Tanzania Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 659 Tours

4.8/5 – 1,852 Tanzania Safari Reviews

Zanzibar may be part of Tanzania but it really is a world apart. Adding a mainland Tanzanian safari to your Zanzibar holiday allows you to enjoy the best of both of these worlds. Zanzibar is a special place where history seems written on every stone. It’s also a long-standing favorite Indian Ocean beach destination for many travelers, with fabulous stretches of sand and stunning resorts. Over on the mainland, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier safari destinations with world-class parks filled with wildlife. Whether you visit Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) in the south or Serengeti National Park in the north, it’s all within a short flight from Zanzibar.

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6 Questions About Safaris From Zanzibar

Expert

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’.
› More about Anthony

What parks are best for a safari from Zanzibar?

“Most parks on the Tanzanian mainland are a short flight from Zanzibar, although in some cases you may need to change planes in Arusha or Dar es Salaam. If I could visit just one area of Tanzania on my safari from Zanzibar, it would be the country’s north. This is where you find Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, which are undoubtedly my top picks. Both of these destinations are really close to Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks, which are fantastic wildlife destinations if you can spare the time. To do all four of these destinations, you would need a minimum of 10 days. Another option would be to head south, where you’ll find the wildlife-rich Nyerere National Park, which is especially good for varied landscapes, as well as elephants and lions. Visiting Nyerere would add at least 3 days to your overall trip. With more time, you could include Mikumi National Park and possibly even Ruaha National Park for a wilderness experience.”

How many days is recommended for a trip from Zanzibar?

“How long you devote to your safari from Zanzibar will depend on where you want to go. If you only have 3 to 4 days, you should probably focus on just one park. This might be Nyerere or the Serengeti. With each extra couple of days, you could add an extra park or two – Ngorongoro and perhaps even Lake Manyara in the north, or Mikumi in the south. If you can allow 10 days out of Zanzibar, then you could possibly complete the Northern safari circuit, or visit three or four parks across Tanzania’s south. It's worth talking with your operator about what combined Tanzania safari and Zanzibar packages are on offer. Many people who visit Zanzibar also visit the Tanzanian mainland, so you should have plenty of choice. And one final thing to remember: if you’re looking for a cheap or more affordable safari, you will need to try and minimize the number of flights while you’re on the mainland.”

Is a Serengeti safari possible from Zanzibar?

“It is possible to combine a trip to the Serengeti with time on Zanzibar, and there are lots of tours where this is an option. It usually involves a flight from Zanzibar to Arusha, in northern Tanzania, with a further flight from Arusha to one of the airstrips in the Serengeti. It is also possible to drive from Arusha to the Serengeti and enjoy some of the other attractions along the way (such as Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater), but this will add quite a bit of extra time. The Serengeti is certainly worth it and it’s one of my favorite parks anywhere in Africa. The wildlife here is incredible. This is especially the case during the great wildebeest migration, which you can see at different stages from January to August or September. But any time of year is good for wildlife viewing in the Serengeti, where you’ll see the big cats, elephant and so many other species.”

Should I go on a fly-in trip from Zanzibar?

“There will almost certainly be a flying component to your safari from Zanzibar. Although there are boat connections between Zanzibar Island and the mainland, they’re much slower than flying and not very convenient for those heading over to Tanzania for a safari. In addition to your flight from Zanzibar to the mainland (which usually means flying into Arusha or Dar es Salaam), you may also fly from these airports into the national park of your choice. This is, of course, much more expensive than driving. But it will save precious holiday time for actually being on safari, rather than driving to get there. It will also provide you with some incredible views. Taking an air transfer is like going on a scenic flight, and there’s something special about getting off a plane deep in a national park with wildlife all around you.”

How much does a Tanzania trip from Zanzibar cost?

“There are so many variables when it comes to calculating the cost of a Zanzibar to Tanzania mainland safari. But as a general guideline, you can expect your safari from Zanzibar to cost at least US$300 per person per day, with prices for more expensive packages triple that or more. There are many reasons for such differences. One is your accommodation: it obviously costs a lot more to stay in luxury tented camps than it does to go on a budget camping safari. The number of flights you take can also have a big influence. Other factors include the number of days you spend on safari, the season in which you’re traveling (high-season prices can be double what you’ll pay in low season) and the type of safari you choose (a private safari costs more than a group safari, for example).”

Can you do a classic safari on Zanzibar Island?

