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In short
The Nyerere (Selous) day trip flies you from Zanzibar to an airstrip in the park in under an hour and gives you about eight hours of game drives, with a coffee break and a hot lunch in the bush. It is wilder and longer in the park than the Mikumi day, and a few versions swap the drive for a walk and a boat safari on the Rufiji River.
How the day runs
Hotel pickup (if booked with transfer) and drive to Zanzibar airport
What the park, conservation area or venue charges. Check whether your tour price already includes it.
Mikumi, Nyerere and Serengeti: official park fees
Nyerere NP entry, adultnon-resident adult, per person per 24 h; tariff dated 2026-05-16 to 2027-03-14 (season "ENTRY HIGH"); VAT not stated in this row
Nyerere NP and Selous. Nyerere National Park is a TANAPA national park, carved from the northern sector of the Selous Game Reserve.4
What the entry fee covers. TANAPA conservation (entry) fees are per person and valid for 24 hours from the time of entry.5
Children. Children under 5 enter TANAPA parks free; child rates apply to ages 5–15.6
How to pay. Visa and MasterCard are accepted at TANAPA park gates; TANAPA also lists mobile money (M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, Airtel Money) and payment through its online reservation system.7
Payment system. TANAPA fees are paid through the Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG).8
VAT. TANAPA's tariff page says all fees are inclusive of 18% VAT where applicable (the per-row tariff data does not mark VAT).9
Selous Game Reserve (TAWA). The remaining Selous Game Reserve is managed by the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), which publishes its own entry fee per person per 24 h.10
Zanzibar–Nyerere (Selous), Auric Air. Auric Air publishes a daily scheduled flight Zanzibar → Selous (Nyerere NP) airstrips at 07:00, arriving 08:15. The route is closed for the wet season, 15 March to 31 May.11
Second Auric departure. Auric Air has a second daily Zanzibar → Selous (Nyerere NP) departure at 15:05, arriving 16:25 (on inducement of 4 seats).19
Zanzibar–Nyerere (Selous), Coastal Aviation. Coastal Aviation publishes a daily Zanzibar → Selous flight at 07:50, arriving 09:15 via Dar es Salaam, on inducement of 2 seats from Dar.15
Rainy season. Coastal Aviation suspends its starred routes, including Selous, during the long rains (mid March – end May).20
"On inducement" flights. Both timetables mark the Zanzibar–Selous and Zanzibar–Seronera flights "on inducement" of 2 (some 4) seats: the flight operates only when a booking has that minimum number of passengers.21
Baggage, Auric Air. Auric Air allows 20 kg per passenger in total, including hand baggage, cameras and other personal items.22
Baggage, Coastal Aviation. Coastal Aviation allows 15 kg per person including carry-on luggage; soft bags are strongly recommended but not obligatory.23
Children on Coastal flights. Coastal child fares apply from age 2 to 12; infants under 2 fly free.24
Checked 3 November 2026 on Auric Air and Coastal Aviation (airline websites).
Selous or Nyerere: what the names mean
Most listings still say "Selous", the old name. The northern part of the Selous Game Reserve is now Nyerere National Park, run by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), and that northern part around the Rufiji River and its lakes is where safari trips from Zanzibar fly. The rest of the reserve is managed by the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA). For you, the name on the listing changes little. The fee card shows both the TANAPA fee for Nyerere and TAWA's own fee for the remaining reserve.
A long day in the park
This trip starts early and ends late, and that is its advantage. On the most-booked listing you take off at about 06:30–07:00, start the drive around 07:30–08:00 and stay in the park until about 15:30. That is roughly eight hours with the animals, about two more than the Mikumi day. The day has two breaks: coffee or tea in the bush mid-morning and a hot lunch served at tables in the park around 13:00.
The landscape is varied: woodland, open grassland, lakes and the river. Drives look for elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, hippos and crocodiles. African wild dogs live here, but you need luck to see them.
Game drive or boat safari
The Rufiji River is the reason many people choose Nyerere, but most day trips don't include the river by boat.
Version
What you do
Good for
Full-day game drive
≈ 8 h in a 4x4 with breaks
most wildlife in one day
Bush walk and boat safari
walk with an armed ranger, then ≈ 2 h on the river
hippos, crocodiles, birds, seeing the bush on foot
2 days, 1 night
game drive on day 1, walk and boat safari on day 2
both, at a slower pace
If the boat safari matters to you, read the itinerary before booking, or look at the 2–3 day safaris.
Fees, insurance and weather
The main listings include park entry and landing fees, flights, guide, jeep, meals and water. Nyerere's park entry fee is more than twice Mikumi's (see the fee card), which is part of why this trip costs more. Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance is not included; buy it separately before you arrive.
The long rains are the weak point. Scheduled flights to the park stop from mid-March to the end of May, and the operator of the most-booked trip warns that trips between 1 April and 1 June may be moved. Plan the safari at least two nights before your flight home.
Choosing your listing
Shared trips put you in a jeep with other guests; the small-group option caps it at seven, and private means only your party. Some versions skip the hotel pickup and meet you at the airport. The twin-engine versions fly a little later and land at Mtemere airstrip. Guides speak English as standard; French, German or Italian cost extra on the main listing. Bring your passport, long, light clothes against the sun and insects, and sunscreen; the operator says no vaccination is needed for the safari itself. For a side-by-side view with Mikumi, see 1-day safari from Zanzibar.
