Before we get started, in case you’re looking for some trip context, I touched on this briefly in two previous posts, so check out:

One Day in Dar Es Salaam

Taking a Long-Haul Bus from Arusha to Dar Es Salaam

Now that that’s settled, let’s talk about the ferry!

When I was in my hotel in Dar, I figured that the easiest thing to do would be to book my ferry passage online. I found the Azam (Fast) Ferry website, which has the Kilimanjaro series of boats, and “made a booking” in about 2 minutes.

What I didn’t realize when I did this was that I’d STILL have to head to the ferry terminal the day before departure to pay for the ticket.

BOOO!

Anyhow, I chose my fare class… my choices were “Economy” and “VIP” with a $5 USD difference of$35 or $40, with VIP’s perk being aircon. Tanzanian citizens pay 1/3 of this price for both classes! I selected with VIP, figuring the aircon would be worth $5.

I went through the motions of booking, and I obviously realized that I hadn’t had an opportunity to pay. When theconfirmation email came through, it had directions to head to the terminal “24 hours prior to departure” to remit payment.

Now mind you, I booked my ticket around 10am or so, for a 7am departure the next day.

Oh well! #TIA! 

After breakfast and hitting up the ATM, I made my way to the ferry terminal to pay for my ticket, which was actually 100% seamless. The gate agent looked up my booking and I was even able to pay by CREDIT CARD. This was the ONLY TIME in Tanzania I paid for ANYTHING with plastic, so it was a huge deal.

Anyhow, after payment was complete, she handed me a ticket. This ticket said to be at the terminal one hour prior to departure the next morning.

Ew.

When I finally arrived home that evening, my hotel driver called in a cab driver so I could make a booking for the next morning.

The driver ASSURED me that an hour was MUCH too early for the ferry, especially since I had booked VIP class. I shrugged and trusted the guy, since he lives in Dar and I clearly do not, and booked my cab for 6:15.

Fast forward to 6:15am. I hopped in my cab for my seven-or-so minute ride to the terminal. As we were moving along, my driver asked me if I needed a porter for my bag. I confirmed that I did NOT need one, so he advised me to jump out of the car IMMEDIATELY when he pulled up to the terminal, as apparently the porters are very aggressive and will simply yank your bag out of the trunk, carry it, and expect payment when they take you across the street.

Again, I listened to my driver and he was, again, 100% right.

The MOMENT we pulled up, porters swarmed the car and they did NOT look pleased when I hiked my bag up on to my back without any assistance.

Sorry guys, this girl’s her own hero!

I thanked and paid my driver, and headed down to the ticket check and departure gate. 

PRO TIP #1: If you have a VIP ticket, you do NOT need to check your bag! You’re allowed to bring it aboard and there is luggage storage in VIP with you!

PRO TIP #2: Again if you have VIP, you do NOT wait in the second line! There is a line of chairs that seems to not be a line, since it just ends with the chairs pushed into the wall at the end. This is only because people with Economy class have moved the chairs to make more space to stand. You walk up through that second aisle and check right in because you paid for your VIP ticket!

After boarding, in VIP you can select any seat you like. I chose one near my bag because I’m a suspicious MF.

Then I settled in happily to read my kindle and enjoy the aircon. I *also* popped a motion sickness tablet, just in case, since I’d read the ride could be rough.

Big shocker, we LEFT ON TIME at 7am! About 15 minutes into the ride, a trolley came through the aisle with the strangest breakfast I’ve ever seen…

Tea/Coffee and… a piece of bread.

Now, I didn’t know we were being fed so it was a nice surprise, but a piece of bread?? So strange. So Africa. 

Post-snack, the trip was uneventful (I don’t even think I needed the motion sickness tablet), and we docked around 8:30, as promised.

When we debarked, however, I was incredibly surprised that we had to go through…. CUSTOMS! I had to frantically dig out my passport and pen, while carrying all of my things. Aweeeeesome! *lesigh*

Documents in hand, I had my passport stamped and went to leave. And was then turned around for “baggage check” which consisted of me trying to take off my bags to be looked at, the guard shaking his head no, not even opening my bags, and marking them with a chalk, “P.” Yeah… I have no idea either!

Then I was able to go past security guard #1, only to be stopped by security guard #2 and interrogated about what I was doing on Zanzibar.

Dude. I’m carrying a gigantic backpack. I’m white. I’m a girl. I’m by myself… I’m traveling.

*laughs*

Luckily I was pretty awake by this point so I was able to intelligently answer his queries, and then FINALLY I was free to venture into Zanzibar’s Stone Town!

Success!