2-Day Private Selous (Nyerere) Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar

In Short

This is our private 2-day, 1-night fly-in safari from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park, the park most people still know as the Selous. You fly out in the morning, spend two days on game drives and a Rufiji River boat safari with a night in a bush camp, and fly back to the coast on the second afternoon. It is priced per person by group size: $1,550 for one, $1,450 each for two, and $1,300 each for three or more. Everything from the flights to the park fees is handled for you.

I am Justus Kahwa, and I run operations at Kai Tours and Safaris. Of all the trips we send people on from Zanzibar, this is the one I most often recommend to travellers who want more than a day trip but do not have a week to give. Two days is enough to slow down, sleep in the bush, and do the one thing no northern park can offer, which is drift down a great river while hippos surface beside the boat.

Why Nyerere National Park is Special

Nyerere National Park, the former Selous Game Reserve, is the largest national park in Africa, covering close to 50,000 square kilometres of southern Tanzania. It was made a national park out of the northern part of the old reserve, which was a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the whole landscape is shaped by the Rufiji River as it braids into lakes, channels and floodplains.

The park supports large populations of elephants, buffalo, big cats, and over 440 bird species. It is also one of the best places in Africa to see endangered African wild dogs.

What that means for you is space and quiet. Where the northern parks can feel busy in peak season, Nyerere stays uncrowded, and it holds large populations of elephant and buffalo, strong numbers of predators, and over 440 species of bird. It is also one of the best places left in Africa to see the endangered African wild dog. If you want limited time but limited crowds, this is the park, and the only other park this close to Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam is Mikumi National Park, which we also run as a shorter, lower-cost trip.

What You Will Honestly See

I would rather set your expectations correctly than sell you a checklist, so here is the honest picture. Along the Rufiji and across the surrounding country you can expect elephants, often in herds of twenty to sixty, lions returning from a night's hunt at sunrise, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, waterbuck and other antelope, and hippos and crocodiles on the river. Leopard are present in the riverine forest but elusive, and the wild dogs are the real prize here.

Two things you will not see, and I will not pretend otherwise. Nyerere has no rhino, and effectively no cheetah. Any operator who guarantees you either is selling you a story. What Nyerere gives you instead is a river safari, genuine wilderness and animals that are not sharing the sighting with fifteen other vehicles.

Key Facts About Nyerere National Park

• Largest national park in Africa – ~50,000 km²
• Over 440 bird species recorded
• Rufiji River (~600 km) supports year-round wildlife
• Strong population of African wild dogs
• One of Tanzania's highest elephant concentrations
• Former Selous Game Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1982)

Your 2-Day Itinerary

Your safari begins with an early morning flight from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park, which takes about one hour and offers scenic views of the coastline and the mainland on the way.

Two days is the sweet spot. Long enough to sleep under the stars and ride the river, short enough to slot into a beach holiday.

Where You Stay

You spend the night at Safari Selous Lodge, inside Nyerere National Park on the Rufiji River. It is a comfortable Lodge with en-suite bathrooms, private verandas, open-air dining and a pool that looks out over the bush, where wildlife often wanders past. It is relaxed and characterful, exactly what a night in the bush should feel like.

Good to know: Nyerere is a malaria area, so see a travel clinic or your GP before you travel. The flight is on a light aircraft, so pack a soft bag of around 15kg and leave larger suitcases at your Zanzibar hotel. We confirm the details with you before you fly.

Why Travel With Kai Tours & Expert Insight

Kai Tours and Safaris is a Tanzania based operator specializing in wildlife safaris, Zanzibar tours, and Kilimanjaro adventures. We combine local expertise with professional guides to deliver safe and memorable safari experiences.

Nyerere National Park is one of the best safari destinations from Zanzibar, offering direct flights, fewer crowds, diverse wildlife, and unique boat safaris on the Rufiji River.

Our Safari Credentials

• Local Tanzania Based Tour Operator
• Professional Safari Guides
• Private and Group Safari Specialists
• Expert Knowledge of Nyerere National Park

Per person, private safari. Larger groups pay a lower per-person rate.

How to Book

Booking is a short conversation, not a form to wrestle with.

1. Send us your dates and numbers. Message us on WhatsApp or by email and we check flight seats and confirm your per-person rate.
2. We confirm in writing. You get the exact price and what is included, with no surprises.
3. Secure it with a deposit. Card, bank transfer and mobile money are all fine, and we hold your flights and safari.
4. We handle the rest. Transfers, flights, park fees, guide and camp are all arranged. You just turn up.