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Nyerere (Selous) Safari From Zanzibar
Combining time in Zanzibar with a safari on the Tanzanian mainland is a fantastic thing to do. And there’s no better place to take that safari than Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) in Tanzania’s south. Nyerere 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 Nyerere, you have so much to look forward to.
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Best Seller
1-Day Fly-in Shared Safari to Nyerere NP from Zanzibar
$460 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourShared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Lekobe Adventures Safaris
4.9/5 – 70 Reviews
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4-Day Fly in from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park
$2,835 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Kilimanjaro Unforgettable
5.0/5 – 22 Reviews
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1-Day Flying Safari from Zanzibar to Selous
$462 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourShared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Oldbeast Vacations
5.0/5 – 21 Reviews
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1-Day Fly-in from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park
$495 to $528 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourShared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Selous Kinga Lodge
4.5/5 – 16 Reviews
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1-Day Private Fly-in Safari; Zanzibar to Nyerere NP
$539 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Marhaba Escape Safaris
5.0/5 – 13 Reviews
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3-Day Safari Fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park
$1,331 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar es Salaam Airport (End)
African Flamingo Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 1 Reviews
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1-Day Safari Selous Shared
$765 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourShared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Now Safari
5.0/5 – 1 Reviews
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1-Day Fly-in Beach-Bush Safari (Nyerere National Park)
$829 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Mags Travel and Tours
5.0/5 – 3 Reviews
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2-Day Fly in Safari Nyerere National Park from Zanzibar
$812 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Kerata Wild Safaris
4.7/5 – 15 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Roundtrip from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park
$680 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Kihindo Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 517 Reviews
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1-Day Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park (Couples)
$726 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Asante Bibi Safaris and Tours
4.9/5 – 71 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Honeymoon Safari Z'Bar to Nyerere NP by Flight
$1,130 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Uwanda Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 249 Reviews
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5-Day Nyerere &Ruaha Safari from Zanzibar Southern Combo
$3,190 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Ruaha NP, Zanzibar (End)
Wivi Agency
5.0/5 – 12 Reviews
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1-Day Selous/Nyerere National Park Safari from Zanzibar
$484 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourShared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Africa Campsbay Tours
5.0/5 – 12 Reviews
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3-Day Short Tanzania Safari by Air (Selous Game Reserve)
$1,911 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented Bush CampYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar Airport (End)
Wild Pride Safaris
5.0/5 – 29 Reviews
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1-Day Fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park
$550 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Widman Tours & Safari
4.9/5 – 86 Reviews
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2-Day Fly in Private Safari to Selous from Zanzibar
$660 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Selous Explorer
4.9/5 – 62 Reviews
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3-Day Nyerere National Park (Selous) from Zanzibar
$1,551 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Rioba Safaris
5.0/5 – 32 Reviews
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3-Day Selous National Park from Z'Bar Fly in Tour
$1,430 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Vision Safari & Tours
4.9/5 – 130 Reviews
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2-Day Zanzibar to Nyerere: Game Drive, Boat+Walk Safari
$700 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Trvl with Deo Safaris
5.0/5 – 39 Reviews
5 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) Safaris From Zanzibar
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 Nyerere National Park.› More about Anthony
5 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) Safaris From Zanzibar
Anthony Ham
Is a Nyerere (Selous) safari possible from Zanzibar?
“A Nyerere safari from Zanzibar is certainly possible. In fact, it’s one of the best safari options from the island if you’re contemplating a safari add-on. Zanzibar itself has no wildlife or safari possibilities, but the island 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 Nyerere. The advantage of Nyerere is that it’s one of the closest mainland parks to Zanzibar, and you may even find a direct flight. That means you can get to Nyerere much quicker than you can to almost any other Tanzanian park.”
1How many days do I need for a Nyerere (Selous) safari?
“You could visit Nyerere National Park from Zanzibar on a 2-day safari, but this is an absolute minimum. Remember that a 2-day safari includes time spent traveling to and from Nyerere: you would travel to the park on day 1 and return (or continue your onward journey) on day 2. This means, of course, that you would only stay in the park overnight. 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, the more wonderful your safari is likely to be.”
2Which animals can I see on a Nyerere (Selous) safari?
“Nyerere 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 in the park. Nyerere 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.”
3Is it recommended to fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere (Selous)?
“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 Nyerere in the quickest way possible: flying by the most direct route means you can wake up in Zanzibar in the morning and be in Nyerere by (or just after) lunchtime. It also means that you will enjoy wonderful views along the way. It is possible to go to the mainland by boat (either a 2-hour catamaran or 6-hour ferry ride), but then you would still need to travel 6 hours by road, or get to an airport and fly, before you reach Nyerere. 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.”
4What will a Nyerere (Selous) safari from Zanzibar cost?
“There are almost as many different tours and packages available for a Nyerere safari from Zanzibar as there are tour operators, so it’s difficult to answer this question with any precision. Every trip is different. For those searching for a cheap or affordable safari from Zanzibar, you might be able to find something for US$200 to US$250 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 Nyerere. If you’re looking for a full-on luxury Nyerere safari experience, expect your safari to start at US$400 per person per day, although prices can be much higher if you choose to stay in the most luxurious accommodation 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$50/25 per adult/child per day), accommodation (including camping equipment as needed), food and some drinks, guide, driver, vehicle and game drives.”
5Nyerere Safari Reviews
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
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...
Gemma authored several Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.
My Top Tip for Tanzania
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...
DE
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....
CZ
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...
PK
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...
FR
Nyerere National Park is very large. Wildlife is very present there. You can see many animals (elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, etc.). However, the BIG 5 will be more difficult to see. Already because of the size of the park, so you...