If you want to book a tour or excursion in Zanzibar, you will find a competitive market on site. From the licensed travel agent at the hotel to the beach vendor, everyone is trying to sell you a tour. Keep in mind that your hotel doesn’t want to receive a bad review because of a recommended tour operator.
First of all: Anyone who does business in Zanzibar needs an official license. Since you have to use some form of transport or pass some entrance during a tour, there is a high probability that an inspection will take place. Police often check the permission of taxi drivers, tour guides and boat drivers. If you don’t have a license, it won’t be without complications for you either. To avoid disappointment and pay fair prices, you should consider these five points:
1. “Beach Boys” vs. licensed providers
In Zanzibar you will often be approached by so-called “beach boys” who often show laminated pieces of paper with tours.
Advantage: They are often significantly cheaper and are easy to negotiate.
Risk: You usually don’t have insurance. If the boat breaks down or the car breaks down on the way to Stone Town, there is often no replacement.
Tip: If you book on the beach, never pay the full amount in advance, but only a small deposit for the boat. You only pay the rest once the tour takes place and the service has been provided. Ask explicitly whether the driver/guide has an official license from ZATI (Zanzibar Tourism Investment Association), otherwise you could get stranded on the route and an alternative return will be necessary.
2. The Law of Haggling (compare prices)
In Zanzibar there are rarely fixed prices for tourists. The first price quoted is almost always a “moon price” (often double what is ultimately taken).
Action is mandatory: Be friendly but firm. If you are offered a Mnemba snorkeling tour for $50, that is too much. The fair market price (depending on group size and boat) is closer to $25 to $35 per person.
Group discount: If you are traveling as a family or group, the price per head drops drastically.
3. What is included in the price? (Hidden costs)
Before making a firm commitment, ask exactly what is included in the price and ideally have it written down briefly on a piece of paper (receipt).
Entrance Fees: Many tours (e.g. Prison Island, Jozani Forest, Baraka Aquarium) charge extra for entry (often between $5 and $10). Is this entry already included in the tour price?
Marine Park Conservation Fee: As Mnemba Island is under strict nature conservation and access is controlled. There is also an entrance fee to pay, which is US$25 per day for each tourist.
Equipment: Is the mask and fins included in the snorkeling tour? Is there water on board?
Transfers: Depending on where you start the tour from, a taxi will have to take you there and back. Is the taxi included in the price? (A single taxi from north to south can cost an extra US$50-70).
4. High tide and low tide (timing for marine activities)
Ebb and flow play a major role on excursions:
Turtle Aquarium: Visiting the Baraka Natural Aquarium is much nicer at high tide because the water is deep and clean. At extreme low tide the basin is very shallow.
Mnemba Atoll: The snorkeling tours usually start early in the morning. Firstly, the sea is usually calmer (fewer waves) and secondly, you don’t share the reef with 40 other boats that arrive from all over the island from 10:30 a.m. onwards.
5. Plan tips (Bakshish)
The salaries of captains, boat boys and local guides are very low. They live off the tips.
If the tour was good, 15,000 to 25,000 TZS (around 6 – 10 US$) per guide/boat team is a great and absolutely common gesture of appreciation. Always have a few smaller bills (2,000/5,000 TZS bills or US$1 bills) ready for such purposes.