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1-Day Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 56 Tours

4.8/5  –  2,074 Tanzania Reviews

Zanzibar is both a fabulous destination in its own right and a launchpad for many safari possibilities on the Tanzanian mainland. Having only 1 day means that the choice of where you can go will be limited, but having 1 day to spend on safari is always better than having no days at all. The best thing about a 1-day safari of this kind is waking up one morning in Zanzibar, surrounded by the swaying palm trees of the Indian Ocean coastline, and knowing that you might be seeing some incredible animals before you go to bed again. It will be quite a busy day and will involve a lot of traveling. But the rewards should be worth every minute and every dollar spent.

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4 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

1. What parks are typically visited on a 1-day trip from Zanzibar?
2. Is Mikumi or Selous (Nyerere) better for a 1-day safari from Zanzibar?
3. Is 1 day enough for a trip from Zanzibar?
4. Are all 1-day safaris from Zanzibar fly-in safaris?
 
 

4 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

Answered by Anthony Ham

What parks are typically visited on a 1-day trip from Zanzibar?

“With only 1 day to spend on safari, the most important thing is to try and get to the safari park as quickly as possible. This means you should really look at those packages that offer a direct flight from Zanzibar to the park in question (rather than requiring an additional flight from Arusha or Dar es Salaam). This probably means that Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit will be off-limits for a day trip from Zanzibar. You’re more likely to find tours that go directly into Selous Game Reserve (now renamed to Nyerere National Park) or Mikumi National Park. Even where there aren’t direct flights, the traveling time is likely to be much shorter than to most other parks on the Tanzanian mainland. Another popular possibility could be coastal Saadani National Park, although the wildlife is not quite as good as in some other Tanzanian parks.”

1

Is Mikumi or Selous (Nyerere) better for a 1-day safari from Zanzibar?

“Either Mikumi or Selous (Nyerere) would be an excellent choice for a 1-day safari from Zanzibar. Both have incredible wildlife possibilities, although each offers a slightly different safari experience. Mikumi is a first-rate safari experience and ranks high on my list of best Tanzanian parks for wilderness. It can sometimes even feel like a smaller version of the Serengeti, especially out on the Mkata Floodplain. And when it comes to wildlife, there’s a good chance you can see big cats, as well as elephant, giraffe, buffalo and hippo. Selous is also excellent, with big cats, buffalo, elephant and so much more. What Selous can offer that other parks can’t is the mighty Rufiji, one of Africa’s great rivers. A boat safari is a real highlight of visiting here, both for the scenery and the wildlife you might see.”

2

Is 1 day enough for a trip from Zanzibar?

“It’s never enough to have 1 day on safari, and that is particularly the case when it comes to a day trip from Zanzibar. That’s because you’ll need to factor in your travel time to get to the safari park in question, which means flying from Zanzibar to the mainland (and hopefully directly into an airstrip in the park you’ll be visiting). Another downside of only having 1 day for your safari is that you’ll spend the best time of the day traveling, rather than looking for animals. The early morning and late afternoon, when the light is best and animals are at their most active and easiest to see, would be better spent out on safari, rather than flying to get there. Despite all of this, if you only have 1 day to be on safari, then it’s sure to be a good day. In fact, I can think of no way I’d rather spend a day than going on safari. Would more time be ideal? Of course. But any time you can spend on a Tanzanian safari will be time well spent.”

3

Are all 1-day safaris from Zanzibar fly-in safaris?

“The only way to make a 1-day safari from Zanzibar work is to fly into the destination you’ll be visiting. Zanzibar is an island, which means you have no choice but to fly. And because you only have 1 day, you really should make the most of your time by flying directly into the national park you want to see (rather than changing planes along the way). If, for example, you decide to fly to Selous, the main airstrip for the park is only a very short drive from the main eastern gate into the park. This means that you will be on safari almost as soon as you get off the plane. And while you may spend a large part of your day flying to and from the mainland, just remember that the views you get to enjoy along the way could end up being a real highlight of your trip.”

4

Tanzania Reviews

4.8/5 2,074 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...

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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...

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Marjolijn  –  
Netherlands NL
Reviewed: Feb 25, 2026
Beautiful country, great food, lovely people. Many become rafiki's. Hakuna matata!
5/5

I would recommend visiting all four parks: Serengeti, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation and Manyara Lake National Park. It is doable is 4 days, however some parts are quite a long drive. Hence, a day rest in between...

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Janice Killion  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Feb 24, 2026
Stunning scenery and wildlife, incredibly friendly and open locals
5/5

Traveling to Tanzania fulfilled a lifetime dream. We spent two weeks on safari, waking up early every day to fresh rich coffee and breakfast before heading out for a full day of wildlife viewing. We witnessed it all, sometimes just parked...

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Hans van der Burg  –  
Netherlands NL
Reviewed: Feb 20, 2026
Amazing country, beautiful nature and people are so welcoming
5/5

Thanks to Mountain Warriors we had an amazing 2-day safari. Well taken care off, all well prepared. The drivers went up and beyond to give us the experience needed and we seen more than we can process :-) The respect for nature and...

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David John Collier  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Feb 20, 2026
The very best safari destination in the world bar none!
5/5

I have done lots and lots of safaris in the last 50 years to many different African countries but my latest and first trip to Tanzania was the very best ever! Meru Slopes Tours and safaris surpassed my wildest expectations and delivered a...

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All 2074 Tanzania Reviews