British Airways Flights to Zanzibar Launch in 2027: Safari First, Beach Later!
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight Expert & Airport Lounge Addict
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British Airways is launching flights from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar in May 2027 and honestly, somebody at BA understood the assignment.
Safari first. Beach later. Then back to Gatwick by breakfast.
The new British Airways Tanzania route will operate three times per week between 29 May and 31 October 2027. It uses a clever triangular routing from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro, onwards to Zanzibar and then nonstop back to London.
This is particularly good news if you’ve been dreaming about combining a Tanzanian safari with a few days lying horizontally on a Zanzibar beach. You’ll be able to fly into Kilimanjaro, travel overland through Tanzania, hop across to Zanzibar and then fly directly home.
No unnecessary backtracking. No returning to the airport you started from. Just elephants, cocktails and an overnight flight home.
If Zanzibar is already calling your name, have a read of my complete Zanzibar travel guide and guide to getting there.
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Quick Answer Express
British Airways will begin flying from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar on 29 May 2027.
The service will operate three times per week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using a Boeing 777.
It will follow this triangular route:
London Gatwick → Kilimanjaro → Zanzibar → London Gatwick
The flight to Zanzibar therefore includes a scheduled stop in Kilimanjaro. However, the return flight from Zanzibar to London Gatwick will be nonstop.
Return fares were announced from £849, while Avios reward seats have also appeared for selected dates.
British Airways Flights to Zanzibar: Key Details
Detail | British Airways Tanzania route |
Launch date | 29 May 2027 |
Final scheduled flight | 31 October 2027 |
Frequency | Three flights per week |
Operating days from Gatwick | Monday, Thursday and Saturday |
London airport | London Gatwick |
Route | Gatwick–Kilimanjaro–Zanzibar–Gatwick |
Flight number | BA2163 |
Aircraft | Boeing 777 |
Cabins | World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World |
Starting return fare | From £849 |
Zanzibar return flight | Nonstop to London Gatwick |
How Will the British Airways Tanzania Route Work?
This is a triangular route, meaning the aircraft travels between three destinations rather than simply flying out and returning along exactly the same path.
Flight BA2163 will leave London Gatwick and fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport. After a stop there, it will continue to Zanzibar. The aircraft will then fly directly from Zanzibar back to London Gatwick.
In simple terms:
London Gatwick → Kilimanjaro → Zanzibar → London Gatwick
This routing opens up several useful booking options.
Flying to Zanzibar Only
If you’re travelling exclusively to Zanzibar, you can remain on the aircraft during the scheduled Kilimanjaro stop before continuing to Zanzibar.
The outbound journey isn’t technically a nonstop flight because it stops at Kilimanjaro, but it is expected to operate under the same flight number.
The flight home is much simpler: Zanzibar directly to London Gatwick.
Before arriving, save my Zanzibar Airport guide. It covers what to expect at the airport, immigration and the slightly chaotic arrival experience.
Check the latest flight deals to Zanzibar with Skyscanner
Combining a Safari With Zanzibar
This is where the new route really makes sense.
You can fly into Kilimanjaro, begin your safari or visit northern Tanzania and then travel onwards to Zanzibar. After finishing your holiday on the beach, you can fly directly home from Zanzibar.
That saves you from having to return to Kilimanjaro just to catch your flight back to Britain.
Because nobody wants to leave a Zanzibar beach, fly backwards across Tanzania and then start another long journey home.
Safari first, beach later, it’s the correct order.
Travelling to Kilimanjaro Only
You can also book the Gatwick to Kilimanjaro section without continuing to Zanzibar.
The new route should be useful for visiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara.
British Airways Zanzibar Flight Schedule
The planned timetable is:
Route | Days | Departure | Arrival |
London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro | Monday, Thursday and Saturday | 09:05 | 20:20 |
Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar | Monday, Thursday and Saturday | 21:20 | 22:25 |
Zanzibar to London Gatwick | Tuesday, Friday and Sunday | 00:25 | 07:55 |
All times are local and may change before the route begins.
The outbound morning departure is convenient, although arriving in Zanzibar at 22:25 means you’ll probably want to arrange an airport transfer before travelling.
The return departure at 00:25 isn’t particularly glamorous. However, it does give you almost a complete final day in Zanzibar. You can have dinner, reluctantly accept that the holiday is over and then head to the airport.
