Zanzibar Airport

✅ Trip Verified | New international terminal is ok but nothing special, 6 departure gates in total so not very big. On arrival most people did VOA - visa on arrival, so queue to get it and then another queue to pay it took quite long. On departure check-in and security went smoothly, on airside there were only one shop and a café open so there wasn't much to do. Wifi is free but works on/off, not good for streaming anything but good enough for basic surfing. At least terminal is new and clean with decent air conditioning.

✅ Trip Verified | The airport is very chaotic, on arrival we stayed in a long queue, after some time the airport staff came to let us in, the whole document check took a lot of time, onle 2 offices for 300 people. At departure, we were 20th in the chech-in line, and it took us 2 hours to chech- in our luggage. This resulted in a delay of our departure time of chourse. I don't know if the issue was with the airport staff or the charter company ( Animawing) as the other queues went faster. They mixed the tickets from 2 different destinations for the same company, then they searched for our names on printed sheets. At the immigration check , they took all my fingerprints but none of my husbands. Security check was the lowest ever possible. This was my worst airport experience so far.

Not Verified | Where shall I start? How about with the fact that in order to board my outbound plane, which I had a confirmation code for and a receipt, they claimed "There was no reservation." This resulted in visiting four "offices" and "officials". I was at the point of missing my flight and therefore my safari. I am embarrassed to admit I burst into tears. When I produced a $100 bill, they "found" my reservation. I was routed through Zanzibar on another portion of my trip to Africa and another mess! The rude gate agent would not listen to me when I said that my flight was called-I missed my flight and guess what? Yep - more $$$$$. I was also ripped off by the airport money exchange, their transport to the resort, and phone data purchase. Never, ever, ever will I go back to this island and I tell everyone of my experiences. This is a stupid and short-sighted way to treat tourists. For a temporary "win" they lose any future business and with media, it is an ignorant thing to do because the message gets out to the world.

✅ Trip Verified | Unpleasant. When I was there, hundreds of passengers were crammed into a stifling room without air conditioning. It's the kind of heat you can't imagine unless you experience it. (The small duty-free shop is air-conditioned so I spent a lot of time examining bottles of spirits and picking through trinkets.) Arrival wasn't much better. There were three different entry forms on offer and the staff member I asked said I should fill in all three. It turned out only one was right.

✅ Trip Verified | The infrastructure is poor as expected. However, this can be managed if the weather is not hot. What makes the airport one of the worst is the staff. Unfriendly service almost everywhere especially in the lounge. This is better than the ground floor service (still bellow any standards). The airport is pretty chaotic and the security is more than questionable.

✅ Trip Verified | I did not experience any line ups or other issues experienced by others. The whole check-in process was easy and the staff was helpful in checking our bags all the way back to Canada. We visited the lounge upstairs but the lounge was very outdated with stale food. Not recommended but it is better than downstairs waiting lounge.

Not Verified | The worst airport I have ever seen! No organization, huge queue, everyone asks for money, temperature inside is so hot you can’t imagine. I asked to switch on the aircon and they laughed at me for my request. Never again.

Not Verified | Horrible airport, everything is chaotic and people constantly want money for everything. The security searched my husband’s bag (checked luggage) and decided that a mosquito repellent and a deodorant must go to rubbish cause of the inflatable liquid sign on them! You must be joking! When I explained to her the toiletries and personal care items are allowed and she could as well take another 5 items from my suitcase following her logic thinking, she said I need some education! Who is the one who needs education? Can’t even do her job properly. Or maybe she wanted me to “buy out” the items I was about to lose? Hah! The funny thing is that everybody who wants to visit Zanzibar will have to go through that horrendous experience as there is no alternative airport. Good luck to whoever is flying in the future.

✅ Trip Verified | I am lucky to have travelled to many remote places with small airports. Zanzibar is the worst airport I have ever visited. Arrival meant waiting for luggage in a barn in tropical heat as bags were hauled in 2 by 2. Departure started with queuing outside the airport for half an hour in heat for all passengers to put all their luggage through only 1 scanner. The entrance for this allowed only 1 person at a time to sort their stuff. Inside was hot, dirty and provided no information on flights. No one knew when planes were going or seemed to care. It would have made a good comedy sketch but this is an international airport handling thousands of passengers.

Not Verified | Old terminal building but very small and only short walks. Quick delivery of bags. Small souvenir shop where it is possible to find last minute items.