2-Day Zanzibar Fly-In Safari to Nyerere National Park (Private Experience)

Your safari begins with a morning transfer from your hotel in Zanzibar to the airport in time for your scheduled flight to Nyerere National Park. Departure times are typically around 08:05 or 09:30, allowing for a more relaxed start compared to early group departures.
The flight takes approximately one hour and offers views across the Indian Ocean channel before crossing into mainland Tanzania’s vast bush landscapes.
Upon landing at Mtemere Airstrip, located inside the park, you are welcomed by your private safari guide. Your first game drive begins immediately.
Nyerere National Park is known for its open plains, river systems and relatively low visitor numbers compared to northern Tanzania. Wildlife commonly seen includes elephants, giraffes, buffalo, various antelope species and — with some luck — lions or leopards.
Around midday, you stop for a picnic lunch in a designated area within the park. After a short rest, game drives continue into the late afternoon when wildlife activity often increases as temperatures cool.
Towards sunset, you proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Selous River Camp (Comfort-range lodge near Nyerere National Park)
Meal plan: Half Board (Lunch and dinner included)

Accommodation
Selous River Camp
During your stay in Nyerere National Park, you will be accommodated at Selous River Camp, a small and intimate riverside property overlooking the Rufiji River.
The camp offers only five spacious mudhut-style rooms, each with a private veranda and direct river views. The setting is quiet and natural, allowing guests to experience the sounds of the bush — particularly hippos active along the river in the evenings.
The camp provides comfortable en-suite facilities, attentive service, and a relaxed atmosphere suited to travellers seeking authenticity rather than large-scale lodge environments.

The day begins early with coffee or tea at the lodge before departing for a morning boat safari on the Rufiji River.
Exploring the park by water offers a different perspective from the previous day’s game drives. The boat moves slowly along the riverbanks, where hippos are often seen in groups in the water and crocodiles rest along the sandy edges. Early mornings are also particularly rewarding for birdlife, with fish eagles, kingfishers and herons commonly observed.
The cruise typically lasts around two hours. Afterwards, you return to the lodge for a full breakfast and time to prepare for departure.
Following check-out, you re-enter the park for your final game drive. The Selous basin area of Nyerere National Park supports a wide variety of wildlife, and the late morning hours can still provide good sightings. As always on safari, each drive is different — shaped by season, wildlife movement and a bit of luck.
A picnic lunch is taken inside the park before you gradually make your way toward the airstrip.
In the afternoon (usually around 15:00), you board your scheduled return flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival, you are transferred back to your hotel.

This short fly-in safari provides a meaningful introduction to mainland Tanzania’s wildlife while allowing you to continue your stay in Zanzibar without extended travel time.

Is this Safari Right For You?
This private Zanzibar fly-in safari is particularly well suited to:
• Couples combining a beach stay in Zanzibar with a short mainland safari
• Honeymooners seeking privacy and a quieter safari setting
• Mature travellers who prefer scheduled flights with later departures
• First-time safari visitors wanting a meaningful introduction without long overland travel
• Travellers who value private guiding rather than shared group vehicles
It may be less suitable for:
• Budget travellers looking for shared group departures
• Guests seeking luxury lodge standards inside the park