Street Scams in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Zanzibar — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Accra.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Street Scams Scams
10
Total in Zanzibar
How it works
Papasi (beach boys) in Zanzibar persistently offer tours, spice tours, beach activities, and drugs to tourists, following them for long distances and becoming aggressive if ignored or refused repeatedly.
How it works
Vendors at Nungwi and Kendwa beaches follow tourists for long distances, refusing to leave despite repeated refusals. Some use emotional manipulation (claiming to support orphans) and a few have become physically intimidating.
How it works
In coastal villages such as Jambiani and Paje on Zanzibar's southeast coast, locals offer "seaweed farming experience" tours to tourists. The activity itself is genuine, but the price agreed verbally at the start is routinely inflated at the end, with extras added for photos taken, "tools used", or a "community fee" that was never mentioned. Tourists who push back face social pressure from a group of locals gathered nearby.
See all scams in Zanzibar
10 total warnings across all categories