Flights and Luggage for Your Safari

The planes

Scheduled safari airlines fly small propeller planes from Zanzibar's airport to airstrips inside Mikumi and Selous. Each flight takes about an hour. On some days a flight stops at another airstrip on the way, which adds time.

Luggage limit

Small planes have strict weight limits. Coastal Aviation, one of the main airlines on these routes, allows 15 kg per person including hand luggage and strongly recommends soft bags. Other airlines set similar limits, and we confirm your airline's exact rule when we book.

• Pack in one soft bag; hard suitcases are hard to load.
• On a day trip, take only a small day bag.
• Leave your big suitcases at your Zanzibar hotel; most travellers do.
• Cameras, binoculars and a warm layer for the early morning are the most useful things to bring.

Delays and changes

Small-plane timetables depend on the weather and on other passengers' bookings, so times can move, sometimes on the day. If a flight is late, we change the order of the game drive and lunch so you lose as little time in the park as possible. Give us a phone number that works on WhatsApp so we can reach you.

Documents

Carry your passport on every flight, including the short ones. Since 1 October 2026 visitors need a compulsory travel insurance policy: mainland Tanzania's (US$44) or, if you enter through Zanzibar, Zanzibar's own (US$44). You need only one.

Questions

Sources: Coastal Aviation baggage policy (coastal.co.tz/luggage-policy); Tanzania inbound insurance (NIC) and Zanzibar Insurance Corporation notices.