation
- Breathable clothing, a cover-up, and swimwear
- Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and water shoes
- First aid kit, insect repellent, and personal medication
- Offline maps, phone mount, adapter, and power bank
- Cash in shillings and dollars, plus a daypack
- Snacks, water, and a cooler bag for longer routes
With this list packed, your rental car becomes the easiest way to see Zanzibar at your own pace. Check your route the night before, fuel up early, and enjoy the drive.
Frequently Asked Questions – What to Pack for a Zanzibar Road Trip
Do I need a visa or special document to drive in Zanzibar?
Most visitors need a standard tourist visa to enter Tanzania, which you can arrange on arrival or online in advance. To drive, you’ll also need a valid International Driving Permit alongside your home country license. Some nationalities can use their license alone for short stays, but carrying an IDP avoids confusion at checkpoints. Confirm current visa and licensing rules for your nationality before you travel, since requirements do shift periodically.
What should I wear when driving through Stone Town or local villages?
Stick to modest, breathable clothing that covers your shoulders and knees when you’re off the beach. Loose cotton or linen shirts, long shorts, or lightweight trousers work well in Stone Town and rural villages, where conservative dress is appreciated. A sarong is a handy layer you can add over swimwear when stopping at a market or mosque. Save tank tops and short shorts for resort areas.
Is bottled water necessary, or can I drink tap water on the road?
Tap water in Zanzibar isn’t recommended for drinking, even in Stone Town, so stick to sealed bottled water throughout your trip. Bring at least two liters per person for each day of driving, since shops thin out once you leave the main towns. A reusable bottle paired with a portable filter is a more sustainable option if you want to cut down on plastic waste.
Do I need cash for a Zanzibar road trip, or do cards work everywhere?
Cards are accepted at larger hotels, resorts, and some rental offices, but most fuel stations, roadside stalls, and rural shops deal in cash only. Carry a mix of Tanzanian shillings and small-denomination US dollars for fuel, parking, tolls, and spontaneous stops. ATMs are reliable in Stone Town but scarce elsewhere, so withdraw what you’ll need before heading out on longer stretches of the island.
What is the one item people most often forget to pack?
A universal power adapter is the item travelers leave behind most often. Tanzania uses UK-style three-pin sockets, which catch many visitors off guard, especially at smaller guesthouses without spares on hand. A close second is reef-safe sunscreen, since regular sunscreen is easy to find at home but harder to source once you land. Pack both before you leave to avoid a frustrating search on arrival.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Zanzibar?
Yes, most rental companies in Zanzibar, including ours, require an International Driving Permit in addition to your home license. It’s a straightforward document to arrange through your national motoring association before you travel, and it typically takes only a few days to issue. Without one, some rental desks may still let you drive, but you risk complications at checkpoints or if you’re involved in an incident.
What health precautions should I take for a Zanzibar road trip?
Malaria risk exists across Zanzibar, so pack insect repellent with DEET and consider antimalarial medication after consulting your doctor before you travel. A basic first aid kit with plasters, antiseptic, and motion sickness tablets is worth keeping in the car. Bring any personal medication in its original packaging, since pharmacies are easy to find in Stone Town but far less common once you head into rural areas.
Will my phone work for navigation without signal in rural areas?
Mobile signal drops in several rural stretches of Zanzibar, so live navigation apps can’t always be trusted once you leave the main towns. Download offline maps of your full route before you set out, and consider a physical road map as a backup. A car phone mount keeps your screen visible hands-free, and a fully charged power bank ensures your phone doesn’t die mid-journey.
What type of power adapter do I need for Tanzania?
Tanzania uses UK-style, three-pin, Type G sockets running on 230V, so bring a universal travel adapter if your devices use a different plug shape. Voltage converters are only necessary for equipment not rated for 220-240V, which is rare for phones, cameras, and laptop chargers. Charging points can be limited at smaller guesthouses outside the main towns, so pack a portable power bank as backup.
Why does reef-safe sunscreen matter in Zanzibar?
Ordinary sunscreens often contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, chemicals that damage coral reefs and marine life around popular snorkeling spots like Nakupenda and Mnemba. Reef-safe formulas skip these ingredients and are gentler on the ecosystem you’re there to enjoy. Some tour operators and boat excursions now ask guests to use reef-safe products only, so packing it before you arrive saves you from an on-the-spot search.
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