15 Safari Tours in Zanzibar Worth the Early Start

1.Mikumi Safari Day Trip with Flights and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,470 reviews · from $451Our pick

Leave Zanzibar early, fly to Mikumi National Park, and spend the day in a shared safari vehicle with guides such as Salim, Amos, Elias, or Gabriel. Expect elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and more, plus a bush lunch, drinking water, and return flights. The day is long, but the flight makes Mikumi possible without a long road transfer.

“Both the guide, I believe he's name was Elias, and the driver were amazing. so welcoming, funny and professional. We've seen lots of animals and had really nice bush lunch. would recommend it to everyone, it was a highlight of our trip.”

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2.Day Selous Game Reserve Safari with Flights

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,025 reviews · from $470

You’ll fly about 30 to 40 minutes from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park, then spend the day in a shared 4x4 with an experienced guide such as Eli, Herman, or Steven. Expect lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and more, plus tea, a warm bush lunch, and an afternoon flight back.

“Everything was utterly amazing and outstanding. Eli our guide was unbelievably knowledgeable and entertaining too which was a wonderful bonus . The whole experience from start to finish was incredibly well organised and everyone was so kind and caring . We felt completely safe and do not visit Zanzibar without doing this day trip . It was run like clockwork . We did have a private Brand new jeep and we highly recommend doing the little extra if you can .. very very well worth the money .”

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3.Safari Blue Lagoon Trip with Snorkeling and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 336 reviews · 7 hours · from $90Best value

Spend seven hours exploring Zanzibar’s southwest coast by van and traditional dhow. Snorkel for starfish and reef fish, visit Kwale Sandbank, swim in a tide-dependent lagoon, and eat a generous seafood barbecue on Kwale Island. Guides such as Omar and Osman are known for warm, attentive service.

“Our tour was very nice even though it was raining. Omar is the best guide. Would recommend to everyone!!”

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4.Selous Luxury Day Safari with Photographer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 211 reviews · from $800Top rated

Fly from Zanzibar to Selous at 6 a.m. for a full-day safari with a driver guide and professional photographer. Look for elephants, lions, wild dogs, buffaloes, hippos, and more, with lunch, drinks, and return flights included. Mike is named as one photographer in guest feedback.

“My husband and I purchased the Selous Luxury Day Safari from Viator. I was celebrating a milestone birthday, the big 40, and I wanted to make it epic. Tomas, Fanta and crew did just that and more, what an amazing safari experience! From the Read more”

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5.Day Safari tour to Selous Game Reserve from Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · from $550

Fly from Zanzibar to mainland Tanzania for a full day in Selous Game Reserve, with a small-group game drive, lunch, drinks, park fees, and return flights included. Guides such as Moussa and Felix have earned praise for their animal spotting and language skills. Expect an early start, rough roads, heat, dust, and close views of elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles.

“Excellente organisation. L'heure de la prise en charge a été décalée et nous avons été prévenus la veille. Moussa est un guide extraordinaire et d'une grande gentillesse. Une magnifique journée !”

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6.Mikumi Safari Tour: Day Trip Return Flight From Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 97 reviews · from $600

Fly from Zanzibar at 7:00 am to Mikumi National Park, where a guide such as Musa takes you across the Mkata Plains on an approximately eight-hour game drive. Expect a group of up to seven, snacks, fruit, drinks, lunch, and a return flight. Flight delays can shorten your safari time.

“This was a dream come true experience and I 100% recommend this if you're visiting Zanzibar. It's worth the price! From beginning to end all I could say was wow! Don't skip this!”

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7.From Paje/Jambian: Safari Blue Snorkelling with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 67 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $90

From Paje or Jambiani, you’ll travel to Fumba and sail by wooden dhow through Menai Bay. Expect a sandbank stop, coral-reef snorkeling, a seafood barbecue, tropical fruit, and time around lagoons and mangroves. The advertised guide languages include English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, but language support may vary.

“Guide en français (comme demandé) la prochaine fois car incapable de nous dire 2 mots en français, il faut annoncé que le Blue Lagoon n'est visible que rarement selon les marées (donc pas vu!!!), avertir qu'il faut impérativement des chaussures pour marcher dans l'eau”

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8.Day Safari Tour Selous Game Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · from $600

Fly from Zanzibar at 7:00 AM to Mtemere Airstrip in Nyerere National Park, formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve. A safari guide meets you for game drives beside the Rufiji River, lakes, and savannah. Expect elephants, lions, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, and possibly African wild dogs before your 4:00 PM return flight.