Questions people ask
Is Selous the same as Nyerere National Park?
Mostly. Nyerere National Park was carved from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, and that northern part is where the safari trips from Zanzibar go. Many listings still say Selous; the rest of the reserve is managed separately by the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority.
How long is the flight from Zanzibar to Nyerere?
About 30–60 minutes on the day-trip listings, depending on the plane and the airstrip; one lands at Mtemere around 50 minutes after take-off. Add about an hour from your hotel to the airport.
Does the day trip include a boat safari?
The most-booked day trip is a full-day game drive only; the Rufiji boat safari is part of its 2-day option. A few day listings offer a bush walk with an armed ranger and a boat safari instead of the long drive.
Are park fees included?
On the main listings, yes: park entry and landing fees are included with flights, guide, jeep, coffee break, lunch and water. Zanzibar's mandatory travel insurance and tips are extra.
Can I go in April or May?
It is the weakest time. Scheduled flights to Nyerere stop from mid-March to the end of May, and the main operator says trips between 1 April and 1 June may be postponed or moved because of weather or airstrip conditions.
Mikumi or Nyerere for one day?
Mikumi is the simpler first safari on open plains. Nyerere gives about two hours more in the park and a wilder mix of woodland, lakes and river, at a higher park fee. See the comparison on our 1-day safari page.
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “"Park":"Nyerere National Park","Category":"Entrance","RevenueCode":"REV0001","ProductName":"Entrance Adults (NR)","Season":"ENTRY HIGH","FromDate":"2026-05-16","ToDate":"2027-03-14","Currency":"TZS","Amount":178850,"createdAt":"2026-07-26” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “"Park":"Nyerere National Park","Category":"Entrance","RevenueCode":"REV0002","ProductName":"Entrance Children 5 - 15 Years (NR)","Season":"ALL","FromDate":"2026-07-01","ToDate":"2027-06-30","Currency":"TZS","Amount":51100,"createdAt":"2026-07-26” (checked 3 November 2026)
tawa.go.tz — “(i) SELOUS, IKORONGO, GRUMETI AND MASWA GAME RESERVES Age group Fee per person per day Citizen (Tanzanian Shillings) For 24 Hours Non citizen (USDollars) For24 Hours (a)Aged 18 years and Above 5,000.00 50.00 (b)Aged 5-17 years 3,000.00 30.00 (c)Aged below 5 years” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Carved from the northern sector of the Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere National Park protects a colossal landscape of rivers, wetlands, open plains and woodlands.” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Conservation fees are valid for 24 hours from time of entry” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Children under 5 years of age enter FREE of charge” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Visa, MasterCard accepted at park gates” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Payments are made using Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG)” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “All fees are inclusive of 18% VAT where applicable” (checked 3 November 2026)
tawa.go.tz — “(i) SELOUS, IKORONGO, GRUMETI AND MASWA GAME RESERVES Age group Fee per person per day Citizen (Tanzanian Shillings) For 24 Hours Non citizen (USDollars) For24 Hours (a)Aged 18 years and Above 5,000.00 50.00” (checked 3 November 2026)
storage.aerocrs.com — “Zanzibar Selous (Nyerere NP) All Airstrips Daily 07:00 08:15 250.00 187.50 22.00 272.00 209.50 On inducement 2 seats, Closed for wet season: 15 March to 31 May” (checked 3 November 2026)
storage.aerocrs.com — “Selous (Nyerere NP) All Airstrips Zanzibar Daily 12:35 14:20 250.00 187.50 15.00 265.00 202.50 On inducement 2 seats, Closed for wet season: 15 March to 31 May” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Selous* Daily 7:50 9:15 Via Dar. On inducement of 2 seats from Dar 248 198 52 317 254” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Zanzibar Daily 12:50 14:50 Via Dar. On inducement of 2 seats 248 198 42 317 254” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Serengeti / Seronera Daily 8:40 12:15 Via Arusha and Manyara. 517 414 93 661 529” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Zanzibar Daily 10:45 14:20 Via Arusha 568 454 90 727 581” (checked 3 November 2026)
storage.aerocrs.com — “Zanzibar Selous (Nyerere NP) All Airstrips Daily 15:05 16:25 250.00 187.50 22.00 272.00 209.50 On inducement 4 seats, Closed for wet-season 15 March to 31 May” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Rainy season: Flights marked with a star (*) are suspended during the long rains (mid March - end May) for exact dates please contact us.” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Inducement flights: Coastal is operating a few pioneer routes for which the demand is still not high enough to allow a regular daily operation. These routes therefore require the incentive of a minimum number of passengers per booking” (checked 3 November 2026)
auricair.com — “The total baggage allowance is 20kgs (44lbs) per passenger. This includes hand baggage‚ cameras‚ filming equipment‚ and any other personal items.” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Passengers are permitted a maximum luggage allowance of 15kgs (33lbs) per person including carry-on luggage. Soft bags are strongly recommended but are not obligatory.” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Child Price: The child rates apply for children from the age of 2 to 12. Infants under the age of 2 fly at no charge.” (checked 3 November 2026)
getyourguide.com — Itinerary times, inclusions (entry and landing fees, coffee break, lunch), 2-day option with boat safari, group sizes, April–June note
getyourguide.com — Day with bush walk (armed ranger) and Rufiji boat safari, ≈ 35 min flight
