Zanzibar to Nyerere Safari: Private Full-Day with Flights

Fly into the bush at dawn and drive the full day among elephants, lions and giraffes.

A private full-day safari from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous) with round-trip domestic flights, a game drive across the park, a bush lunch and an air-conditioned vehicle. You depart early morning, fly 30 minutes to the airstrip, spend the day on game drive seeing African elephants, lions, hippopotamuses, Cape buffaloes, Maasai giraffes, zebras, crocodiles and over 350 bird species, then fly back to Zanzibar by evening. A live English-speaking guide leads the drive. French and German guides are available on request. The package includes snacks during the drive, landing fees and all transport between Zanzibar and the park.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day safari in Selous Game Reserve

• Fly from Zanzibar to Selous
• Enjoy full-day game drive
• Have VIP bush lunch
• Fly back to Zanzibar

The experience

The day starts before sunrise at Zanzibar Airport. You board a 30-seater Embraer twin-engine plane (air-conditioned and built for the short airstrip in Nyerere National Park), and land 30 minutes later at the safari base. A vehicle is waiting. From there, the game drive fills the rest of daylight: the park holds over 350 bird and reptile species, roughly 2,000 plant species, and a working population of African bush elephants, lions, hippopotamuses, Cape buffaloes, Maasai giraffes, zebras and crocodiles. The guide navigates the terrain and calls out what moves in the grass and water.

Midday brings a bush lunch in the middle of the park: a marked shift from the vehicle, a moment to sit and eat in the landscape itself. After lunch, the game drive resumes until late afternoon, when you're driven back to the airstrip. The return flight departs as light starts to fade, landing you back in Zanzibar by early evening. The entire day (flights, vehicle, guide, meals and park fees) is included in one booking. You travel private, not in a group.

The flight is the hinge of the day. It compresses what would otherwise be a two-day overland journey into a morning departure and an evening return, so you sleep both nights on the island. Weather or airfield conditions between April and June can shift the timing. The operator may advance or postpone the safari if needed. Infants travel on an adult's lap. The package is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy, though it suits all other fitness levels.

What’s included

• Round-trip domestic flights from Zanzibar in a 30-seater Embraer.
• private air-conditioned game drive vehicle.
• full-day guided game drive in Nyerere National Park.
• bush lunch in the park.
• snacks during the drive.
• hotel pickup in Zanzibar.
• landing and facility fees.

Options for this experience

3 options

1-Day Private VIP Safari to SelousGuide in English · 07:00Private VIP safari lasting one day, with an English-speaking guide. Includes the SL-A-VIP transfer. Pickup is included.

Private tour with a German-speaking guideGuide in English · 07:00Includes a German-speaking guide. Pickup is included.

Private tour with a French-speaking guideGuide in English · 07:00Includes a French-speaking guide. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (5 to 15 years) · Child (2 to 4 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beach & Safari

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full safari day without sacrificing beach time: flights replace the overland drive, leaving both nights free for the coast, while a private vehicle and guide let you control the pace and stops instead of following a group schedule.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 15 years); Child (2 to 4 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What wildlife will I see on the game drive in Nyerere National Park?

Nyerere National Park is home to African bush elephants, lions, hippopotamuses, Cape buffaloes, Maasai giraffes, zebras and crocodiles, plus over 350 species of birds and reptiles. The guide drives you through the park during daylight hours when animals are most active, though sightings depend on where they are on any given day.

How long is the flight from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park?

The flight is 30 minutes each way in a twin-engine Embraer. You depart early morning from Zanzibar Airport and return by early evening, so both nights of your stay remain on the island.

What's included in the full-day safari package?

The package includes round-trip domestic flights from Zanzibar, private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, a full-day game drive with a live guide, a bush lunch in the park, snacks during the drive, and all landing and facility fees. A French or German guide can be arranged instead of English on request.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from my hotel to Zanzibar Airport?

Pickup from your Zanzibar accommodation to the airport is included, so you don't arrange separate transport to the departure point.

What happens if weather delays the flight?

Between April and June, weather or airfield conditions may require the operator to postpone or advance the safari. The operator will notify you of any changes. If your international flight departs within two nights, book this package to return at least two nights before you leave the island to avoid missing your connection.