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1-Day Safari From Dar es Salaam - Compare 55 Tours

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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4 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Dar es Salaam

 
 

4 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Dar es Salaam

Answered by Anthony Ham

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.”

1

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.”

2

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.”

3

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.”

4

Tanzania Reviews

4.8/5 2,050 Reviews
Expert
Mary Fitzpatrick  –  
United States US

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  –  
United Kingdom UK

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

Nate Cornille  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Jan 19, 2026
An incredible chance to experience wildlife in truly wild places
5/5

What an awesome 5 day camping trip. Had a great time with every effort made to find amazing wildlife. The Sable Antelope were incredible and apparently it had been quite some time since the guide had seen them. While I was hoping for Wild...

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Joyce  –  
Netherlands NL
Reviewed: Jan 18, 2026
once in a lifetime holiday
5/5

Our trip to Tanzania was a special and impressive experience. The accommodations were comfortable and well taken care of, and the food was surprisingly good and varied. A definite highlight was our guide Douglas: very knowledgeable,...

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Shanyuanyu du  –  
Japan JP
Reviewed: Jan 17, 2026
Not only with great wilderness, but it was so warm people.
5/5

This is my first time to visit Africa and glad that I chose Tanzania as my first destination. I went on a five days Safari and one day hiking trip to Kilimanjaro Mountain. Both experience are very different from other travelling memories. I...

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Luca Dentis  –  
Italy IT
Reviewed: Jan 9, 2026
Simply... amazing!
5/5

In December, our family decided to break the European winter with a stay in Tanzania. The first part was a journey (by train and car) into the interior of the country, to Mikumi National Park. We chose a 3-day package that allowed us to...

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