What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Zanzibar?
Emergency number
112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: med-express.net, rchospitalznz.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Sources genuinely disagree on exact emergency digits (you'll see 112, 999, 114, 111, and 115 cited in different places) — save both 112 and 999 in your phone, and also save the Tourist Police and Mnazi Mmoja Hospital numbers directly, since a direct line is more reliable than dispatch.
- Tanzania has no government-operated ambulance service, including in Zanzibar — for a real medical emergency, arranging a taxi or hotel vehicle to the nearest hospital is often faster than waiting for a dispatched ambulance.
- Emergency calls may be answered in Swahili with limited English, so having a local contact or your hotel staff help translate can speed things up.
- Get travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage — serious cases are typically evacuated to Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, and Zanzibar's own hospital facilities are limited outside Stone Town.
- Tourist Police units do operate in Zanzibar and are generally used to dealing with foreign visitors and speaking English.
- Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Stone Town is the only tertiary-level hospital in Zanzibar and the main fallback for serious trauma, but as a public facility it can be crowded and under-resourced compared to what nomads from wealthier countries may expect.
- Private hospitals like Tasakhtaa Global Hospital and Al Rahma offer faster, English-speaking private care for everyday emergencies, but for major trauma (severe accidents, head injuries, complex fractures) MMH generally has more surgical and specialist depth.
- If you're based outside Stone Town — Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje, Kiwengwa — check whether the nearest private hospital has genuine 24/7 emergency capability or mainly daytime outpatient hours before you need it.
- For serious trauma, comprehensive travel/medical evacuation insurance is strongly advised, since advanced ICU-level or specialist trauma care beyond initial stabilization often means evacuation to Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, or further afield.
- The islandwide emergency number is 112, which can connect you to police, fire, and ambulance support from any phone.
Hospitals
Mnazi Mmoja Hospital (MMH)
- Phone
- +255 773 833 768 / +255 627 600 600
- Type
- Public — main government referral hospital
- Hours
- Emergency department open 24/7; outpatient clinics run standard daytime hours
- Address
- Kaunda Road / Vuga Street, Stone Town, Zanzibar (P.O. Box 672)
- Trauma Designation
- No formal Level I–III trauma system exists in Tanzania, but MMH is Zanzibar's only tertiary hospital and the de facto main trauma/referral center for the islands, with neurosurgery, general surgery, ICU, and dedicated emergency room facilities.
- Notes
- This is the largest and most capable public hospital on Unguja, with roughly 540-630 beds on its main Stone Town campus. It handles the most serious trauma cases referred from smaller clinics across the island, though it is a resource-constrained public facility that has historically dealt with emergency department overcrowding.
Tasakhtaa Global Hospital (Global Hospital Zanzibar)
- Phone
- Main reception +255 24 223 2341; Emergency line +255 24 223 2222 / +255 779 770577
- Type
- Private hospital
- Hours
- 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Address
- Victoria Street / Vuga Road, Stone Town, Zanzibar (P.O. Box 1116)
- Trauma Designation
- No formal trauma-level designation. Advertises 24x7 Accident & Emergency Care with resuscitation capability, general surgery, orthopaedics, and ICU-adjacent services.
- Notes
- A private alternative to MMH in central Stone Town, generally used by tourists and expats for faster private-pay emergency and outpatient care.
Al Rahma Hospital
- Phone
- +255 777 413 564 / +255 628 026 833
- Type
- Private hospital
- Hours
- Not independently verified; operates general medical, maternity, and emergency outpatient services
- Address
- Kilimani Road, Miembeni, Zanzibar Town (Mjini), Zanzibar
- Trauma Designation
- No formal trauma-level designation; positioned as a general private hospital offering emergency care, not a dedicated trauma center.
- Notes
- A private option in Zanzibar Town; several patient reviews raise concerns about wait times and service quality, so it is best treated as a secondary option rather than a first choice for serious trauma.
North Valley Hospital
- Phone
- +255 777 797 779 / +255 621 112 222
- Type
- Private hospital
- Hours
- Published outpatient hours are 8:00am–5:00pm Monday–Friday and 8:00am–12:00pm Saturday–Sunday
- Address
- Nungwi Road, Nungwi (Kendwa–Nungwi area), Zanzibar North
- Trauma Designation
- No formal trauma-level designation; markets itself as a multi-specialty hospital serving the northern beach/nomad area rather than a dedicated trauma facility.
- Notes
- Relevant for nomads and travelers based in the Nungwi/Kendwa area rather than central Stone Town. Its published hours are daytime outpatient hours, so true after-hours trauma capability should be confirmed directly before relying on it for a middle-of-the-night emergency; serious cases are often stabilized here and transferred to Stone Town.
MedExpress Hospital Paje
- Phone
- Available via MedExpress contact form/website
- Type
- Private hospital/clinic network
- Hours
- Advertised as 24/7 emergency room access
- Address
- Paje–Bwejuu Road, Paje, Zanzibar
- Trauma Designation
- No formal trauma-level designation; self-described as offering 24/7 emergency room access, trauma care, diagnostics, and surgery for the Paje/southeast coast nomad and kitesurf hub.
