Is COVID PCR Test Required to Fly from Zanzibar to Tanzania Mainland? (2021 Article – Current Status Update 2025)
The Original 2021 Article
In 2021, during the height of the pandemic, domestic flights between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania were simple and hassle-free. No PCR test was required for travel from Zanzibar to the mainland (or vice versa). International arrivals to Zanzibar needed a negative PCR test, and a rapid test was done on arrival (results instant). The article emphasized that no quarantine or additional testing was needed within Tanzania, making it easy to combine a Zanzibar beach holiday with a mainland safari.
Current Status as of November 2025 – No COVID Restrictions for Domestic Flights
COVID-19 travel rules in Tanzania have been fully lifted since 2023. No PCR test, rapid antigen test, vaccination proof, or quarantine is required for flying from Zanzibar to the mainland (or vice versa). This applies to all domestic routes, including Zanzibar to Arusha, Dar es Salaam, or Kilimanjaro.
Key updates from official sources (Tanzania Ministry of Health, Travel Advisory #15, effective February 2023 onward):
- Domestic flights are treated as normal internal travel – no health checks or testing.
- International arrivals to Zanzibar or mainland airports (e.g., JRO or DAR) also require no tests or proofs.
- Airlines like Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, and Precision Air confirm no COVID-related requirements for Zanzibar-mainland routes.
If your next destination (e.g., home country or airline) requires a test for departure, you can get rapid antigen tests at Zanzibar Airport ($25) or mainland sites ($10), with results in 15–30 minutes. PCR tests are available at clinics ($50 mainland, $80 Zanzibar) if needed.
Why This Makes Safari + Zanzibar Combos Even Easier
No restrictions mean you can seamlessly add a 2–4 day fly-in safari from Zanzibar to Serengeti, Ngorongoro, or Nyerere (Selous) without any hassle. It’s the perfect way to pair beach relaxation with wildlife adventure.
Planning your 2026/2027 Tanzania trip? Contact our local Arusha experts for custom itineraries – no COVID worries, just pure African magic.
WhatsApp +255 767 999 101 – let’s plan your hassle-free adventure!
(Updated November 2025 – original article from 2021)
You do not need to do any COVID 19 PCR test when you travel from Zanzibar Island to the mainland Tanzania like Arusha or Dar es Salaam or back to Zanzibar. That is the straight and direct answer for that question that has been bothering travelers for a while.
PCR Test for travelling from Zanzibar to Mainland Tanzania and Vice Versa?.
For anyone who arrives into Zanzibar from abroad, they are required to show a negative PC test result at the airport in Zanzibar International Airport. The same applies to anyone who arrives to any international airport in Mainland Tanzania like Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro.
A Rapid test will also be conducted and the result given to you instantly, then you be left to proceed with your travel, like going on a Tanzania safari for example. These test results that you show and the rapid test result that you get at the airport suffices. You will not be asked to show that at any other point within Tanzania or Zanzibar Island.
Do you need to Quarantine / Isolate when you travel from Zanzibar to Mainland Tanzania?
It is also important to note that there is no requirement for isolation (quarantine) when a traveler arrives into Tanzania from abroad or when one travels to Mainland Tanzania from Zanzibar. You also do not need any PCR test pr quarantine (isolation) whenever travelling from Mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar Island for your beach vacation.
It is therefore very easy and botherless for anyone who wants to combine a safari tour in Tanzania with Zanzibar beach vacation.
Nothing therefore will stop you from taking a quick short safari from Zanzibar. If you are planning to visit Zanzibar for a beach vacation, you may consider including 2 days, 3 days or even 4 days Safari from Zanzibar beach, and enjoy the amazing wildlife safari tours that we offer at Tanzania Safari Desire.
Does one need a PCR Test result to Fly out of Zanzibar or Mainland Tanzania?
Yes you MIGHT need a negative PCR test result when traveling out of Zanzibar or Mainland Tanzania like Kilimanjaro International Airport or Dar es Salaam Airport. This depends on your airline’s requirement, and the requirements of your next destination or stopover.
There are many testing points throughout of Tanzania and you can choose the nearest hospital to do your PCR test before departing Tanzania, during your online registration on the official Online Tanzania’s PCR Testing Registration Portal. If you are travelling to Tanzania for safari in Northern Tanzania, you can take your test at a few hospitals in Arusha like Selian Hospital and Mount Meru Regional Hospital. If your timing is coinciding with your visit to Serengeti National Park, you can always do the test Seronera in central Serengeti or Kogatende in Northern Serengeti, depending on the location of your lodge or camp in the Serengeti.
Please check that from your next destination’s government information website or your airlines website.
If you need any further clarifications on the Zanzibar and Tanzania COVID Status and requirements, do not hesitate to contact us by email or click on the below WhatsApp button to chat with a travel experts.
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