Selous (Nyerere) Safari From Zanzibar

4.4/5 – 113 Nyerere Safari Reviews

Combining time in Zanzibar Island with a safari on the Tanzanian mainland is a fantastic thing to do. And there’s no better place to take that safari than Selous Game Reserve (now renamed to Nyerere National Park) in Tanzania’s south. Selous is easy to reach from Zanzibar and it’s a brilliant park, known for its diverse and abundant wildlife, as well as some of southern Tanzania’s most beautiful landscapes. When you factor in the wonders of Zanzibar, from the history and architecture of Stone Town to its gorgeous beaches and glorious sunsets, and a classic safari experience in Selous, you have so much to look forward to.

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5 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) Safaris From Zanzibar

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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’, part of which is set in Selous Game Reserve.
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Is a Selous (Nyerere) safari possible from Zanzibar?

“A Selous safari from Zanzibar is certainly possible. In fact, it’s one of the best options if you’re thinking about a safari add-on from the island. Zanzibar itself has no safari possibilities, but it lies just offshore from the Tanzanian mainland, which is widely regarded as one of the best safari countries in Africa. If you’ve come so far and are this close, you should definitely consider such an excursion. And because so many people do it, there are lots of different operators who offer tours and packages to Selous from Zanzibar. The advantage of Selous is that it’s one of the closest mainland parks to Zanzibar, and the two are linked by direct flights. That means you can get to Selous much quicker than you can to any other major Tanzanian park.”

How many days do I need for a Selous (Nyerere) safari?

“One-day safaris to Selous are available from Zanzibar, but this will be very rushed and it means you miss out on spending a night in the African bush. Also available are 2-day safaris, but bear in mind that this would include quite a bit of travel time. You would travel to the park on day 1 and return (or continue your onward journey) on day 2, only staying in the park for 1 night. In that case, you would have time for two game drives (in the late afternoon on the day you arrive and early next morning), or one game drive and a sunrise or sunset boat trip on the Rufiji River. If you can add an extra day to make it a 3-day safari, you should. A 3-day safari means 2 nights and at least 1 full day in the park. This would be my recommended minimum. And any extra days you can spare will likely make your safari even more wonderful.”

Which animals can I see on a Selous (Nyerere) safari?

“Selous is a fantastic place to go and see animals. In fact, it’s one of the best wildlife parks in East Africa. The park is known for its elephant and lion populations, although these are just the top highlights of an incredible portfolio of animals. Other commonly seen animals include hippo, crocodile, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, waterbuck and impala. I’ve also seen African wild dog every time I’ve visited, while leopard is always a possibility. Of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), only rhino is absent. The birdlife here is also exceptional, with more than 440 species recorded. Selous also has the benefit of offering both game drives and boat excursions, which generally increases the list of birds and animals that you’re likely to see.”

Is it recommended to fly from Zanzibar to Selous (Nyerere)?

“Because Zanzibar is an island, most travelers who go to and from the mainland fly between the two. Flying is certainly the best option, because it gets you between Zanzibar and Selous in the quickest way possible: flying by the most direct route means you can wake up in Zanzibar in the morning and be in Selous by (or just after) lunchtime. It also means that you will enjoy wonderful views along the way. It is possible to travel between Zanzibar and the mainland by boat; the quickest service to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, takes slightly less than an hour. However, having boated across to Dar es Salaam, you would still need to travel a long way by road (the closest park gate is around 200km/124mi away, a four- to six-hour drive), or get to the airport and fly on to Selous. There are two reasons why you might consider traveling by boat: you are looking for a cheap and affordable safari (flying is expensive) and you have plenty of time to spare.”

What will a Selous (Nyerere) safari from Zanzibar cost?

