Zanzibar through local eyes, for low budget travelers

Typically, when you head to a touristy/honeymoony paradise like Zanzibar, you’ll find yourself getting ripped off over anything and everything, but we found the island to be pretty affordable, if you know the right places and most importantly – people. From a 3000 shilling transport with boda boda (local scooter) to our 6000 shilling street food for two!

On the budget?

“I’m a budget traveler”, says every second tourist on the island. So what would your day look like in Zanzibar if you’d need to go to only local places and spend only 5-10 dollars per day? Seems a bit difficult? EXACTLY.

Let us guide you through the journey of Zanzibar island with a minimum amount of money! Let’s go to Zanzibar village where we will answer some of the most important questions!

What is the first thing that comes to your mind thinking of Zanzibar island and the Indian ocean? Most probably – great holiday and delicious seafood every day. Unfortunately, seafood is surprisingly expensive on the island. Especially in restaurants!

But, if you’re a fan of street food and don’t pay attention to the presentation, you must try chips mayai (French fries omelet) which is definitely enough for a filling meal! This traditional and very popular dish you get only for 3000 shillings (1.30 USD)

Instead of choosing soda in every shop, visit Paje or other villages where locals serve fresh sugar cane juice with ice, lemon, and ginger for only 1000 shilling per glass (0,43 USD) which can definitely refresh your hot day on the island.

Experience Zanzibar island!

Last time we’ve spent only 3000 shillings for two, on our breakfast at a local place where we ordered full plate of different traditional bread (chapati, cake, sesame bread) and potato snacks. Oh yes! And a liter of fresh juice –AND THAT WAS ALL FOR ONLY 1,30 USD!

Of course, all travelers are different, and “living a local life” can be not that attractive to some, but we strongly believe that the real Zanzibar experience is made out of connections, new traditions, and a deep understanding of island life.

How to move around in Zanzibar

Zanzibar Island isn’t big but also isn’t small enough to walk around, so you will definitely need some transport! For those who want to rent their own car or, scooter, or a motorbike, that’s the easiest way. But for travelers who don’t have this opportunity, we recommend a cheap way to get around – BODA BODA. Boda is a local way of naming the scooter which you can find in almost every street and busy village. It can take you from one village to another for 2000-3000 shillings (1 – 1,30 USD).

Roofs of Zanzibar

From our research, it seemed like it would be the best way to explore the island and save money by collaborating with hotels, lodges, and guesthouses. Zanzibar has a quickly and continuously developing rental market, providing a range of accommodation options to meet any budget. You should not have much trouble finding the ideal place to have your holiday. Every traveler simply needs to know two things: their budget and their vibe!

Rent prices listed online are rarely up-to-date. Keep this in mind while looking through real estate websites and other online marketplaces. Those sites are still a good resource to view the types of accommodation available on the island, but true prices are likely very low or higher than what you’ll find online.

Plan your budget accordingly, find a local friend who can advise, help, and be there for you when you have questions! For example, a local tour guide we met on the Bwejuu Beach offers Safari Blue tour from 70 USD for two while the same tour in the luxury hotel can cost from around 150 USD or even more!

What interested us more than lying on a beach or taking a swim in the ocean was interacting with other travelers, hotel owners, and the local community. People who live in Zanzibar are super laidback and even beautifully “crazy” for their freedom, different worldview, and of course, relaxed vibe which most people here call POLEPOLE (slowly/gently).

That was our two-month experience and insights into the world’s paradise. Hope you will find this helpful!

Enjoy our vlog below!