READ ALSO: How to Get to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam/Getting to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam by Air
Johannesburg to Zanzibar Distance
The straight‑line (“as‑the‑crow‑flies”) distance from Johannesburg to Zanzibar (Unguja Island), Tanzania, is approximately:
- 2,500 km (≈1,554–1,563 miles)
Table of Contents
Typical Flight Time Covering the Distance from Johannesburg to Zanzibar
- Nonstop flights between Johannesburg (JNB) and Zanzibar (ZNZ) typically take about 3½ to 3 hours 50 minutes.
Connecting & Overland Travel Options
If you’re interested in combining modes (e.g. bus, train, ferry), Rome2Rio maps out a multi‑day overland route: bus → train → ferry, taking 2–3 days and covering ~2,526 km.
Summary Table
| Mode | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Direct flight | ~2,500 km | ~3.5–3.8 h |
| Overland (multi-leg) | ~2,525 km | ~2–3 days (bus/train/ferry) |
Additional Insights
- Direct flights between JNB and ZNZ: Airlines like Safair and Air Tanzania operate direct flights several times per week.
- Overland route includes a ferry across Zanzibar Channel (29–37 km wide) connecting to the mainland.
Bottom line
For most travelers, flying is far faster and more convenient: ~2,500 km in ~3½ hours. Overland options exist but take 2–3 days.
READ ALSO: Distance From Dar to Zanzibar/Dar to Zanzibar KM
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Distance from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar/How Far Is Zanzibar from Tanzania?
To speak of the Zanzibar to Tanzania distance is a misnomer because Zanzibar is part of Tanzania.
The Zanzibar to Tanzania distance, meaning mainland Tanzania, by ferry is 81 kilometers.
If you would like to book flight or ferry tickets to cover this mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar distance, click here.
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It is easy to travel between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. You can do so by either boat or plane.
Ferries shuttle the distance from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar by ferry several times a day.
For reasons of safety and excellence of service, I recommend using Azam Marine.
There are regular flights between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, with the duration of flight being only about 20 minutes.
You can fly between these destinations both on international airlines as well as local Tanzanian ones—both options being quite safe.
Given the distance and traffic between Dar es Salaam airport and the rest of Dar es Salaam, as well as the distance between Zanzibar airport and Stone Town, it might be more pleasant and time-efficient to travel between these cities by boat rather than by plane.
READ ALSO: Cheap Flights to Dar es Salaam From Heathrow 2025 & More
Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam Ferry/Zanzibar Dar es Salaam Ferry/Dar es Salaam Para Zanzibar City Ferry
As mentioned above, if you would like to travel from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar by ferry, I strongly recommend the marine division of the Tanzanian company Azam, also known as Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries.
Their offices are located on Sokoine Drive, in downtown Dar es Salaam at the waterfront, almost diagonally opposite St. Joseph’s Cathederal. You can buy a ferry ticket there, but you can also buy it online here.
If you would like to book ferry tickets as well as transfers from wherever you will be departing from in Dar es Salaam to wherever you are headed in Zanzibar (or vice versa), click here.
The prices for Tanzanian citizens (and residents) and foreign non-residents are starkly different, and Azam Marine requires identification to confirm which category you fall in (and they actually check every time!).
For foreign non-residents, ferry tickets must be paid for in foreign currency. The preferred currency is US dollars, though Azam Marine also accepts British Pounds and Euros.
The travel time between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam on the ferry depends on the vessel you travel on and the state of the ocean at the time of day you travel.
The shortest travel time available currently is one hour and forty minutes but can go up to six hours. Pay attention to this when you are booking your ticket.
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Photo Credits: Monda Africa Tours & Safaris Ltd.