Selous Day Trip from Zanzibar
A game drive and a boat safari in one day: fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park, the old Selous, and be back on the island by the evening.
- Length1 day
- Starts and endsYour hotel on Zanzibar
- Getting thereSmall plane, about 1 hour each way
- In the parkGame drive and boat safari
Selous is a different kind of safari from Mikumi. The Rufiji River and its lakes run through the park, so you see the wildlife from the water as well as from the vehicle: hippos close to the boat, crocodiles on the sandbanks, elephants and giraffes coming down to drink, and a great many water birds.
Since 2019 the northern part of the old Selous Game Reserve has been Nyerere National Park, Tanzania's largest national park. Most people still call it the Selous, and so do we.
How the day runs
Morning: pick-up and flight
Our driver takes you from your hotel to Zanzibar's airport for the flight to an airstrip in the park, about an hour away.
Midday: game drive and boat safari
Your guide meets you at the airstrip. You spend part of the day on a game drive through the woodland and along the lakes, and part of it on a boat on the river, with lunch in between. The order depends on the flight times and the heat of the day.
Afternoon: back to Zanzibar
Back to the airstrip for the flight to Zanzibar, where our driver meets you and takes you to your hotel.
Take a small day bag only. Small planes allow about 15 kg of luggage per person, hand luggage included, best in a soft bag; we confirm your airline's limit when we book. Flights can be delayed by weather or air traffic; if that happens, we adjust the day so you lose as little time in the park as possible.
Price per person in US dollars
Private trip for your group only. The price per person depends on how many of you travel together.
| 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per person | $815 | $710 | $680 | $660 | $650 | $640 |
Prices include our current estimate of the flight cost; we confirm the final price in writing before you pay.
In April and May, during the long rains, some flights and camps in the park reduce or stop; we check your date first.
Included
- Transfers between your Zanzibar hotel and the airport
- Return flight Zanzibar–Selous by small plane
- Nyerere National Park fees
- Private game drive with your own English-speaking guide
- Boat safari on the Rufiji River or its lakes
- Lunch and drinking water
Not included
- Compulsory travel insurance: mainland Tanzania's inbound policy (US$44 per person since 1 October 2026) or, if you arrive on Zanzibar first, Zanzibar's own policy (US$44); you need only one
- International flights and visas
- Tips, drinks other than water and personal spending
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
How booking works: a 30% deposit confirms your trip and the balance is paid on arrival in Tanzania, before the trip starts. We reply within 24 hours. Booking terms
Selous day trip: questions
Is Selous the same as Nyerere National Park?
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, where the safari camps, lakes and boat safaris are. So a Selous safari today is a safari in Nyerere National Park.
What do we see from the boat?
Hippos and crocodiles at close range, many water birds, and often elephants, giraffes or buffalo drinking on the banks. What you see changes with the season and the water level.
Mikumi or Selous for one day?
Mikumi has more open views and costs less; Selous adds the boat safari and feels wilder. If you have two days, do one of each, or stay a night in Selous.
How long is the flight?
About an hour each way. We send you the airline's times when we confirm the booking.
Can children come on the boat?
Tell us the ages when you enquire. Whether children can join the boat depends on the boat operator and the conditions on the day, and we confirm it before you book.
Related trips
1 day · by airMikumi Day Trip from Zanzibar
The quickest safari from the island: open plains where animals are easy to spot, and lunch in the park.
2 days · by air2-Day Selous Safari from Zanzibar
A night by the river, a boat safari and two game drives in Nyerere.
3 days · by air3-Day Selous Safari from Zanzibar
Two nights in Nyerere with a boat safari, game drives and a walk with a ranger.
More Tanzania trips by Lion Crest: Nyerere (Selous) National Park guide on lioncrestsafaris.com
Ask us about dates and prices
Tell us your dates, where you are staying and how many of you are travelling. We reply within 24 hours, usually much sooner on WhatsApp.