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Is Zanzibar safe? 🇹🇿

Tanzania · Safety report last updated 13 October 2026

As of October 2026, Zanzibar scores 63/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Zanzibar requires a high degree of caution due to political instability, crime, and health concerns. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Zanzibar 🇹🇿

Tanzania · Assessed 13 October 2026

/ 100

Mostly — take normal precautions

Safer than ~62% of countries

District map

What drives this score

Crime59/100FairCrime index 52.7 / 100 · city-level

Sentiment63/100FairMixed

Advisories75Good

Stability62Fair

Health70Good

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

Advises against all travel to parts of the country

“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Tanzania Tanzania FCDO advises against all but essential travel to any area within 20km of the Tanzanian border with the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, due to attacks by groups linked with Islamic extremism.”

Updated 2026-10-09T13:57:22Z

Full advisory →

Government of Canada

Level 2

Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)

“Canada's official risk level for Tanzania: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”

Updated 2026-10-07T12:36:44.8861911-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Fair

Mugging & robbery risk

Moderate risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

Moderate risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

55 / 100 (Mixed)

City SignalCity Web Research

Feeling safe walking alone at night

44 / 100

City SignalNumbeo (city survey)

Feeling safe walking alone in daylight

67 / 100

City SignalNumbeo (city survey)

Urban scale factor

710k residents

City SignalCity Geocoding

Crime index (crowdsourced)

52.7 / 100 · city-level

City SignalNumbeo Crime Index

Homicide rate

3.7 / 100k

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2020

Feel safe walking alone after dark

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Physical assault (past year)

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Robbery / mugging

Moderate

Worry about mugging or robbery is moderate, with some reports of express kidnappings.

Pickpocketing

Moderate

Petty crime like pickpocketing and bag-snatching is a concern, particularly in tourist areas and markets.

▸ 3 more indicators

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.09 / 100k

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Bribery during public-official contact

18.0%

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2017

Crime seen as a major business constraint

1.9%

Country BaselineWorld Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2013

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Good

Air quality

US AQI 51 · Moderate

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

8 beds / 10k · country avg

WHO Global Health Observatory

Weather

October: highs ~32°C · heavy rain / flooding

Open-Meteo

Road safety

15.8 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

1 active alert · Wildfire (green)

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

Wildfire

forest fire notification in Tanzania · ~453 km away

CDC travel health notices · none for this destination

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Fair

Political stability & no terrorism

57/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0 recorded

100

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

49/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

41/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

47/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

47/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

43/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Moderate

Traveller sentiment score

Mixed

63/100

Reported feel55Mixed

Robbery risk62Moderate risk

Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk

Traveler sentiment indicates a moderate level of concern regarding safety, with some feeling unsafe walking alone at night.

Zanzibar requires a high degree of caution due to political instability, crime, and health concerns.

While Zanzibar is a popular tourist destination, official advisories highlight risks of terrorism and crime, particularly near the Mozambique border. Travelers should be aware of potential health hazards and exercise vigilance against petty crime.

Recent developments

Oct 2025Hundreds feared dead in post-election crackdown and protests.— BBC
Oct 2025Political opposition reported 700 deaths amid unrest over disputed election.— CBS News
Jul 2026Tanzanian regime banned protests and deployed security forces.— World Socialist Web Site
Nov 2025Countries warned against non-essential travel to Tanzania due to unrest.— Euronews.com

Common scams

Overpriced tours and taxi fares
Fake gemstone sales
Distraction theft by touts

Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Zanzibar presents a mixed safety picture, with significant concerns stemming from political instability and crime, alongside health advisories. Official government warnings, such as the UK's advice against all but essential travel to areas near the Mozambique border due to extremism, and Canada's call for a high degree of caution, underscore these risks. While Zanzibar City itself has a moderate crime index, travelers report feeling less safe walking alone at night.

Recent events highlight underlying tensions. Post-election unrest in October 2025 led to widespread protests and a significant death toll, with hundreds feared dead and reports of a government crackdown. These events, coupled with ongoing union tensions and protest bans, suggest a volatile political climate that could impact visitor safety.

Travelers should be particularly vigilant against petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching, especially in busy markets and tourist hubs. Scams involving overpriced tours or goods are also common. On the health front, ongoing global concerns like polio, dengue, and measles, alongside the need for malaria prophylaxis, require careful preparation. Extreme weather, including heavy rain and flooding, is also a possibility in October.

Was this Zanzibar, Tanzania report helpful?

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

6 districts

Our field research rated 6 Zanzibar districts for visitors: 4 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Zanzibar safety map.

Stone TowncautionHistoric center, can be crowded, watch for pickpockets and petty theft, especially at night.

Zanzibar City (general)cautionOutside of Stone Town, exercise caution, be aware of surroundings, and avoid walking alone after dark.

NungwisaferPopular tourist beach area, generally safe with good tourist infrastructure.

KendwasaferAnother popular beach destination, similar safety profile to Nungwi.

Jozani ForestsaferNature reserve, generally safe during daylight hours with park rangers present.

PajesaferKitesurfing hub, popular with tourists and generally considered safe.

4 safer2 caution0 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Zanzibar safe at night?

Worry about mugging or robbery is moderate, with some reports of express kidnappings.

After dark, be most careful around Stone Town, Zanzibar City (general). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Questions

Zanzibar safety FAQ (2026)

Is Zanzibar safe right now (2026)?

Zanzibar requires a high degree of caution due to political instability, crime, and health concerns. While Zanzibar is a popular tourist destination, official advisories highlight risks of terrorism and crime, particularly near the Mozambique border. Travelers should be aware of potential health hazards and exercise vigilance against petty crime. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Zanzibar safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Zanzibar report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.

Which areas of Zanzibar should tourists avoid?

No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.

What are the most common scams in Zanzibar (2026)?

Overpriced tours and taxi fares
Fake gemstone sales
Distraction theft by touts

How does Zanzibar compare with other places in Tanzania (2026)?

Zanzibar ranks #5 of 8 Tanzania destinations we've assessed, scoring 63/100. See the Tanzania safety overview for the full list.

How is this zanzibar safety score calculated (2026)?

The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.