Flying from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ): what you need to know
Nairobi has two main airports where you can start your adventure. Check out your options for booking a flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) leaving from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) or Wilson Airport (WIL).
The average duration of a direct flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes.
Zanzibar (where Zanzibar International Airport is located) and Nairobi share the UTC+3 timezone. Same timezone means no confusion when scheduling your trip.
The most popular route is from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ), with 125 direct weekly services. If you'd like to head off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from NBO to ZNZ is the 00:15 Kenya Airways option. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the final departure is at 21:10 with Precision Air.
To ensure you get on your flight from Nairobi to ZNZ, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Travelling during a peak time such as July? Major public holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
Airports in Nairobi
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
You can book a direct flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) leaving from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).
Kenya Airways is a popular carrier that offers direct flights from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport taking off from NBO.
We make it a piece of cake to find a flight from Nairobi to ZNZ with a stopover. To see all the options departing from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to see the sights of your chosen city. Top stopovers between NBO and ZNZ include:
Moi International Airport (MBA)
Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
NBO is roughly 14 kilometres from central Nairobi. To help work out how to get there, use Google Maps. This handy travel app will show you the best route and your public transport options.
Need a convenient hotel close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from check-in:
Wilson Airport (WIL)
Wilson Airport (WIL) offers direct flights from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ).
Kenya Airways operates direct flights from Nairobi to ZNZ departing from WIL. Book your preferred aisle seat and reach your destination without any detours.
WIL is around 3 kilometres from central Nairobi. It takes 15 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 46 minutes.
Get your holiday started early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Nairobi to ZNZ, take things easy in one of these hotels near Wilson Airport:
About Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ)
If you're coming in on a late flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport, nothing tops the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these options near ZNZ:
Getting from Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) to central Zanzibar
From Zanzibar International Airport, Zanzibar is approximately 6 kilometres away. It takes around 11 minutes to get to the centre driving.
How to find the cheapest flights from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ)
For a one-way ticket from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport, 103 € is the best price we've seen. You can also book a return trip starting from 195 €. These are currently the lowest fares and may differ based on availability.
It's a good idea to book 10 months in advance. Flight price data suggests you're more likely to find cheap tickets from Nairobi to ZNZ then.
You'll land the biggest savings on your tickets from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport if you plan your break for July. Go one step further and use the 'Whole month' search tool to find the cheapest day to fly.
Create a Price Alert for cheap tickets from Nairobi to ZNZ. There's no need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped. We'll update you when the price changes.
Play around with the filters to find your ideal trip. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.
The best time to fly from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ)
July is the busiest month to hop on a flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport while February is the quietest. To work out the ideal time to go to Zanzibar, consider whether you prefer a lively vibe or a quieter pace.
Book your flight from Nairobi to ZNZ for March if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Zanzibar to range from 24ºC to 33ºC.
August sees average temperatures of between 21ºC and 28ºC. Search for cheap flights from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport sometime around then if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Zanzibar
After locking in your flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar International Airport, think about where you'd like to stay in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Zanzibar:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Old Fort, Abdul Hamid Guide Francophone Zanzibar/Tanzania and Khalifa Tours and Safaris Zanzibar are top attractions which should be on any good Zanzibar itinerary.