“There are almost as many different tours and packages available for a Selous safari from Zanzibar as there are tour operators, so it’s difficult to answer this question with any precision. Every trip is different. Those searching for a cheap or affordable 2- or 3-day safari from Zanzibar might be able to find something for US$250 to US$350 per person per day. You might find something for less than this if you travel by boat and by road, but this would lengthen your safari (increasing the overall cost) and/or reduce the amount of time you have to spend in Selous. If you’re looking for a full-on luxury Selous experience, expect safari packages to start at US$450 per person per day, although prices can be much higher if you choose to stay in the most luxurious accommodations in high season and travel as part of a private safari (rather than a cheaper group safari). These prices should include transfers, park entry fees (US$70/20 per adult/child per day, dropping to US$60/20 from mid-March to mid-May), accommodations (including camping equipment as needed), food and possibly some drinks, guide, driver, vehicle, game drives and other activities. It tends to cost more per day for 1-day safaris from Zanzibar to Selous as two flights are involved; you’ll most likely pay US$450 to US$600 per person.”

Nyerere Safari Reviews

4.4/5 113 Reviews

Expert

Sue Watt –

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

True Wilderness – and wild dogs

5/5

If you’re after a true wilderness sensation that goes beyond the confines of a Land Cruiser, then come to Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve). A vast chunk of Nyerere, most of the land south of the Rufiji River, is sadly...

Full Review

Expert

Gemma Pitcher –

Gemma authored several Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

My Top Tip for Tanzania

5/5

Nyerere (Selous) National Park is my favourite game area in Tanzania, and possibly the whole of Africa. The landscape, with its emerald-green swamplands, dead trees submerged in water and shaggy-topped palms, is ravishingly beautiful. You...

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Francesco Romagnoli –

Reviewed: Dec 5, 2025

5/5

all animals seen, very good roads, natural sceneries. Fully recommended. watch out: Rhinos are not seen in the park since ever, basically no one remembers to have seen one. rest of animals are present and abundant. Nyerere is a good...

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Elina –

Reviewed: Aug 21, 2025

5/5

A big variety of different landscapes from bushes to forests to steppe, hills, meadows and lakes. It was more difficult to spot animals because of the bushes and trees, but if you saw some they were sometimes right in front of you....

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Milana –

Reviewed: Jul 11, 2025

5/5

Nyerere is beautiful and very large green park few minutes flight from Zanzibar. We enjoyed our time in there and used Shammah wonder company with Justine and Elihakim as our tour guide. Will never forget this experience. Everything was...

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Abdul Jabbar Soomro –

Reviewed: Apr 23, 2025

5/5

Nyerere National Park is a top-tier safari destination, known for its vast wilderness and rich wildlife diversity. The Rufiji River adds a unique touch, offering incredible boat safaris alongside classic game drives. It’s ideal for those...

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Selous (Nyerere) Safari From Zanzibar

1-Day Fly-in Shared Safari to Nyerere NP from Zanzibar

13-Day White Sands & Wilderness Comfort Tour

1-Day Fly-in & Fly-out Zanzibar - Nyerere NP- Zanzibar

2-Day Luxury Safari Zanzibar to Selous

3-Day Luxury Tour in Nyerere National Park from Zanzibar

1-Day Fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park

1-Day Private Game Drive to Nyerere NP from Zanzibar

1-Day Fly-in Beach & Bush Safari (Nyerere National Park)

4-Day Nyerere Shared Luxury Safari

1-Day Selous/Nyerere National Park Safari from Zanzibar

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

2-Day Zanzibar to Nyerere: Game Drive, Boat+Walk Safari

3-Day Zanzibar to Selous by Boat, Car & Airplane

2-Day Fly in Nyerere National Park Safari Fly Out

3-Day Nyerere National Park (Selous) from Zanzibar

1-Day Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park Flying Package

4-Day Safari from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park

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

2-Day Fly in Private Safari to Selous from Zanzibar

3-Day Fly in Nyerere NP (Selous) Safari from Zanzibar

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5 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) Safaris From Zanzibar

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) Safaris From Zanzibar

Is a Selous (Nyerere) safari possible from Zanzibar?

How many days do I need for a Selous (Nyerere) safari?

Which animals can I see on a Selous (Nyerere) safari?

Is it recommended to fly from Zanzibar to Selous (Nyerere)?

What will a Selous (Nyerere) safari from Zanzibar cost?

Nyerere Safari Reviews

True Wilderness – and wild dogs

My Top Tip for Tanzania