Landing at Gatwick at 07:55 also provides plenty of onward transport options.
How Long Is the Flight From London Gatwick to Tanzania?
The planned flight from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro takes approximately eight hours and 15 minutes.
Passengers continuing to Zanzibar will have a scheduled stop at Kilimanjaro, followed by a flight of just over one hour to Zanzibar.
The complete scheduled journey from Gatwick to Zanzibar is around ten hours and 20 minutes, including the stop.
The direct overnight flight from Zanzibar to Gatwick takes approximately ten hours and 30 minutes.
These timings are especially worth targeting because people regularly search for the flight time from London Gatwick to Tanzania and how long the flight to Zanzibar takes.
Until now, many British travellers have reached Zanzibar by connecting through Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa, Nairobi or Istanbul. I previously travelled via Doha, which you can read about in my Qatar Airways Economy Class review.
The new BA route removes the need to change aircraft when flying from Gatwick to Zanzibar, even though the outbound service stops in Kilimanjaro.
You can also compare it with my experience flying Air Tanzania from London to Zanzibar.
What Aircraft Will British Airways Use?
British Airways plans to operate the route using a Boeing 777 from its Gatwick fleet.
Three cabins are expected:
World Traveller
World Traveller Plus
Club World
The Boeing 777 offers enough capacity for both leisure travellers heading to Zanzibar and passengers connecting with safaris and tours in mainland Tanzania.
It also means Club World passengers should receive a proper long-haul, lie-flat business-class seat rather than anything resembling European business class with an empty middle seat and an optimistic curtain.
The exact aircraft configuration can change, so always check the seat map before choosing your seat.
If you’re flying from Gatwick with BA, my guide to British Airways routes from London Gatwick will help with your planning.
Check my British Airways baggage guide before booking, particularly if you’re planning a longer safari and beach trip.
Can You Book Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar Separately?
The short Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar section should also be bookable independently.
Indicative one-way Avios prices are:
Cabin | Off-peak Avios | Peak Avios |
World Traveller | 5,000 | 5,375 |
Club World | 8,250 | 9,000 |
This could be an unusual chance to experience a British Airways Boeing 777 on a flight lasting a little over an hour.
It may also suit travellers who independently arrive in northern Tanzania and want to continue to Zanzibar without using a regional airline.
There is no equivalent BA flight from Zanzibar back to Kilimanjaro because the aircraft continues directly to London after reaching Zanzibar.
Why This New Route Is Brilliant for a Safari and Beach Holiday
Tanzania is one of those destinations where the traditional return flight doesn’t always fit the ideal itinerary.
Many visitors want to explore the mainland first and relax in Zanzibar afterwards.
The new BA route matches that journey naturally:
Fly from Gatwick to Kilimanjaro.
Visit Arusha or begin a northern Tanzania safari.
Explore the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater or Tarangire.
Travel to Zanzibar.
Recover horizontally on a beach.
Fly directly from Zanzibar to Gatwick.
There’s no need to repeat part of the journey simply to return to your original arrival airport.
This is what airline route planning should do: make an actual holiday easier.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Zanzibar?
British Airways will operate the route from late May until the end of October.
That conveniently covers much of Zanzibar’s drier season and the main safari period in northern Tanzania.
June to October is generally popular for:
Drier weather
Beach holidays
Safari trips
The Great Migration season
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
July and August are particularly popular and likely to be expensive.
Late May, June, September and October may offer a slightly better balance between weather, availability and cost.
Zanzibar is warm throughout the year, although weather conditions vary and tropical showers can happen even during the drier months.
What Should You Do in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is much more than sitting inside a resort for seven days, even if doing absolutely nothing beside a pool is sometimes an entirely valid travel plan.
Explore Stone Town
Stone Town is one of the most fascinating parts of Zanzibar. Expect narrow streets, busy markets, impressive carved doors, rooftop restaurants and the occasional moment when you have absolutely no idea where you are.
Getting slightly lost is basically part of the experience.
Read my complete guide to exploring Stone Town in Zanzibar.
Visit Nakupenda Sandbank
Nakupenda Sandbank appears in the middle of the Indian Ocean and offers clear water, white sand and postcard-style views.
It’s reached by boat from Stone Town and is one of the most popular day trips on the island.
Here’s what happened on my trip to Nakupenda Sandbank.
Swim With Turtles
Swimming with sea turtles is another popular Zanzibar experience, particularly around Nungwi.
