Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ): Arrivals, Visas, Lounges and Meet & Greet

What Arriving at Zanzibar Airport Is Like

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the gateway to the whole archipelago. It is compact and a short drive from Stone Town, which is why it feels easy on a quiet day.

The trouble is timing. Flights from Europe, the Gulf and mainland Africa often land within the same window. Everyone then joins the same sequence: visa check, immigration, baggage reclaim, and a search for the right driver outside.

None of these steps is complicated. Together they can take longer than the flight's last hour, and they come at the end of a long journey. That is the gap a meet and greet at ZNZ is built to close.

Visas and Entry Documents: Sort Them Before You Fly

Most visitors to Zanzibar need a visa. You can apply online through the Tanzania Immigration e-visa system before you travel, and many nationalities can also buy one on arrival. Fees and eligibility depend on your passport, so check the official source rather than a blog.

Carry these with you:

• Your passport. Check the validity rule for your nationality on the official site.
• Your visa approval or the cash and forms for one on arrival.
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a country where the disease is a risk.

Applying online in advance can shorten your time at the airport. A greeter can guide you to the right desk, but they cannot change what documents Tanzania asks for.

What a Meet & Greet Covers at ZNZ

Your Curo greeter meets you on arrival, holding your name. From there they stay with you through the steps that cost time.

• They guide you to the correct visa and immigration lines, so you are not guessing which queue is yours.
• Where fast track is available at ZNZ, they use it.
• A porter collects your bags from reclaim.
• They walk you out and hand you to your driver or hotel transfer.

On departure, the same service meets you at the terminal, helps with check-in and takes you to security. Services differ by airport, so the Zanzibar airport page lists exactly what you can book for ZNZ.

Lounges at Zanzibar Airport

ZNZ has a small number of lounges, and not every one works for every trip. The Paradise Arrival Business Lounge is an arrivals lounge, so it suits you when you land, not when you leave. Priority Pass lists it for cardholders.

If you want a lounge before a departure, ask for it when you book. Lounge access can be added where it is available at ZNZ, and the airport page shows what is on offer.

Getting to Stone Town and the Beaches

Stone Town is a short drive from the airport. The beach resorts are further. The north coast around Nungwi and Kendwa, and the east coast around Paje, Jambiani and Matemwe, usually take an hour or more by road.

That is long enough that a missed pickup hurts. Book your hotel or private transfer before you fly, share your flight number with the driver, and let your greeter bring you out to them. You skip the scramble in the arrivals hall, and your driver is not left guessing which flight you are on.

Choosing a Package

Curo prices each airport separately and offers tiers that add services as you move up. The pricing page shows current rates for ZNZ, and one booking covers your whole party.

If you are travelling as a family, or arriving late after a long connection, the greeter and porter are the parts that matter most. See what airport meet and greet includes for the full picture, then book now.

Frequently asked questions