- Notes
- Useful for the many remote workers and kitesurfers based in Paje, a popular nomad area on the southeast coast, since it removes the need to travel all the way to Stone Town for many urgent issues.
Healthcare
- Overview
- Zanzibar has multiple private and public healthcare facilities offering services to residents and expatriates. Major hospitals are concentrated in Stone Town, Paje, and Nungwi. Private hospitals accept international health insurance.
- Emergency Services
- 24-hour emergency services available at most private hospitals with ambulance services
- Insurance Requirement
- As of October 1, 2024, all visitors to Zanzibar are required to obtain mandatory travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) prior to arrival. Valid for up to 92 days and covers medical emergencies, evacuations, and other unforeseen events.
Major Facilities
MedExpress Hospital
- Type
- Private
- Features
- Accepts international insurance, modern equipment, English-speaking staff
- Location
- Paje (South East Coast)
- Services
- 24/7 emergency care, diagnostics, surgery, specialist consultations, inpatient services, pharmacy
Tasakhtaa Global Hospital
- Type
- Private
- Features
- Modern equipment, experienced doctors
- Location
- Stone Town
- Services
- Multi-specialty, CT scans, dialysis, specialized surgeries
Mnazi Mmoja Hospital
- Type
- Public
- Features
- Largest public hospital, can be crowded
- Location
- Stone Town
- Services
- General medical services, emergency care, specialized treatments
North Valley Hospital
- Type
- Private
- Features
- Convenient for northern Zanzibar
- Location
- Nungwi
- Services
- General healthcare, outpatient services, emergency assistance
Aga Khan Polyclinic
- Type
- Private (Not-for-profit)
- Features
- Links to Aga Khan Hospital Dar es Salaam via digital health connections
- Location
- Stone Town
- Services
- Emergency and urgent care, enhanced diagnostics, dialysis, dentistry, specialist consultations
Pharmacies
- Overview
- Pharmacies are available throughout Zanzibar, primarily in urban areas and tourist centers. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are obtainable, though some international brands may be limited.
- Pharmacy Types
- Regulated Part I pharmacies (run by registered pharmacists, sell prescription and OTC) and Part II drug shops ('maduka ya dawa baridi') selling limited ranges
- First Aid Supplies
- Bandages, antiseptics, and basic first aid supplies available at most pharmacies
- Medication Availability
- Common health problems can be addressed. Anti-malaria drugs available as OTC. European medications available at some facilities. Brand availability limited—travelers advised to bring sufficient supply of special/prescription medications from home.
Main Locations
Stone Town
- Note
- Highest concentration of pharmacies; Shamshu Pharmacy noted for best selection
Paje
- Note
- MedExpress Pharmacy operates 24/7 with prescription and over-the-counter medications
Nungwi/Kendwa
- Note
- Popular beach areas with some pharmacies available
Emergency Numbers
Police
- Number
- 999 (also 112)
- Description
- 999 is the number most commonly given for direct police assistance in Zanzibar; 112 is also used and may route to police.
Ambulance
- Number
- 112 or 114 (varies by source)
- Description
- There is no single reliable, dedicated ambulance dispatch number, and Tanzania does not have a government-run emergency ambulance service in any region. Calling 112 may connect you to police/fire, who lack ambulances; private transport (taxi, hotel vehicle) to the nearest hospital is often faster and more reliable than waiting for a dispatched ambulance.
Safety Apps
- Step Program
- US citizens can enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for security alerts and embassy contact in a crisis, though this is not Zanzibar-specific and not a mobile app tied to local emergency dispatch.
- Third Party Option
- Commercial travel-safety apps (e.g. TravelSafe SOS) advertise 24/7 medical and security coordination for East Africa including Zanzibar, but these are paid private services, not official government tools, and should be treated as a supplement to travel insurance rather than a replacement for local emergency numbers.
- Official Government App
- No dedicated official Tanzanian or Zanzibari government emergency/safety app was found.
Fire Department
- Number
- 114
- Description
- Fire brigade number cited specifically for Zanzibar, though response times vary by location on the island.
Zanzibar Tourist Police
- Number
- +255 712 950 318
- Description
- A dedicated tourist police contact for Zanzibar, useful for crime reports or assistance involving foreign visitors.
Zanzibar Traffic Police
- Number
- +255 24 223 0772
- Description
- Contact for reporting and documenting road traffic accidents in Zanzibar, useful for insurance claims.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 112
- Description
- The number most consistently cited as Zanzibar's all-purpose emergency line, connecting to police, fire, and ambulance dispatch. Reachable from any phone, including a mobile with no active SIM.
Main Public Hospital Emergency
- Number
- +255 24 223 1071
- Name
- Mnazi Mmoja Hospital (Stone Town)
- Description
- The main government hospital on the island, handling serious emergencies and trauma cases; facilities are more basic than private clinics.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Zanzibar
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.