Some turtle attractions raise legitimate concerns about animal welfare, so research the venue carefully and decide whether the experience meets your own standards before visiting.
You can read about my experience swimming with sea turtles at Baraka Aquarium.
Where Should You Stay in Zanzibar?
Where you stay depends on whether you want history, nightlife, beaches or complete horizontal recovery.
Upendo House, Stone Town
Upendo House is a stylish option in the heart of Stone Town, with a rooftop pool and easy access to the old town.
It works particularly well for the first or final night of a Zanzibar trip.
Nungwi Dreams
If you want to spend time in northern Zanzibar, have a look at my Nungwi Dreams review.
Nungwi is known for its beaches, sunsets and a livelier atmosphere than some of the quieter parts of the island.
The Ultimate Zanzibar Hotel?
I also went searching for what might be the ultimate hotel in Zanzibar.
Choosing the right area is important because travelling around Zanzibar can take much longer than the map suggests. Stone Town, Nungwi and the east coast all provide very different holiday experiences.
What Else Is Changing on British Airways in Summer 2027?
The new Tanzania route forms part of a wider group of British Airways schedule changes for summer 2027.
Other announced changes include:
Buenos Aires receiving a daily nonstop service from Heathrow, continuing onwards to Santiago.
Rio de Janeiro remaining daily but no longer continuing to Buenos Aires.
San José in Costa Rica becoming a year-round route three times per week.
Cape Town increasing from seven to ten weekly flights.
Las Vegas increasing from 13 to 14 weekly flights.
Gatwick to Barbados continuing through summer 2027, with onward services to Grenada, Guyana and Tobago.
Gatwick to St Lucia becoming a dedicated four-times-weekly route.
The Tanzania announcement is still the most interesting for me because it creates such an obvious two-centre holiday.
This is one of British Airways’ most useful new leisure routes for years.
The outbound stop at Kilimanjaro means the flight to Zanzibar isn’t completely nonstop. However, the overall route has been designed very intelligently.
For passengers visiting Zanzibar only, it provides a single-aircraft journey from Gatwick and a nonstop flight home.
For passengers combining a safari with Zanzibar, it’s even better. Fly into Kilimanjaro, explore mainland Tanzania, finish on the beach and return directly from Zanzibar.
No backtracking. No unnecessary positioning flight. No ending the holiday with a complicated connection.
Three weekly flights aren’t huge, so the best fares and Avios seats will probably disappear quickly, especially in Club World and during school holidays.
If Tanzania is on your 2027 travel list, this is absolutely a route worth watching.
Safari first, beach later? EVET!
British Airways Flights to Zanzibar: Frequently Asked Questions
Does British Airways fly directly to Zanzibar?
British Airways will fly from London Gatwick to Zanzibar from 29 May 2027. The outbound flight includes a scheduled stop at Kilimanjaro, while the return flight from Zanzibar to Gatwick is nonstop.
When do British Airways flights to Zanzibar begin?
The first scheduled service is due to operate on 29 May 2027.
How often will British Airways fly to Zanzibar?
The service will operate three times per week. Flights are scheduled to leave Gatwick on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Which London airport will BA use for Zanzibar flights?
The flights will operate from London Gatwick Airport.
How long is the BA flight from Gatwick to Zanzibar?
The complete scheduled outbound journey is approximately ten hours and 20 minutes, including the stop in Kilimanjaro. The direct return flight from Zanzibar to Gatwick takes around ten hours and 30 minutes.
Is the flight from Zanzibar to London nonstop?
Yes. The return flight is scheduled to operate directly from Zanzibar to London Gatwick.
What aircraft will BA use?
British Airways plans to use a Boeing 777 with World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World cabins.
Can I fly into Kilimanjaro and return from Zanzibar?
Yes. This is one of the biggest advantages of the new triangular route and is ideal for combining a safari with a Zanzibar beach holiday.
Can I use Avios for flights to Zanzibar?
Yes, subject to reward-seat availability. Avios prices vary according to cabin and peak or off-peak travel dates, with taxes and charges payable separately.
What is the British Airways Zanzibar flight number?
The planned flight number is BA2163.
✈ More Zanzibar Guides and Reviews
Planning a trip? These guides should help:
British Airways Flights to Zanzibar Launch in 2027: Safari First, Beach Later!
The PLANE Smart Way to Take Off
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