“A classic safari is not really possible on Zanzibar Island. You might find some wildlife parks on the island, but they are more like zoos, and visiting them is nothing like going on a real safari in one of Tanzania’s parks. If you’d like to get a real safari experience while you’re on Zanzibar, ask your tour operator what might be possible. They will have suggestions about where to go and what you can see by flying to the mainland. Before having such a conversation, you should do some of your own research and have a very clear idea of which animals you’d really like to see. If it’s big cats and elephants, then places such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Nyerere are all excellent. If, on the other hand, you’d like to follow in the footsteps of Jane Goodall and spend time tracking chimpanzees through the forest, then Gombe and Mahale Mountains National Parks (in the far west of the country) should be high on your list.”

Tanzania Safari Reviews

4.8/5 1,852 Reviews

Expert

Sue Watt –

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

The perfect safari destination

5/5

With almost a quarter of this vast country dedicated to wildlife reserves and national parks, Tanzania is justifiably regarded as Africa’s premier safari destination. It’s one of my favourite countries, not just for the bush, beaches...

Full Review

Expert

Brian Jackman –

Brian is an award winning travel writer, author of safari books and regular contributor to magazines such as BBC Wildlife and Travel Africa.

Wilderness unlimited

5/5

Tanzania may be one of the world’s poorest countries but its national parks and game reserves are the crown jewels of Africa. First among equals is the Serengeti, probably the most famous wildlife refuge on the planet, a wilderness the...

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Katariina Broman –

Reviewed: Apr 10, 2025

Fell in love with Tanzania

5/5

Tanzania has the most diverse and beautiful nature. The nature sometimes seems out of this world for an european. I cannot recommend enough going to Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater, they are a must see. There wasn't so many tourists because...

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Jeanette –

Reviewed: Apr 8, 2025

Great beauty

4/5

The biggest take-away for us from our trip to Tanzania is that the country is huge, and so are the parks. There is a lot of driving to get to your destinations, and once inside the parks, the roads are difficult, long, dusty, and bumpy. If...

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Brandon Nelson –

Reviewed: Apr 3, 2025

Adventure

4/5

I had a blast in Tanzania. The main reason for the trip was for a safari. We did ours in Mukumi national park. We saw everything but the big cats. I have no regrets about my choice, but next time I'll do the Serengeti in North Tanzania. We...

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Mrs Lynne Ismail –

Reviewed: Apr 1, 2025

Fabulous experience

5/5

We have just returned from a fantastic safari in Tanzania (Nyerere tented camp). The overall experience was amazing. From the minute we landed in the bush we we very well taken care of with excellent food, accommodation, transport and...

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Tanzania Safari From Zanzibar - Compare 659 Tours

4-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro, Fly-in from Zanzibar

2-Day Fly-in from Zanzibar to Tarangire & Ngorongoro

2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater from Zanzibar

4-Day A Quick Fly-in Safari from Beach to Bush

3-Day Private Luxury Safari from and to Zanzibar

4-Day Fly in Serengeti from Zanzibar - 2 Nts Four Season

4-Day Fly in Zanzibar to Northern Circuit Classic Safari

2-Day Luxury Tour from Zanzibar to Tarangire & Crater

4-Day Fly in Tanzania Great Migration

3-Day Safari Zanzibar Nyerere National Park (Selous)

4-Day Inclusive Fly in Fly out Zanzibar Serengeti

2-Day Best of Tarangire & Ngorongoro Tour from Zanzibar

3-Day Return Flights from Zanzibar to Serengeti NP

4-Day Explore Northern Circuits National Parks Fly-in

3-Day Affordable Safari from Zanzibar to Northern Parks

2-Day Tarangire and Ngorongoro Fly in from Zanzibar

6-Day Tanzania Fly in Migration Tour

2-Day Fly-in from Zanzibar to Tarangire NP & Ngorongoro

3-Day Fly in Zanzibar Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara

3-Day Fly-in Outbreak in Serengeti and Ngorongoro

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6 Questions About Safaris From Zanzibar

Answered by

Anthony Ham

6 Questions About Safaris From Zanzibar

What parks are best for a safari from Zanzibar?

How many days is recommended for a trip from Zanzibar?

Is a Serengeti safari possible from Zanzibar?

Should I go on a fly-in trip from Zanzibar?

How much does a Tanzania trip from Zanzibar cost?

Can you do a classic safari on Zanzibar Island?

Tanzania Safari Reviews

The perfect safari destination

Wilderness unlimited

Fell in love with Tanzania

Great beauty

Adventure

Fabulous experience