2-Day Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 108 Tours

4.8/5 – 1,777 Tanzania Reviews

There’s nowhere in East Africa quite like Zanzibar, both for its beaches and fascinating cultural offering that is utterly unlike anywhere else you can visit in Africa. But it also opens up some fantastic opportunities for going on a safari on the Tanzanian mainland, which lies just across the water. It’s a very common combination that allows you to see two of Tanzania’s most memorable attractions: the Indian Ocean coastline and its safari parks with their amazing wildlife. There are so many tours and packages to choose from, and although 2 days isn’t very much time, you’ll still get a taste of what this diverse country has to offer.

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5 Questions About 2-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

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Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Tanzania’ and ‘East Africa’. He writes about Tanzania and the wider region for magazines and newspapers worldwide. He is also the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’.
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Which parks are typically visited on a 2-day trip from Zanzibar?

“Going on a 2-day safari from Zanzibar means you will most likely travel on day 1 and return to Zanzibar on day 2, allowing you one precious night in the park of your choice. To make the most of your limited time, you will need to fly in both directions, preferably to an airstrip inside or very close to the park. With only 2 days and 1 night in a park, you should really make it a good one. If you decide to visit Tanzania’s south, then Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is a fine choice. Its main rival would be Mikumi National Park. If, instead, you travel to the north, Serengeti National Park would always be my first choice, although it would be quite a long flight to get there. Any of Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park or Ngorongoro Crater would also ensure an absolutely fantastic safari.”

Is the south or north of Tanzania better for a 2-day safari from Zanzibar?

“As long as you choose your park carefully, it’s impossible to have a bad safari in either the south or north of Tanzania, so you can’t really lose! When making your choice, a key question to ask your safari tour operator is whether you can fly directly to the park from Zanzibar or whether you have to change planes (in Arusha or Dar es Salaam, for example). With only 2 days at your disposal, a change of planes can waste valuable time. As a general rule, it’s easier to find direct flights to southern Tanzanian parks, but it’s best if you ask your operator about the options. When it comes to the parks themselves, there’s not much difference in relation to wildlife. Big cats, elephant, giraffe, zebra and most of the safari animal highlights can be seen in nearly all parks across both regions. One thing that Nyerere has that other parks don’t is a boat safari on the beautiful Rufiji River. But remember that time spent on the boat will take away from the time available for game drives, where you’ll generally see more animals.”

Are 2 days enough for a trip from Zanzibar?

“The short answer is no, but 2 days are better than none. There are many different tours and packages available, but a 2-day safari from Zanzibar will always involve flying to the park on day 1 and flying back on day 2. The benefit of this (when compared to a 1-day safari) is that you will get to stay overnight in the destination and have time for game drives during the ideal times for seeing animals: late afternoon and early morning. The downside is that you won’t get to enjoy a full day in the park you’re visiting. At the end of your 2 days, you will almost certainly wish that you had more time. But the same could be said for just about any length of safari. More than that, if given the choice between a 2-day safari from Zanzibar and no safari at all, I would choose the 2-day safari every single time.”

Are all 2-day safaris from Zanzibar fly-in safaris?

“Because Zanzibar is an island, and it is impossible to have a classic safari experience there, you have no choice but to fly to the Tanzanian mainland and then fly back. You also have very limited time on a 2-day safari, so flying is the best way to make the most of that time. Flying has pros and cons. On the one hand, flying is expensive, which will make it almost impossible to arrange a cheap or affordable 2-day safari from Zanzibar. But if you can afford it, the views as you fly into the park should be worth every dollar you spend. Your trip will feel less like a transfer and more like a scenic flight. A fly-in safari should mean that you fly from Zanzibar into an airstrip inside the national park (or, in the case of Nyerere, just outside the park gate). Very often this airstrip will be close to your accommodation, and you’ll be driven around in a safari 4WD vehicle while you’re in the park or reserve.”

How much does a 2-day trip from Zanzibar cost?

“There are almost as many packages and tours available for a 2-day safari from Zanzibar as there are tour operators, so expect the prices that you are quoted to vary greatly. Because each day of your trip will include an expensive air transfer, your safari will cost at least US$500 per person per day. It could cost much more if it’s high season and you stay in luxury accommodation. Always ask your tour operator what’s included in, and what’s excluded from, the price they quote. As a general rule, it should include both air transfers, park entry fees, accommodation, meals, guide, vehicle and a driver. You’ll have to pay for all these things whether they’re included in the quoted price or not, so ask for a full list to avoid any nasty surprises when it comes time to pay.”

Tanzania Reviews

4.8/5 1,777 Reviews

Expert

Kim Wildman –

Kim is a travel writer who authored and updated over 15 guidebooks, including Lonely Planet's South Africa and Bradt's Tanzania guides.

On the prowl

5/5

Tanzania is a wildlife photographer’s dream come true – even for wannabe National Geographic photographers like me. With one of the world’s largest and wildest animal populations, the country offers some of the best safari...

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Expert

Philip Briggs –

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

Africa’s Greatest Safari Destination

5/5

There is arguably no better safari destination than Tanzania. And, to be honest, I’m not even sure I should be using the word ‘arguably’ here! Tanzania’s superb network of wildlife reserves (including 22 national parks) is the most...

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Kesavaraman Mahalingam –

Reviewed: Jan 19, 2025

If it is wildlife, then one must visit Serengeti and Ngorongoro

5/5

I did a 4 day, 3 night safari in Tanzania covering Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire national park. Safari booking enabled me to start looking for tour operators, after going through for a while, I got my safari booked with Everlasting...

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Luke Ritchie –

Reviewed: Jan 14, 2025

Such an amazing country, the wildlife is unbelievable

5/5

We did a week safari followed by 6 days in Zanzibar and both were sensational. Firstly, our safari was with Serengeti Smile who looked after my family of four brilliantly, and we saw all the big 5 and more. The whole experience was amazing....

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Alexandru Ionescu –

Reviewed: Jan 8, 2025

Great experience

4/5

We took a your days tour to Lake Manyara, Ngorogoro Crater and Serengeti Park. The first day we had a shared tour with four other great people and a decent guide and saw some beautiful landscape and some animals but the lodge (Africa...

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Luana Baggiolini –

Reviewed: Jan 8, 2025

Tanzania, Magnificence everywhere

5/5

An Unforgettable Adventure in Tanzania Tanzania is nothing short of breathtaking. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this would be a journey unlike any other. The national parks are some of the most stunning I’ve ever seen. Each...

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2-Day Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 108 Tours

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5 Questions About 2-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About 2-Day Safaris From Zanzibar

Which parks are typically visited on a 2-day trip from Zanzibar?

Is the south or north of Tanzania better for a 2-day safari from Zanzibar?

Are 2 days enough for a trip from Zanzibar?

Are all 2-day safaris from Zanzibar fly-in safaris?

How much does a 2-day trip from Zanzibar cost?

Tanzania Reviews

On the prowl

Africa’s Greatest Safari Destination

If it is wildlife, then one must visit Serengeti and Ngorongoro

Such an amazing country, the wildlife is unbelievable

Great experience

Tanzania, Magnificence everywhere