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Tanzania Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 1,305 Tours

Zanzibar may be part of Tanzania but it really is a world apart. Adding a mainland Tanzanian safari to your Zanzibar holiday allows you to enjoy the best of both of these worlds. Zanzibar is a special place where history seems written on every stone. It’s also a long-standing favorite Indian Ocean beach destination for many travelers, with fabulous stretches of sand and stunning resorts. Over on the mainland, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier safari destinations with world-class parks filled with wildlife. Whether you visit Selous Game Reserve (now renamed to Nyerere National Park) in the south or Serengeti National Park in the north, it’s all within a short flight from Zanzibar.

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5 Questions About Safaris From Zanzibar

 
 

5 Questions About Safaris From Zanzibar

Answered by Anthony Ham

What parks are best for a safari from Zanzibar?

“Most parks on the Tanzanian mainland are a short flight from Zanzibar, although in some cases you may need to change planes in Arusha or Dar es Salaam. If I could visit just one area of Tanzania on my safari from Zanzibar, it would be the country’s north. This is where you find Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, which are without doubt my top picks. Both of these destinations are really close to Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks, which are fantastic wildlife destinations if you can spare the time. Some tour itineraries cram all four of these destinations into 5 days, but 7 days or longer would make for a more relaxed and rewarding safari. Another option would be to head south, where you’ll find the wildlife-rich Selous Game Reserve (now renamed to Nyerere National Park), which is especially good for varied landscapes, as well as elephants and lions. Visiting Selous would add at least 3 days to your overall trip. With more time, you could include Mikumi National Park and possibly even Ruaha National Park for a wilderness experience.”

1

How many days are recommended for a trip from Zanzibar?

“How long you devote to your safari from Zanzibar will depend on where you want to go. If you only have 3 to 4 days, you should probably focus on just one park. This might be Selous or the Serengeti. With each extra couple of days, you could add an extra park or two – Ngorongoro and perhaps even Lake Manyara in the north, or Mikumi in the south. If you can allow 6 or more days out of Zanzibar, then you could possibly complete the Northern safari circuit, or visit two or three parks across Tanzania’s south. It's worth talking with your operator about what combined Tanzania safari and Zanzibar packages are on offer. Many people who visit Zanzibar also visit the Tanzanian mainland, so you should have plenty of choice. And one final thing to remember: if you’re looking for a cheap or more affordable safari, you will need to try and minimize the number of flights while you’re on the mainland.”

2

Is a Serengeti safari possible from Zanzibar?

“It is possible to combine a trip to the Serengeti with time on Zanzibar, and there are lots of tours where this is an option. It usually involves a flight from Zanzibar to Arusha, in northern Tanzania, with a further flight from Arusha to one of the airstrips in the Serengeti. It is also possible to drive from Arusha to the Serengeti and enjoy some of the other attractions along the way (such as Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater). This will add quite a bit of extra time, but much of it will involve wildlife viewing. The Serengeti is certainly worth it and it’s one of my favorite parks anywhere in Africa. The wildlife here is incredible. This is especially the case if you time your visit to be in the right part of the park to catch the great wildebeest migration, which you can see at different stages in different areas throughout the year. But any time of year is good for wildlife viewing in the Serengeti, where you’ll see the big cats, elephant and so many other species.”

3

Should I go on a fly-in trip from Zanzibar?

“There will almost certainly be a flying component to your safari from Zanzibar. Although there are boat connections between Zanzibar Island and the mainland, they’re much slower than flying and not very convenient for those heading over to Tanzania for a safari. In addition to your flight from Zanzibar to the mainland (which usually means flying into Arusha, Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam), you may also fly from these airports into the national park of your choice. This is, of course, much more expensive than driving. But it will save precious holiday time for actually being on safari, rather than driving to get there. It will also provide you with some incredible views. Taking an air transfer is like going on a scenic flight, and there’s something special about getting off a plane deep in a national park with wildlife all around you.”

4

Can you do a classic safari on Zanzibar Island?

“A classic safari is not really possible on Zanzibar Island. There is a zoo-like wildlife park called Cheetah’s Rock, but visiting it is nothing like going on a real safari on the Tanzanian mainland. That said, some genuinely worthwhile wildlife experiences are available on Zanzibar. These include tracking the endemic (occuring naturally in only one area and nowhere else in the world) Zanzibar red colobus in Jozani Forest and snorkeling or diving to see colorful fish and other marine creatures on offshore coral reefs. If you’d like to get a real safari experience while you’re on Zanzibar, ask your tour operator what might be possible. They will have suggestions about where to go and what you can see by flying to the mainland. Before having such a conversation, you should do some of your own research and have a very clear idea of which animals you’d really like to see. If it’s big cats and elephants, then places such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Selous are all excellent. If, on the other hand, you’d like to follow in the footsteps of Jane Goodall and spend time tracking chimpanzees through the forest, then Gombe and Mahale Mountains National Parks (in the far west of the country) should be high on your list.”

5

Tanzania Safari Reviews

4.8/5 2,026 Reviews
Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

The perfect safari destination
5/5

With almost a quarter of this vast country dedicated to wildlife reserves and national parks, Tanzania is justifiably regarded as Africa’s premier safari destination. It’s one of my favourite countries, not just for the bush, beaches...

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

Brenda  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Dec 6, 2025
The most incredible travel destination if you are looking for the trip of a lifetime!
5/5

Tanzania is where all the animals are! There are so many possible destinations for a safari and it is an overwhelming decision, but it doesn’t need to be. If you are looking for: polite, friendly, welcoming people, fantastic weather, a...

Full Review

Francesco Romagnoli  –  
Italy IT
Reviewed: Dec 5, 2025
Stunning, giving Emotions
5/5

With Dallas Safari, we had great emotions and memories. Henry is great as driver, making the experience memorable and unique. We saw many animals and we did full day around trying to spot wildlife. Emotions with lots of Elephants, lions,...

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Dineia Pereira  –  
Portugal PT
Reviewed: Dec 5, 2025
Tanzania is a land of breathtaking landscapes, and abundant wildlife
5/5

Tanzania is an amazing destination, and the safari experience was unforgettable — the wildlife sightings were incredible, and our driver was absolutely fantastic. His knowledge and professionalism made the trip so much better. However,...

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Richard B  –  
Australia AU
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. ...

Full Review