Yes, you can do a Selous safari from Zanzibar. You fly by light aircraft to Nyerere National Park (the former Selous) and return to your beach hotel the same day or after one or two nights. Lekobe’s Nyerere trips from Zanzibar start from US$460 for a one-day fly-in and from US$750 for two days.
Last updated: 5 October 2026. Prices checked against the live trip pages on lekobeadventures.com.
Nyerere National Park is the name now used for the wilderness that most travellers, guidebooks and lodges still call Selous, so you will see both names on our trip pages and this guide. This article is about the practical side: how you get from Zanzibar to the park, how the days run, what each option costs and which one suits you. If you want the park itself (wildlife, landscapes and activities) read our Nyerere National Park safari guide first.
How do you get from Zanzibar to Selous (Nyerere)?
Every Lekobe Selous safari from Zanzibar uses the same simple pattern: a hotel pick-up, a short drive to Zanzibar’s airport, a scheduled light-aircraft flight to an airstrip inside the park, and a waiting guide with a safari vehicle. You do not need to travel through Dar es Salaam by ferry or road, and you do not need to check out of your beach hotel for a day trip.
The flight and the airstrip
Our itineraries fly into Mtemere Airstrip in the park (some of our trip pages spell it “Matemere”). Your guide meets you on the airstrip, so the game drive begins almost as soon as you land. On the return, the guide drives you back to the airstrip for the flight to Zanzibar, and our driver takes you from the airport to your hotel.
Typical timings
- One-day trips: hotel pick-up at 5:00am, picnic lunch in the park around 1:00pm, back at the airstrip at 4:00pm and arriving in Zanzibar at about 6:00pm.
- Two-day trips: hotel pick-up at 4:00am for a 6:00am flight, with a packed breakfast from our airport team. You return on the evening flight of day two.
- Three-day trip: a relaxed 1:00pm hotel pick-up for a 4:00pm flight, so you can enjoy a final beach morning before you leave.
Flight schedules are set by the airlines and can change, so we confirm exact times when you book.
Luggage
Safari aircraft are small, so pack a soft bag and leave the large suitcase at your Zanzibar hotel. Ask us for the current baggage allowance when you get your quote, and see our safari packing guide for what to bring.
Selous safari from Zanzibar: prices and options (2026)
The table below lists every Nyerere trip from Zanzibar currently on our website, with the starting price shown on each trip page. Prices are per adult in US dollars. Your final quote depends on group size, travel dates and accommodation.
| Trip | Days | Style | Overnight | From (per adult) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Day Fly-in Shared Safari to Nyerere NP | 1 | Shared, fly-in | None | US$460 |
| 1-Day Nyerere NP Fly-in Private Safari | 1 | Private, fly-in | None | US$630 |
| 2-Day Shared Safari to Nyerere NP | 2 | Fly-in, lodge | Selous Safari Lodge (mid-range, just outside the park) | US$750 |
| 2-Day Private Camping to Selous | 2 | Private, camping | Budget camping inside the park | US$858 |
| 2-Day Fly-in Private Safari to Nyerere NP | 2 | Private, fly-in, lodge | Selous Safari Lodge | US$1,235 |
| 3-Day Nyerere NP (Selous) Shared Safari | 3 | Shared, budget | Mufasa Tented Camp (inside the park), then Selous Safari Lodge | US$803 |
Notice that the three-day shared safari starts at less than the two-day private options. Shared trips split vehicle and guide costs between travellers, which is why they offer the best value per day. For a wider view across every park, see our safari from Zanzibar cost guide.
What each option is like
One day: a quick taste of the wild
The shared day trip and the private day trip follow the same plan: morning and afternoon game drives with a picnic lunch in the bush, then the evening flight home. It is a long day with a very early start, but you sleep in your own beach bed that night. The shared trip is not available to solo travellers, and the minimum age is 2 years (5 years for the private trip). Our day trips are game-drive safaris; the Rufiji River boat safari is part of the multi-day trips below.
Two days: adding the boat safari
Staying one night changes the experience. On the 2-day lodge safari, day one is a game drive and a buffet lunch in the bush before you check in to Selous Safari Lodge, with an optional night game drive from 6pm to 11pm. Day two starts with a sunrise boat safari on the Rufiji River, looking for hippos and crocodiles, followed by a guided bush walk, a village visit, lunch and the evening flight back. The private fly-in version adds a swim at the Majimoto hot springs.
The 2-day private camping safari follows a similar route but you sleep at a budget campsite inside the park, with camping equipment and bed linen included (bring your own towel). It is for adults only (minimum age 18).
