1-Day Safari From Dar es Salaam - Compare 25 Tours

4.8/5 – 1,857 Tanzania Reviews

You only have 1 day to go on safari, so it’s time for you to start planning. You’ll want to get started very early on the day you travel to make the most of your day, and what a day it will be! You’ll need to fly, so think about the flight as part of your safari: it’s a wonderful way to see some of the country in a short space of time. You’ll be going and returning on the same day, and you’ll arrive back in Dar es Salaam exhausted, exhilarated and wishing you had more time. But there is so much to look forward to as you get a taste of one of the wonderful parks that Tanzania’s south has to offer.

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5 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Dar es Salaam

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Tanzania’ and ‘East Africa’. He writes about Tanzania and the wider region for magazines and newspapers worldwide. He is also the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’, part of which is set in southern Tanzania.
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Where can I go on a 1-day safari from Dar es Salaam?

“On a 1-day safari from Dar es Salaam, your options are limited, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see some animals while you’re here in one of East Africa’s best wildlife countries. And before you get started, it’s important that you understand exactly what is possible: a 1-day safari means a day trip, so you’ll leave Dar es Salaam in the morning and return to the city the same day. You’ll make the most of your day if you fly to your destination from Dar, and then fly back again. This, of course, will rule out any cheap or affordable budget safaris. If you do fly, the two most obvious parks to visit are Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Mikumi National Park, both in Tanzania’s south. They are fantastic parks with incredible wildlife. Another possibility that may involve less travel time is to visit Saadani National Park, although it doesn’t have the wildlife of the other two parks.”

Which animals can I see on a 1-day trip from Dar es Salaam?

“It all depends on where you go. If you visit Nyerere National Park, there’s a good chance that you could see lion, elephant, zebra, giraffe, hippo and crocodile on a 1-day safari from Dar es Salaam. If you get to see African wild dog or leopard, then you’ve really hit the jackpot. If you visit Mikumi National Park and you get to explore the glorious Mkata Floodplain, you’ll be looking for elephant, giraffe, buffalo and hippo, as well as lion and leopard. If, on the other hand, your safari takes you to Saadani National Park, you’ll probably see hippos and crocodiles, while giraffe and elephant are also commonly spotted. More elusive, especially on a short visit, are Lichtenstein’s hartebeest and, if you’re really lucky, lion. One of the unusual things about Saadani is the setting: it’s the only park where you can see some of these animals within sight of the beach.”

Is 1 day enough for a trip from Dar es Salaam?

“You’ll certainly wish that you had more time if you only do a 1-day safari from Dar. Apart from being limited in how far you can travel, you’ll also need lots of luck to find the animals you wish to see. Because they are wild creatures, sightings are never guaranteed, and you reduce your chances of seeing them if you only stay such a short time. One other thing to remember is that on a day trip you won’t be visiting any park at the ideal time for seeing animals (which is early morning and late afternoon) because you’ll be traveling there and back at this time. For all of these reasons, if you can add an extra day to your safari trip, do so. However, if you can only spare 1 day, I always believe that 1 day on safari is better than no days at all. If you plan your trip carefully, you can still end up having a really special day.”

Is a fly-in safari recommended for a 1-day safari from Dar es Salaam?

“There are some big advantages to choosing 1-day fly-in safari packages and tours. The first is that you’ll maximize the amount of time you spend in the destination, rather than using up all of your day traveling to get there and back. Another benefit is that your air transfer will be like taking a scenic flight, and the views you enjoy along the way may end up being a highlight of your trip. And, of course, flying makes possible some of the parks that are farther away from Dar, such as Nyerere or Mikumi. The downside of a fly-in safari can be the cost: flying may be fast, but it is expensive. If you’re planning a cheap and affordable budget safari, choose to visit Saadani, which is close enough to Dar that you won’t need to fly. Lots of locals visit Saadani as a day or weekend trip from the city.”

How much will this safari cost?

“If you only have 1 day, you’ll need to accept that this will be an expensive day. The only exception to this is a day trip to Saadani, which might be possible for US$100 to US$150 per person per day. This should include transfers, park entry fees, vehicle, guide and lunch. If you’re flying to Nyerere, Mikumi or elsewhere, then your 1-day safari from Dar es Salaam might start at around US$400 to US$500 per person per day, but could cost more. It’s worth shopping around as there can be big price differences between safari operators. You should have lots of day-trip tours and packages to choose from. A couple of final things to remember. First, you should always ask what’s included, and what’s not included, in the quoted price to avoid any nasty surprises when it comes time to pay. And if an operator looks to cut costs by not leaving first thing in the morning and arriving on the last flight back of the day, look elsewhere.”

Tanzania Reviews

4.8/5 1,857 Reviews

Expert

Mary Fitzpatrick –

Mary is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including South Africa, Tanzania, East Africa and Africa.

Tanzania – Classic African Safari Destination

5/5

Few areas of the continent offer the amount, variety and accessibility of wildlife that Tanzania does, against such a scenic backdrop. Wildlife is abundant, species diversity excellent, and evocative acacia- and baobab-studded landscapes...

Full Review

Expert

Brian Jackman –

Brian is an award winning travel writer, author of safari books and regular contributor to magazines such as BBC Wildlife and Travel Africa.

Wilderness unlimited

5/5

Tanzania may be one of the world’s poorest countries but its national parks and game reserves are the crown jewels of Africa. First among equals is the Serengeti, probably the most famous wildlife refuge on the planet, a wilderness the...

Full Review

Abdul Jabbar Soomro –

Reviewed: Apr 23, 2025

5/5

Tanzania is an exceptional safari destination, offering iconic parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Its rich wildlife, stunning landscapes, and cultural experiences create unforgettable adventures. Ideal for both first-time and seasoned...

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Fraser R –

Reviewed: Apr 18, 2025

So many great places!

5/5

I loved my time in Tanzania! I started at Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro crater, which had a really good balance between catering to tourists (plenty of places to see the animals from, established camp sites) and still being...

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Phil Loveday –

Reviewed: Apr 14, 2025

The wow factor

5/5

Our first time on safari but not our first time in Tanzania … we keep coming back because the people are so fantastic but this time with a four day safari it was epic … we started in Dodoma did Tarangiri, then Ngorongoro finishing with...

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Annemarie Ulijn –

Reviewed: Apr 14, 2025

One big wonderful 3 day safari adventure

5/5

After a special experience of flying in a small plane from Arusha to Seronera, we were warmly welcomed by our fantastic driver (Gama) and friendly guide (Gift) from "Cari local African safaris". The first day we visited the serengeti...

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5 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Dar es Salaam

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Dar es Salaam

Where can I go on a 1-day safari from Dar es Salaam?

Which animals can I see on a 1-day trip from Dar es Salaam?

Is 1 day enough for a trip from Dar es Salaam?

Is a fly-in safari recommended for a 1-day safari from Dar es Salaam?

How much will this safari cost?

Tanzania Reviews

Tanzania – Classic African Safari Destination

Wilderness unlimited

So many great places!

The wow factor

One big wonderful 3 day safari adventure