2-Day Selous Safari from Zanzibar: Three Safari Types

Three ways to hunt wildlife in one of Africa's wildest parks

A 2-day fly-in safari from Zanzibar into Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous) combines game drives, guided walking safari, and boat safari along the Rufiji River. The package includes round-trip flights from Zanzibar, two nights at Selous Safari Lodge, all meals, and an English-speaking guide. Early morning departures mean you're on the plains by mid-morning. The second day starts before dawn for the walking safari, then shifts to the river by afternoon before your return flight.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Zanzibar to Selous and game drives

• Depart Zanzibar early morning
• Arrive at Selous Mtemere Airstrip
• Meet safari guide
• Go on game drives
• Enjoy scenic bush picnic
• Continue exploring wildlife
• Arrive at lodge for dinner
• Overnight stay in bush

Day 2: Walking safari, boat trip, and departure

• Rise early for walking safari
• Return for breakfast
• Take boat safari on Rufiji River
• Observe hippos and crocodiles
• Return to camp for lunch
• Relax before afternoon flight
• Fly back to Zanzibar

The experience

You leave Zanzibar in the early morning and land at Mtemere Airstrip by mid-morning, where your guide meets you straight into the action. The first day runs as a full game drive across open plains, riverbanks and lakes: elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes move through their habitat while you watch from a modified safari car (Landcruiser or Land Rover) with your own seat. A scenic bush picnic breaks the afternoon before you return to Selous Safari Lodge for dinner and the night.

Day two reverses the rhythm. You rise early for a guided walking safari through miombo woodland, where the guide reads animal tracks and points out details a vehicle misses: birdlife, smaller creatures, the texture of the landscape itself. After breakfast back at the lodge, a boat safari on the Rufiji River puts you among hippos and crocodiles at the water's edge, with riverbank wildlife creating the final spectacle. Lunch follows, then your afternoon flight carries you back to Zanzibar.

The park itself is raw: Nyerere is one of Africa's least crowded reserves, and the three safari formats (drive, walk, water) mean you're not repeating the same vantage twice. Each guide speaks English and knows the reserve intimately. The modified safari car seats a maximum of nine including driver and guide, so you're not crammed in with a full bus.

What’s included

• Round-trip flights from Zanzibar to Selous.
• two nights at Selous Safari Lodge.
• all breakfasts and dinners.
• a scenic bush picnic on day one.
• three guided safaris (game drive, walking safari, and boat safari).
• an English-speaking guide.
• and all park fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (5 to 85 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by HOLA AFRICA

Is this one for you?Book this safari if you're staying in Zanzibar or arriving there first. The flights are included and timed to your schedule, so you don't need a car or separate transport to reach the park. The two-day format fits a long weekend or a break between other parts of your Tanzania trip without eating up a full week.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start.

What's the difference between a game drive and a walking safari on this tour?

A game drive covers more ground by vehicle across open plains and along rivers, letting you spot larger animals and cover distance quickly. A walking safari on day two is slower and closer. You move through woodland on foot with the guide reading tracks and vegetation, revealing details and smaller wildlife a car would pass. Both happen on this tour, so you get both perspectives.

Do I need to arrange my own flights to Selous, or are they included?

Round-trip flights from Zanzibar to Mtemere Airstrip are included in the package. You depart Zanzibar in the early morning and return the afternoon of day two, so the timing is set by the safari schedule.

What happens if I'm arriving in Zanzibar the same day the safari starts?

The early morning departure means you need to be in Zanzibar the night before. If you're flying in from elsewhere, book your arrival for the day prior so you can rest and meet the guide at the airstrip in the morning.

How many people travel together on this safari?

The safari car holds a maximum of nine passengers including the driver and guide, so groups stay small. You'll share the vehicle with other travelers on this tour, each with your own seat.

What's included in meals during the two days?

Breakfast, dinner, and a scenic bush picnic are included. The bush picnic happens during the first day's game drive. Lunch on day two is at the lodge after the boat safari and before your return flight to Zanzibar.

Is the Rufiji River safari safe with hippos and crocodiles nearby?

The boat safari is a guided experience along the Rufiji River where hippos and crocodiles are part of the wildlife you observe from the boat. Your guide manages the route and timing. The boat keeps distance appropriate for safe viewing and photography.