Zanzibar Money

Currency

The Tanzania shilling (Tsh) is used throughout Zanzibar but US dollars are by far the most accessible currency to pay with, and rates for things like tours and rental cars are usually quoted in US dollars. Although tourists can usually pay the equivalent amount in Tanzania shillings it's sometimes cheaper to pay in dollars - depending on the exchange rate of course.

There are a number of forex bureaus where you can change money and travellers' cheques without much hassle. Rates in Stone Town are the best on the island, but are a little lower than on the mainland.

Ideally, visitors should split their travel money into cash and travellers' cheques, in a mix of low and high denominations. Travellers' cheques are the safest way to carry money because they can be replaced if they are stolen and well known brands are often more readily accepted and also processed faster. Unfortunately in Zanzibar, travellers' cheques often receive poorer rates in comparison to cash, and some hotels do not accept them, so it's best to check in advance.

Officially, accommodation on Zanzibar must be paid for in US dollars, but often paying the equivalent in shillings is not too much of a problem, especially at budget type places.

Credit cards

Often the most convenient way to pay, credit cards are charged a higher commission (usually 10 to 20%). The official reason for the high credit card charges in Zanzibar is that the island is not linked to any international credit card validation facilities. The reality of the situation is that most people feel more comfortable seeing worn and wrinkled bank notes as the notion of paying with plastic is a relatively new and foreign one in Zanzibar.

For Visa and Mastercard holders there is a help desk at the office of Coastal Travels. The assistance point doesn't function as a regular bank or bureau, but does issue relatively small amounts of cash against a credit card in case of an emergency.

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