Tour & Activity Scams in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities 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
5
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Zanzibar
How it works
Unofficial guides attach themselves to tourists wandering Stone Town's narrow streets, leading them through the medina and to specific shops (earning commissions) before demanding large guide fees not agreed upon upfront.
How it works
Touts on Stone Town waterfront sell dhow sunset cruises and fishing trips. Boats are overcrowded, safety equipment is absent, and the "snorkeling" location is a degraded reef with little to see. Prices bear no relation to the quality delivered.
How it works
Dhow sunset cruises are advertised at one price but frequently have add-on charges for food, drinks, or "harbour fees" that only appear on the bill at the end of the trip.
How it works
Self-appointed "spice tour guides" position themselves near Forodhani Gardens and the Stone Town waterfront, offering spice farm tours at attractive prices. They collect full payment upfront, then either disappear before departing or deliver a drastically shortened tour that skips most farms and ends at a commission-paying shop. The guides carry no official credentials and are not affiliated with licensed operators.
How it works
Spice tour operators take tourists to overpriced spice and souvenir shops during the tour, earning commissions. The same spices cost a fraction of the price in Stone Town's local markets.
See all scams in Zanzibar
10 total warnings across all categories