Yes, you can go on safari from Zanzibar. Four national parks are realistic from a Zanzibar hotel: Jozani Chwaka Bay on the island itself, and Saadani, Mikumi and Nyerere on the mainland. The right one depends on what you want to see and how much time you have.
This guide compares them honestly, including one park we don't run trips to.
The parks at a glance
| Park | Where it is | Getting there from Zanzibar | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jozani Chwaka Bay | On Zanzibar (Unguja) | By road from your hotel | Red colobus monkeys, forest and mangroves |
| Saadani | Mainland coast, opposite Zanzibar | Short charter flight or speedboat | A safari taster close to the beach |
| Mikumi | Mainland, 283 km by road west of Dar es Salaam | Charter flight, about 45–70 minutes | Open plains and big game in one day |
| Nyerere (formerly Selous) | Mainland, south-west of Dar es Salaam | Charter flight, about 45 minutes direct, longer with a stop | River scenery and boat safaris |
Which national park is closest to Zanzibar?
It depends whether you mean distance on a map or time to reach real safari country.
On the map, the closest national park is Jozani Chwaka Bay, because it is on Zanzibar. It is the island's only national park, best known for the endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey. It is a lovely half-day out, but it is a forest walk, not a safari: there are no lions, elephants or giraffes on Zanzibar.
On the mainland, Saadani is the nearest park. It sits on the coast across the channel from Zanzibar, and one operator describes the shared charter flight as about 15 minutes.
Mikumi and Nyerere are further away but are where most people go for a classic big-game safari. Flights take roughly 45 minutes to over an hour, depending on the aircraft and whether it stops on the way.
So if "closest" means "quickest to a lion", the honest answer is: Saadani is quickest to reach, but Mikumi and Nyerere usually give you more animals for the day.
Can you do a safari from Zanzibar in one day?
Yes. All three mainland parks can be done as a day trip with flights. Our 1-day private Mikumi safari runs like this:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 05:30 | Pickup at your hotel, transfer to Zanzibar airport |
| 06:30 | Charter flight to Mikumi airstrip |
| 07:30 | Morning game drive |
| 12:30 | Picnic lunch in the park |
| 14:00 | Afternoon game drive |
| Around 17:00 | Flight back and hotel drop-off (confirmed when you book) |
Safari flights from Zanzibar are charters, not scheduled airline flights, so exact times are set for each booking. It is a long day with an early start, but you sleep in your own hotel that night.
If you would rather not rush back the same day, choose a trip with one night in the park. See our 2-day Mikumi fly-in safari, with a night near the park.
Mikumi: open plains and a full day of game drives
Mikumi's main draw is the Mkata floodplain, an open grassland where animals are easy to spot. On our trips, guests usually see lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and hippo, and occasionally leopard. No sighting is guaranteed.
One thing to know: Mikumi does not currently have rhino. They were lost to poaching in the 1980s, and a reintroduction has been planned but, as far as we can confirm, not completed. So Mikumi is not a Big Five park today.
Choose Mikumi if you want the classic safari picture in one day, with the most time spent on game drives.
- 1-day Mikumi sharing safari · from $450 per adult
- 1-day Mikumi private safari · $550 per adult, your group only
- 2-day Mikumi fly-in safari · from $950 per adult sharing
Nyerere: the Rufiji River and boat safaris
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from most of the old Selous Game Reserve. At 30,893 km² it is far bigger than Mikumi (3,230 km²), and its character comes from the Rufiji River, its lakes and channels.
The highlight is a boat safari past hippos and crocodiles, which you can't do in Mikumi. Nyerere also has one of Africa's largest populations of African wild dogs. Rhino are present but rarely seen.
The park fee is higher, $82 against $30 for Mikumi. Some flights also stop in Dar es Salaam, which can cut your time in the park on a day trip. That is why we sell Nyerere as part of a two-day trip rather than a single day.
Choose Nyerere if you want water, scenery and a quieter park, and you can spare a night.
- 2-day Mikumi & Selous safari · game drives in Mikumi, then a Rufiji boat safari in Nyerere, from $885 per adult sharing
Still deciding between the two? Read Mikumi or Nyerere.
Saadani: where the bush meets the beach
Saadani is a coastal park, where savannah runs down to the Indian Ocean. It is close and quick to reach, and walking safaris and boat trips on the Wami River are possible.
The trade-off is wildlife numbers. Saadani is generally not described as a big-game park, so you are likely to see fewer animals than in Mikumi or Nyerere. It suits travellers who want a gentle taster without a long flight.
We don't currently run trips to Saadani. If it sounds right for you, other Zanzibar operators offer it.
Jozani: the national park on the island
If you would rather not fly at all, Jozani Chwaka Bay is a drive from your hotel. You walk forest trails with a guide to find red colobus monkeys, then cross a mangrove boardwalk. Allow 2.5–4 hours depending on where you stay.
- Jozani Forest tour · $76 per person plus transfer by hotel area
How flights and transfers affect your day
- Pickup time depends on your hotel. We confirm your pickup time when you book.
- Flights are charters. Times are confirmed for each booking and can change.
- Luggage is limited on small aircraft. Bring a soft day bag and leave suitcases at your hotel. See our luggage guide.
- Driving is possible but slow. Mikumi is 283 km by road from Dar es Salaam, after the ferry from Zanzibar, so driving there and back in one day isn't practical.
More detail: flights from Zanzibar to safari airstrips.
What does a safari from Zanzibar cost?
Park fees are set by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) and charged per person per 24 hours:
| Park | Non-resident adult (USD) | Non-resident child (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Mikumi | $30 | $10 |
| Saadani | $30 | $10 |
| Nyerere | $82 | about $24 |
TANAPA lists these fees before 18% VAT, so expect to pay a little more. Fees can change; check current figures with TANAPA before you travel. Our Mikumi day-trip prices include the return flights and park fees; each trip page lists everything else that is included. The full breakdown is on our safari cost page.
How to choose
- One day, want the most animals: Mikumi.
- One day, want the shortest flight: Saadani (not run by us).
- Two days, want variety: Mikumi and Nyerere together.
- No flying: Jozani on the island.
- Want the Serengeti or Ngorongoro: possible from Zanzibar; our shortest trip there is three days. See the 3-day Serengeti fly-in.
Questions
Is there a safari on Zanzibar itself?
Not a big-game safari. Zanzibar has no lions, elephants or giraffes. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park has monkeys, forest and mangroves.
What is the closest national park to Zanzibar?
Jozani Chwaka Bay, on the island. The closest mainland park is Saadani, across the channel.
How long is the flight from Zanzibar to Mikumi?
About 45 minutes to just over an hour, depending on the aircraft and routing.
Can you see the Big Five on a day trip from Zanzibar?
Not in Mikumi, which currently has no rhino. Nyerere has all five, but rhino are rarely seen.
Is a day safari from Zanzibar worth it?
It is a long day, starting around 05:30, but you get most of the day in the park and sleep in your own hotel. If you have the time, one night in the park is more relaxed.
Mikumi or Nyerere for one day?
Mikumi, for most people: more time on game drives and a lower park fee. Nyerere is better with an overnight stay. Compare them in Mikumi or Nyerere.