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2-Day Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 215 Tours

4.8/5  –  2,178 Tanzania Reviews

There’s nowhere in East Africa quite like Zanzibar, both for its beaches and fascinating Swahili cultural legacy. But this island also opens up some fantastic opportunities for going on a safari on the Tanzanian mainland, which lies just across the water. It’s a very common combination that allows you to see two of Tanzania’s most memorable attractions: the Indian Ocean coastline and Tanzania’s safari parks with their amazing wildlife. There are so many tours and packages to choose from, and although 2 days isn’t very much time, you’ll still get a taste of what this diverse country has to offer.

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4 Questions About 2-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

1. Which parks are typically visited on a 2-day trip from Zanzibar?
2. Is the south or north of Tanzania better for a 2-day safari from Zanzibar?
3. Are 2 days enough for a trip from Zanzibar?
4. Are all 2-day safaris from Zanzibar fly-in safaris?
 
 

4 Questions About 2-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

Answered by Anthony Ham

Which parks are typically visited on a 2-day trip from Zanzibar?

“Going on a 2-day safari from Zanzibar means you will most likely travel on day 1 and return to Zanzibar on day 2, allowing you 1 precious night in the park of your choice. To make the most of your limited time, you will need to fly in both directions, preferably to an airstrip inside or very close to the park. With only 2 days and 1 night in a park, you should really make it a good one. If you decide to visit Tanzania’s south, then Selous Game Reserve (now renamed to Nyerere National Park) is a fine choice. Its main rival would be Mikumi National Park. If, instead, you travel to the north, Serengeti National Park would always be my first choice, although it would be quite a long flight to get there. Any of Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park or Ngorongoro Crater would also ensure an absolutely fantastic safari.”

1

Is the south or north of Tanzania better for a 2-day safari from Zanzibar?

“As long as you choose your park carefully, it’s impossible to have a bad safari in either the south or north of Tanzania, so you can’t really lose! When making your choice, a key question to ask your safari tour operator is whether you can fly directly to the park from Zanzibar or whether you have to change planes (in Arusha or Dar es Salaam, for example). With only 2 days at your disposal, a change of planes can waste valuable time. As a general rule, it’s easier to find direct flights to southern Tanzanian parks, but it’s best if you ask your operator about the options. When it comes to the parks themselves, there’s not much difference in relation to wildlife. Big cats, elephant, giraffe, zebra and most of the safari animal highlights can be seen in nearly all parks across both regions. One thing that Selous (Nyerere) has that other parks don’t is a boat safari on the beautiful Rufiji River. But remember that time spent on the boat will take away from the time available for game drives, where you’ll generally see more animals.”

2

Are 2 days enough for a trip from Zanzibar?

“The short answer is no, but 2 days are better than none. There are many different tours and packages available, but a 2-day safari from Zanzibar will always involve flying to the park on day 1 and flying back on day 2. The benefit of this (when compared to a 1-day safari) is that you will get to stay overnight in the destination and have time for game drives during the ideal times for seeing animals: late afternoon and early morning. The downside is that you won’t get to enjoy a full day in the park you’re visiting. At the end of your 2 days, you will almost certainly wish that you had more time. But the same could be said for just about any length of safari. More than that, if given the choice between a 2-day safari from Zanzibar and no safari at all, I would choose the 2-day safari every single time.”

3

Are all 2-day safaris from Zanzibar fly-in safaris?

“Because Zanzibar is an island, and it is impossible to have a classic safari experience there, you have little realistic choice but to fly to the Tanzanian mainland and back on a 2-day safari. This is because time is limited on a 2-day safari, and flying is the best way to make the most of it. Flying has pros and cons. On the one hand, flying is expensive, which makes it almost impossible to arrange a cheap or affordable 2-day safari from Zanzibar. But if you can afford it, the views as you fly into the park should be worth every dollar you spend. Your trip will feel less like a transfer and more like a scenic flight. A fly-in safari should mean that you fly from Zanzibar into an airstrip inside the national park (or, in the case of Selous, just outside the park gate). Very often this airstrip will be close to your accommodations, and you’ll be driven around in a safari 4WD vehicle while you’re in the park or reserve.”

4

Tanzania Reviews

4.8/5 2,178 Reviews
Expert
Kim Wildman  –  
Australia AU

Kim is a travel writer who authored and updated over 15 guidebooks, including Lonely Planet's South Africa and Bradt's Tanzania guides.

On the prowl
5/5

Tanzania is a wildlife photographer’s dream come true – even for wannabe National Geographic photographers like me. With one of the world’s largest and wildest animal populations, the country offers some of the best safari...

Full Review

Expert
Philip Briggs  –  
South Africa ZA

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

Africa’s Greatest Safari Destination
5/5

There is arguably no better safari destination than Tanzania. And, to be honest, I’m not even sure I should be using the word ‘arguably’ here! Tanzania’s superb network of wildlife reserves (including 22 national parks) is the most...

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Flavia  –  
Italy IT
Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026
The journey of a lifetime
5/5

Tanzania was an extraordinary destination for our first safari: we had the opportunity to visit several parks, each with unique landscapes and an impressive abundance of wildlife. We were especially thrilled by Central Serengeti, where we...

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Cassandra Spicher  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026
From the kind people to the beautiful animals, everything was amazing.
5/5

The local people loved teaching us about their country and showing us all Tanzania had to offer. We felt safe and well cared for at every stop. I still can't believe we saw over 30 different kinds of animals, some of them so close we could...

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Bryan  –  
Spain ES
Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026
The whole country seems to be one big wildlife reserve.
5/5

An extraordinary experience although the Serengeti has become far to commercialised.
There are far too many vehicles and when a crossing or kill is broadcast it becomes a race which can be very dangerous.

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Paulo Matos  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Sep 16, 2026
Nature at its best
4/5

My Safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro parks was an unforgettable experience. To see all the big 5 in their Natural environment plus all the other beautiful animals I had the opportunity to see was absolutely amazing.

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All 2178 Tanzania Reviews