1-Day Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 64 Tours

4.8/5 – 1,867 Tanzania Reviews

Zanzibar is both a fabulous destination in its own right and a launchpad for so many safari possibilities over on the Tanzanian mainland. Having only 1 day means that the choices 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 Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) 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 Nyerere (Selous) better for a 1-day safari from Zanzibar?

“Either Mikumi or Nyerere (Selous) 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. Nyerere is also excellent, with big cats, buffalo, elephant and so much more. What Nyerere 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?

“One day on safari is never enough, 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 Nyerere, 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$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 1,867 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

Ellen Maryati –

Reviewed: May 28, 2025

Paradise

5/5

I went to Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire in low season. I was afraid that I won’t see lots if animals because it’s rainy season. Turns out the weather is great, just a little bit rain, saw lots of animals, perfect scenes, and saw...

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Liviu Cira –

Reviewed: May 17, 2025

Tales of Tanzania

5/5

Hi! We went to Tanzania for a safari trip and came back with unforgettable memories! The safari was beyond expectations. Seeing animals in their natural habitat was blissful. From a group of 13(!) lion cubs chilling together under...

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Corinne Conrad –

Reviewed: May 14, 2025

Tanzania, with its diverse wildlife and magical landscapes, evokes deep emotions with every encounte

5/5

Our adventure began in Tarangire National Park, with our first encounters with wildlife: majestic elephants, curious giraffes, striped zebras, and lazy wildebeests… The magic took hold immediately. The next day, as we left the region, the...

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Joy Frech –

Reviewed: May 4, 2025

EPIC

5/5

Good day, we had a wonderful time in Tanzania, our safari was more then we expected, our driver Rajab amazing, we still converse on WhatsApp.
the sites, animals, accommodations, food and new friendships. thank you Tanzania

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1-Day Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 64 Tours

1-Day Private Safari to Mikumi NP 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 Nyerere (Selous) 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

Paradise

Tales of Tanzania

Tanzania, with its diverse wildlife and magical landscapes, evokes deep emotions with every encounte

EPIC