Three days: the most relaxed pace
The 3-day shared safari leaves Zanzibar in the afternoon. You land in time for an evening game drive, spend the first night at Mufasa Tented Camp inside the park and have the option of a night drive. Day two is a full day of game drives, a boat safari on the Rufiji with a chance to try fishing, and a village visit, with the night at Selous Safari Lodge. On day three you have breakfast and fly back to Zanzibar.
What is included in a Selous safari from Zanzibar
Each trip page has a Cost tab. Across our Nyerere trips from Zanzibar, the price includes:
- Park fees for non-residents
- The flights and transport shown in the itinerary, including the roundtrip transfer between your hotel and Zanzibar airport
- A professional English-speaking driver/guide (other languages on request)
- All activities in the itinerary, unless labelled optional
- Accommodation and meals as listed day by day
- All taxes and VAT
What you pay separately
- International flights and any extra hotel nights before or after the safari
- Tips: our guideline is US$10 per person per day
- Travel insurance, visa fees, souvenirs and other personal items
- Drinks that the itinerary does not list
- Any government increase in taxes or park fees
Optional activities, such as the night game drive, are only included when your quote says so, so ask us to confirm. Park fees are set by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), the official park authority, and can change. For entry rules and visas, check the Tanzania Immigration Services Department and our Tanzania travel requirements guide.
Which Selous trip from Zanzibar should you choose?
Short on time or on a budget
Choose the one-day shared fly-in. It is the lowest-cost way to see the park from Zanzibar and keeps your beach hotel booking simple. If you are comparing day trips, our guide to the one day safari from Zanzibar weighs Nyerere against Mikumi National Park, which you can also visit on a 1-day Mikumi fly-in shared safari.
Want the river experience
Book at least two days. The boat safari on the Rufiji is one of the main reasons to choose this park, and it only appears on our overnight trips. The 2-day lodge safari is the simplest choice for most couples and families.
Want value and a slower pace
The 3-day shared safari gives you two nights, a full day in the park and the afternoon departure, from US$803.
Want privacy
Pick the private day trip or the 2-day private fly-in. Your own vehicle and guide means you set the pace at each sighting.
When to go
The trip information on our 3-day Nyerere safari lists January to February and June to October as the best seasons, noting that different areas are best at different times. Our Nyerere trips can start any day, so you can fit one around your Zanzibar stay. For month-by-month weather across Tanzania, see our best time to visit Tanzania guide, and read more about the park on our Nyerere National Park destination page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Selous the same as Nyerere National Park?
Yes, in practice. Nyerere National Park is the official name for the area most travellers still call Selous, after the Selous Game Reserve. Lodges, airlines and operators use both names, which is why our trips are listed as “Nyerere NP (Selous)”. You book the same park and fly to the same airstrips.
How do you get from Zanzibar to Selous?
You fly. Our driver collects you from your hotel and takes you to Zanzibar airport for a scheduled light-aircraft flight to Mtemere Airstrip in the park, where your guide is waiting with the safari vehicle. On the way back you fly to Zanzibar and are driven to your hotel. No ferry or long road transfer is needed.
How much does a Selous safari from Zanzibar cost?
On our current trip pages, a one-day fly-in shared safari starts from US$460 per adult and a private day trip from US$630. Two-day trips start from US$750, and the three-day shared safari from US$803. Park fees and the flights in the itinerary are included; tips, insurance and visas are not.
Can you do a Selous safari from Zanzibar in one day?
Yes. Pick-up is at 5:00am, you spend the day on game drives with a picnic lunch, and you leave the airstrip at 4:00pm, landing back in Zanzibar around 6:00pm. It is a long day, and the boat safari is not included, so stay overnight if the river is a priority.
Is 2 days enough for Selous?
Two days is enough for a satisfying first visit. You get a game drive on arrival, an optional night drive, a sunrise boat safari on the Rufiji River and a guided bush walk before flying back. If you want a full day of game drives as well, choose the three-day shared safari.
Are flights included in a Selous safari from Zanzibar?
Yes. The flights between Zanzibar and the park are built into the itineraries of our Nyerere trips from Zanzibar, together with your hotel–airport transfers. International flights to Tanzania are not included. We confirm flight times and the baggage allowance when we send your quote.
Plan your Selous safari from Zanzibar
Tell us your Zanzibar dates, where you are staying and how many people are travelling, and we will recommend the right Nyerere trip and send a clear quote. Message us on WhatsApp (+255 676 68 1293), email info@lekobeadventures.com, or use the enquiry form on any trip page, such as the 2-day Nyerere safari from Zanzibar. Planning more time on the island? Our Zanzibar Island guide will help you plan the beach half of your trip.
