Nyerere (Selous) Day Trip from Zanzibar by Flight
A day in Tanzania's largest national park: fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere, the former northern Selous, for a private game drive and a boat safari on the Rufiji River, and fly back to the island in the late afternoon.
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve and covers about 30,893 square kilometres. The Rufiji River and its lakes make it different from the northern parks: you see the bush from a vehicle and then from the water, with hippos and crocodiles along the banks and many water birds.
On land, giraffes, impalas, buffalo and elephants are often seen, and Nyerere is one of the places in Africa where African wild dogs still live, although sightings are never certain.
Highlights
- Return light-aircraft flight between Zanzibar and Nyerere
- A private game drive with your own guide
- A boat safari on the Rufiji River or its lakes
- Lunch in the park
- Back at your Zanzibar hotel the same evening
What to bring
- Your passport
- A small soft bag or daypack
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
- A light jacket for the early morning and the boat
- Binoculars and a camera
Read our park guides
Route Map
- By air
- Day of the trip
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
Our driver collects you from your hotel early in the morning and takes you to Zanzibar Airport. The flight to an airstrip in Nyerere National Park takes about an hour in a light aircraft.
Your guide meets you at the airstrip with the safari vehicle for a game drive through open woodland, palm groves and the edges of the lakes, looking for giraffes, buffalo, elephants and, with luck, wild dogs. Lunch is served in the park, at a camp or as a picnic.
Meals: Lunch
In the afternoon you go out by boat on the Rufiji River or one of its lakes, close to hippos, crocodiles and water birds. Then you return to the airstrip for the flight back to Zanzibar, and our driver takes you to your hotel in the evening.
Price Per Person, By Group Size
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $815 |
| 2 People | $710 |
| 3 People | $680 |
| 4 People | $660 |
| 5 People | $650 |
| 6 People | $640 |
Price per person in US dollars, based on the number of people travelling together. Groups of 7 or more: price on request.
The price includes our current estimate of the flight cost. We confirm the final price in writing before you book.
Light aircraft usually allow about 15 kg of luggage per person, in a soft bag. Flights can be delayed by the weather or by air traffic; if that happens, we adjust the day.
Includes
- Transfers between your Zanzibar hotel and Zanzibar Airport
- Return light-aircraft flight between Zanzibar and Nyerere
- Private game drive in a safari vehicle with a professional guide
- Boat safari on the Rufiji River or its lakes
- Nyerere National Park entry fees
- Lunch
- Drinking water
Excludes
- Tips for the guides and driver
- Drinks other than water
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Zanzibar's compulsory inbound travel insurance (44 US dollars per person)
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
How long is the flight from Zanzibar to Nyerere?
About an hour each way in a light aircraft. The exact times are set by the airline, and we send them to you when we confirm your booking.
Is Nyerere the same as the Selous?
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, where most safaris took place. Many people still call it the Selous.
What animals can we see?
Hippos and crocodiles are common along the Rufiji River, with many water birds. Giraffes, impalas, buffalo and elephants are often seen, and lions and African wild dogs sometimes. Wild animals move freely, so no sighting can be guaranteed.
When is the best time to go?
June to October is the dry season, when animals gather near the water. In April and May heavy rain can make roads and some airstrips difficult, and many camps close; ask us about your dates.
Are park fees included?
Yes. The Nyerere National Park entry fees, the flight, the game drive, the boat safari, lunch and water are all included. Tanzania's and Zanzibar's compulsory travel insurance are not included.