“For spending nearly $1000 for two of us to go on safari, this was not worth the money, as we spent only merely 4 hours looking for animals on the safari, and the remaining time was spent sitting in the airport waiting to fly to the park, eating luRead more”

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9.Nyerere National Park Game Drive with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 59 reviews · 1 day · from $550

Fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park, formerly Selous, for an eight-hour game drive with an English-speaking guide. Look for elephants, lions, hippos, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, and more, then stop for a picnic lunch with two beers before flying back. Guide Helman has earned special praise for his sharp eyes and extra effort.

“The guides were friendly, professional and knowledgeable. They made sure that we had as many close encounters with the animals for a good experience and great photos/videos. Lunch was delicious and served well.”

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10.2 Day safari to Mikumi departure from Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 54 reviews · from $690

You’ll leave Zanzibar for Mikumi National Park on a private two-day safari with meals, park entry, and a guide included. The trip may use a flight or ferry to Dar es Salaam, followed by a roughly six-hour 4x4 transfer. Guides named in past bookings include Godfrey, Nestor, and Jimmy, but assignments can change.

“Safari de deux jours à mikumi au départ de zanzibar.....magique. Godfrey le guide et Nestor le chauffeur ont été de supers accompagnateurs, à l écoute et disponibles. Un long trajet entre dar es salaam et mikumi ce qui nous a permit d entrevoir Read more”

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11.1-Day Selous (Nyerere National Park) Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $550

Fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park for a full day of game viewing along bush roads and the Rufiji River. Expect an early start, a guided drive, picnic lunch, water, and a sunset flight back. Guides named by the operator include Musa, Benson, Felix, Fidelis, Shija, and others.

“We booked Mikumi 1 day tour and it was truly amazing. Saw almost all of the animals in their natural habitat. Our tout guide Felix , tried his best all the time , to show us as close as possible, gave us dozen of interesting information . he is truly professional. During the trip , he was very attentive and caring.”

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12.Full-Day Blue Lagoon and Sandbank Boat Tour from Zanzibar ( Safari blue)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 35 reviews · from $100

Spend about eight hours on a shared traditional dhow from Zanzibar, visiting Kwale Island, a sandbank, the Blue Lagoon, and Niamembe Island. You can snorkel, swim, see an ancient baobab, and eat a seafood lunch with fruit, soda, water, and local beer. Guides such as Abas, Amina, and Sunnia have earned praise for attentive help.

“The tour guide was hospitable but can't say the same with the Captain. He caused an unnecessary conflict between himself and the passengers by wanting to overload the boat with passengers from his fellow colleague.”

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13.Full Day Private Safari Blue Sea Adventure in Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $130

Spend six to seven hours exploring Menai Bay from Fumba. Snorkel over coral reefs, relax on a sandbank, swim in a mangrove lagoon, see Kwale Island’s old baobab tree, and eat a BBQ lunch with drinks included. Pickup is offered, but the boat may be shared with other participants despite the private booking label.

“Recogida puntual para llevarnos a Fumba. Pone Safari privado, pero es compartido con más personas. Fuimos a bucear a Menai bay y nos prepararon fruta, agua y bebidas. Luego nos llevaron a comer, buena organización y buena comida. Por lRead more”

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14.The best Selous 1 day safari from Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · from $550

Leave your Zanzibar hotel before dawn for a 6:00 a.m. flight to Mtemere airstrip, then spend the day on a 4x4 game drive in Nyerere National Park. A safari guide such as Moussa handles the park outing, with lunch, water, fees, flights, and hotel transfers included. Return to Zanzibar at 4:15 p.m.

“Merci encore au guide Moussa, il a tout fait pour nous satisfaire . Il a repondre a toutes les questions. Au top On a vu pleins d'animaux, malheureusement pas de lion ..”

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15.Full Day Safari Blue Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 28 reviews · from $100

Spend about nine hours sailing from Stone Town on a traditional dhow with a group of up to 15. Watch for dolphins, snorkel near mangroves, visit uninhabited Kwale island, and enjoy lunch, drinks, gear, and hotel transport. Ismail, Yussuf Ali, and Ashraf are among the crew and transfer staff praised for friendly service.

“Ismail was attentive fantastic and has a fast knowledge of Zanzibar and in general. His singing was world class and somebody should make sure he gets to the next idols. He made us feel welcome and comfortable. Ismail is well spoken with impeccable manners. He goes the extra mile.”

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