Scamzibar
Travel Warning: Severity High

Zanzibar is not what the brochures promise.

Behind the beaches lies a system designed to extract cash from visitors through mandatory fees, neglected infrastructure, and "discounted" police fines.

Read the Extortion Pattern See Hidden Costs

The Hidden Fees

It is not just one fee. It is a sequence of mandatory charges that continues throughout your trip. Here is how the "official" system drains your budget step by step.

Step 1: Booking
Facilitation Tax +$45-90 INCOMING NOV 2025
A new airline tax added directly to your ticket price to fund "airport infrastructure".
Step 2a: Immigration
Visa +$50
Standard entry fee. Expensive, but standard.
Step 2b: The Scam
Mandatory Insurance +$44
Zero Value. You are forced to buy this local "policy" even if you have full global coverage. It insures nobody against nothing. It is purely a cash extraction mechanism.
Step 3: Driving
Permit Slip +$15
Your International Driving Permit is rejected. You must buy a local paper slip (PDF) to show at checkpoints. They check nothing. Not your license validity, not your identity. Takes 2 minutes to generate. Pure fee.
Step 4: Check-in
Infrastructure Tax +$2-5/night
Charged per person, per night. The rate is arbitrary ($2-5) and often depends on how "cozy" the hotel owner is with local officials. It is rarely used for actual infrastructure.
Step 5: Every Payment
"Swiper" Fee +5%
Almost every card terminal on the island adds a 5% surcharge to your bill. This fee is exclusively targeting tourists.
*Calculated for a typical 1-week stay. Does not include "informal" roadside payments.

Police Scams & Extortion

Let's be clear: Calls them what they are—scammers. They are corrupt officials who misuse their position of power to extort money from tourists. They exert force and pressure on visitors who just want to enjoy their vacation.

Satirical comic showing police extortion cycle in Zanzibar

The typical "Random Inspection" experience.

1. The Offense

The Scammer
"You committed a big offense. Speeding is a crime here. I must keep your license."
The Reality
It's a lie. Traffic infractions are administrative, not criminal. The official fine is often around 23,000 TZS (~$9). They exaggerate to scare you.
The Defense
"I understand. Please write the official ticket. I will pay it at the bank later."

2. The Price Anchor

The Pressure
"The fine is $75 USD. It is very expensive. You will have to go to court tomorrow."
The Reality
Impossible number. $75 is nearly half the average monthly salary ($150) in Zanzibar. No local fine is that high. They anchor high to make $20 look "cheap".
The Defense
"I cannot pay cash without a receipt. My rental company needs the paperwork."

3. The Profiling

The Setup
"When is your flight? Where are you from? Where are you staying?"
The Reality
Data Mining. They are checking your urgengy (flight soon?) and your wealth. "German" might mean "Rich".
The Defense
"I am staying in Stone Town. I have plenty of time. I am not in a rush."

Your Arsenal (The "Green" Zone)

1. Paperwork

Print EVERYTHING. IDP, License, Insurance. Don't give them a reason.

2. Dashcam

Record the road. They hate being on camera. It changes their behavior instantly.

3. ZAECA (113)

The Anti-Corruption hotline. If they demand cash, start dialing.

What You Can Do

The only winning move is to change the game. Do not support a system that views you only as prey.

Go somewhere else where you are respected and appreciated

This may sound harsh, but it is the honest truth. Zanzibar is suffering from "over-tourism" and a toxic culture of exploitation.

When you visit, you are not treated as a guest; you are treated as a "Walking ATM". From the moment you land, the government, police, and opportunistic middlemen work together to extract value from you while providing little in return. The "Dream Vacation" promised on Instagram does not show the harassment, the checkpoints, and the scams.

Vote with your wallet. Go where you are respected.

If You Must Go

If you are already there or committed to going, follow these strict rules to starve the corruption:

  • Never Pay a Bribe
    Even if it saves time. Every dollar paid fuels the next stop. Demand an official receipt.
  • Call 113 (ZAECA)
    This is the Anti-Corruption hotline. If an officer demands cash, start dialing. Watch their attitude change.
  • Hire a Driver
    Self-driving puts a target on your back. Local drivers get waved through checkpoints that stop tourists.