Selous Game Reserve 2-Day Tour: Boat & Game Drives

Two days tracking wildlife across 50,000 square kilometers of undisturbed reserve

A 2-day guided tour from Zanzibar to Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania combines a half-day game drive on arrival, a two-hour boat safari on Lake Manze at sunset, an early morning boat safari, and a final game drive before your return flight. Flights, meals, accommodation and a live English-speaking guide are included. Children from age one are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel and afternoon game activities

• Depart Zanzibar at 0730 by Coastal Aviation
• Arrive Siwandu Airstrip at 0815
• Pick up and game drive to camp
• Lunch and relax at lodge
• Boat safari on Lake Manze
• Enjoy African Savannah sunset
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 2: Morning safari and return flight

• Early breakfast
• Morning boat safari
• Picnic lunch in the bush
• Transfer to airstrip
• Flight to Zanzibar at 1230
• Arrive Zanzibar at 1400
• Transfer to hotel

The experience

The tour starts with a 0730 departure from Zanzibar on Coastal Aviation, landing at Siwandu Airstrip by 0815. From there a game drive takes you into the reserve en route to your lodge, where you'll see elephants, lions, wild dogs, elands, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles across dense thickets and open wooded grassland. After lunch and a rest, you head out for a two-hour boat safari on Lake Manze at sunset, watching animals trail down to drink and hippos in the water while the light fades over the African savannah.

Day two begins before dawn with another boat safari, this time tracking zebras, antelopes and predators during their morning hunt and grazing. A picnic lunch in the bush follows, then you drive to the airstrip for the 1230 flight back to Zanzibar, arriving at 1400. The reserve itself spans 50,000 square kilometers with virtually no human disturbance, so the wildlife density and the sense of untouched landscape set it apart from smaller parks.

What’s included

• Roundtrip flights from Zanzibar on Coastal Aviation.
• accommodation at African Safari Camp or Jimbiza Camp.
• dinner on day one and breakfast on day two.
• half-day and full-day game drives.
• two boat safaris on Lake Manze.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• all park fees and transfers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (19 to 50 years) · Child (1 to 10 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. 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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Experience Zanzibar Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?The fixed two-day schedule packs a half-day arrival game drive, two boat safaris and a morning game drive into a single overnight trip, so you see the reserve's wildlife across different times of day without committing to a longer safari. The early flights and early starts suit travelers who want concentrated wildlife viewing rather than a leisurely pace.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 10 years).

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 24 h before the start.

What animals will I actually see on the boat safaris in Selous?

The boat safaris on Lake Manze focus on hippos, crocodiles, and the animals that come to the water to drink, including zebras, antelopes, elephants and giraffes. The morning safari also catches predators like lions and leopards during their active hunting hours.

How long is the flight from Zanzibar to Selous, and do I need to arrange it separately?

Coastal Aviation flights are included in the tour price. The flight departs at 0730 and lands at Siwandu Airstrip by 0815. The return flight leaves at 1230 and arrives back in Zanzibar at 1400.

What is included in the two days, and what do I need to bring?

Dinner, breakfast, accommodation at African Safari Camp or Jimbiza Camp, all game drives and boat safaris, flights, and a live guide in English are included. Bring sun protection, binoculars, and clothes for early morning and evening game drives when temperatures drop.