eSIM for Zanzibar

Zanzibar: what to know before you go

Ferry or flight

Most visitors arrive by plane at Abeid Amani Karume airport, a few kilometres from Stone Town, or by fast ferry from Dar es Salaam, which takes about one and a half to two hours and lands in the centre of Stone Town. The flight from Dar es Salaam takes roughly 20 minutes.

A passport check inside Tanzania

Travelling between the mainland and Zanzibar involves an immigration check on arrival, even though both are Tanzania. Keep your passport and any visa documents on you and saved on the phone, and check the official Tanzania immigration information for the current rules.

Stone Town's alleys

The old town is a maze of narrow alleys where it is easy to lose your bearings. Download an offline map of the island before you arrive, so you can still find your hotel and Forodhani Gardens when data drops in the lanes.

North coast or east coast

At Nungwi and Kendwa in the north the water stays deep close to the beach, so the tide barely interrupts swimming. On the east coast (Paje, Jambiani, Matemwe) the sea goes out hundreds of metres at low tide, so a tide table on the phone decides when you can swim or snorkel.

Jozani and the spice farms

Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, home of the red colobus monkeys, is about an hour by road from Stone Town and is usually combined with a spice farm visit as a day trip. Book through your hotel or an operator and save the pick-up details offline.

How much data you need

A week of maps, ferry or flight tickets, messages and photos takes about 2 to 4 GB. Beach days use very little.

Written 24 October 2026. Opening rules, fees, prices at attractions and event dates change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Zanzibar: when people go

December 2026 to January 2027, and July to August 2027: busiest months

These are the peak months for visitors, and one guide advises booking two to three months ahead for July and August. Flights, rooms and transfers fill early, so keep every confirmation saved on the phone.

19 to 21 March 2027: Sauti za Busara

An annual music festival in Stone Town, moved to these dates from 11 to 14 March to take account of Ramadan and Eid. Book old town lodging early and save your festival tickets and the venue address offline.

March to May 2027: the long rains

Heavy, frequent rain and high humidity, and some properties close. Check that your hotel and your ferry or flight are running before you travel.

July 2027: Mwaka Kogwa

The Shirazi new year is celebrated in Makunduchi, in the south, with a mock fight using banana stems and the burning of a hut, usually around the third week of July. It is a local occasion, so ask your hotel about transport and save the route offline.

Tanzania eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

9 plans, from $6.49 (1 GB, 7 days) to $84.49 (20 GB, 30 days). Network: Airtel 5G.

Network

Airtel 5G

Top-up

Yes, from the app, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 512 Kbps

Updated October 29, 2026

Questions about Zanzibar

Do I need a separate plan for Zanzibar?

No. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the Tanzania plan applies on the island. We have no beach by beach measurements, so if you need to work remotely, check that your hotel has Wi-Fi as a backup.

Do I have to show my passport again when I go to Zanzibar?

Yes, expect an immigration check on arrival from the mainland, by ferry or plane. Keep your passport and visa documents handy and check the official Tanzania immigration information for current rules.

How much does an eSIM for Zanzibar cost?

Zanzibar uses the Tanzania plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $6.49 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 9 plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Do I need a local SIM card in Zanzibar?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming in Zanzibar?

With roaming, your own carrier bills the data you use abroad, usually by the day or by the megabyte, at the prices of your plan. The eSIM is prepaid: you know the cost before you leave and nothing is added later. Keep data roaming off on your usual line, so it cannot charge you.

Which networks does the Zanzibar eSIM use?

Wigoo connects to Airtel, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from the app, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order, on the site and in the app, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Wigoo does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the app. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (512 Kbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Wigoo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.