Flights to the African Islands

Three island groups

Las Palmas, Arrecife and Puerto del Rosario are the capitals of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, part of Spain's Canary Islands. Further south, Cape Verde is an independent nation of ten islands: Praia is its capital on Santiago, Espargos the main town of Sal, and Rabil the airport village on Boa Vista. Zanzibar City, in the Indian Ocean, is the historic port of Zanzibar, part of Tanzania.

Non-stop and one-stop routes

Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and British Airways fly non-stop from airports across the UK to Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. TUI flies to Sal and Boa Vista from several UK airports, and easyJet to Sal from Gatwick, Manchester and Bristol. Praia has no direct UK flights, so routes connect through Lisbon, Casablanca or Sal. Zanzibar has no UK non-stop at present, though Gatwick routes have been announced, and airlines connect through Doha, Istanbul, Nairobi or Addis Ababa.

Visas and entry

British passport holders can visit the Canary Islands without a visa. Cape Verde doesn't require a visa for short stays, but visitors must pre-register online and pay an airport security fee before arrival. Tanzania, which includes Zanzibar, requires a visa, which you can arrange online in advance, and Zanzibar also requires its own inbound travel insurance. Check current UK government travel advice and your insurance before you go.

Money, time and getting around

The Canary Islands use the euro and keep UK time. Cape Verde uses the escudo, pegged to the euro, and is one hour behind the UK in winter. Zanzibar uses the Tanzanian shilling, with US dollars common for hotels and tours, and is three hours ahead in winter. Driving is on the right in the Canaries and Cape Verde, and on the left in Zanzibar. Ferries link the Canary Islands, and domestic flights connect Cape Verde's islands.

Weather across the islands

The Canaries are mild all year, with winter highs of around 21°C, and Lanzarote and Fuerteventura see very little rain. Cape Verde is warmer, at around 25 to 30°C, with a short rainy season from August to October and steady winds that suit kitesurfing. Zanzibar is hot all year, with long rains from March to May and shorter rains in November.

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