1-Day Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 53 Tours

4.8/5 – 2,023 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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5 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

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’.
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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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

How much does a 1-day trip from Zanzibar cost?

“There are lots of different tours and packages to consider when planning your day trip from Zanzibar, and prices will vary from one operator to the next. As a general rule, however, finding a cheap or affordable 1-day safari from Zanzibar will be a challenge. Because flying is so expensive, and you’ll need to fly there and back in a single day, you can expect to pay at least US$400 to US$500 per person, although you could end up paying quite a lot more. There is a little less variation involved in 1-day safaris than there is for longer, multiday safaris. That’s because all of your costs (including two air transfers) will be condensed into a single day. The main cost variables will be whether you’re traveling on a group or private safari and whether you’re traveling in low or high season.”

Tanzania Reviews

4.8/5 2,023 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

Richard B –

Reviewed: Nov 28, 2025

Tanzania - go there for an amazing diversity of wildlife, up close and personal!

5/5

We travelled throughout the entirety of Tanzania with Lion King, which was a first rate tour operator. The safari was well organized, and the guide who accompanied us for the whole time, and the accommodation, were all quite exceptional. ...

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Melissa –

Reviewed: Nov 26, 2025

Welcoming

5/5

We had a wonderful time on safari in Tanzania. Our tour guide had extensive knowledge of the parks and the different animals and scenery. Our accommodation was all of a high standard and all the food was delicious!

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Maryrose MacDonald –

Reviewed: Nov 26, 2025

An incredible once in a lifetime experience!

5/5

4 of us had an excellent 9day and 8 night trip with the Company Paradise and Wilderness Ltd. Our driver amd guide, Samwell, was fantastic. Knowledgeable, pleasant and fun, tireless amd completely attentive to us. Punctual and safe. The...

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Joaquin Lorie –

Reviewed: Nov 26, 2025

Fantastic place for the best wild life experience.

5/5

Tanzania is the place to go when you wish to experience awesome people and get close to wild life. Everywhere you go people are friendly and just plain nice. Tanzania offers the opportunity to visit multiple parks where you get to see up...

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1-Day Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 53 Tours

1-Day Private Game Drive to Nyerere NP from Zanzibar

1-Day Zanzibar to Nyerere Park Private Flight Safari

1-Day Fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park

1-Day Flying Zanzibar to Mikumi NP, Full Day Game Drive

1-Day Exclusive Fly-in Safari; Zanzibar to Nyerere NP

1-Day Fly-in (Beach-Bush) Safari from Zanzibar to Mikumi

1-Day Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park (Couples)

1-Day Zanzibar - Nyerere National Park (Selous)

1-Day Flying Safari from Zanzibar to Mikumi Park

1-Day Trip to Nyerere National Park from Zanzibar/ Dar

1-Day Fly-in Private Mikumi Safari from Zanzibar

1-Day Zanzibar to Tarangire National Park by Flight

1-Day Trip to Mikumi NP from Zanzibar by Flight

1-Day Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park Flying Package

1-Day Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park Adventure

1-Day Zanzibar to Mikumi Fly-in Safari

1-Day Mikumi Safari Trip from Paradise of Zanzibar

1-Day Selous Day Tour from Zanzibar Back to Zanzibar

1-Day Tarangire Fly-in/Fly-out a Wildlife Adventure

1-Day Fly in and out to Mikumi from Zanzibar

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5 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About 1-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

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

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

Is 1 day enough for a trip from Zanzibar?

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

How much does a 1-day trip from Zanzibar cost?

Tanzania Reviews

Tanzania – Classic African Safari Destination

Wilderness unlimited

Tanzania - go there for an amazing diversity of wildlife, up close and personal!

Welcoming

An incredible once in a lifetime experience!

Fantastic place for the best wild life experience.