If you’ve always dreamt of a safari, a true African adventure with game drives and wildlife spotting, but are still doubting where and how to do it affordably, then this is the blog for you!
I did several safaris in Kenya and South Africa in the past, and at the beginning of November we revisited Zanzibar on a 10-day trip, combined with a 3-day safari in the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, also known as Nyerere National Park.
This reserve is a true must-visit for safari enthusiasts and photography lovers that prefer an authentic African wildlife experience, easy to combine with a beach holiday.
Located in southern Tanzania, this Unesco Heritage Site is one of the continent’s largest wildlife reserves of 30,000 square miles (around 76,000 km2).
With its rich biodiversity, diverse landscapes, river and lakes and unique safari activities, the Selous Game Reserve is ideal if you want to have a memorable and authentic safari adventure, which is easy to access at the same time.
Affordable safari package deals
While planning and booking a safari separately can be quite time-consuming anf costly, tour operators like Corendon.nl now make it super easy with attractive packages that combine beach stays in Zanzibar with short safari trips in Tanzania.
These include everything you need, making it easy and affordable to experience both destinations.
Everything will be managed for you:
transfers to and from the airport
flights in a small plane to Tanzania and back
storage of your luggage in Zanzibar
stays at a local lodge near the reserve
several game drives and a boat tour with a guide and chauffeur
and of course, all meals in Tanzania.
If you also want to have a real African safari adventure without the hassle of extensive planning or excessive costs, see the full package offering: Corendon-safari combinations.
Why safari in Nyerere National Park - Tanzania?
The Selous Game Reserve was renamed Nyerere National Park in 2019 to honor Julius Nyerere, the founding father and first president of Tanzania, a key figure in Tanzania’s history. The decision to rename part of the Selous Game Reserve to Nyerere National Park aligns with Tanzania’s efforts to boost tourism and conservation.
This way the government wants to bring more attention to the region, to attract more visitors, and enhance the protection of the area. National parks in Tanzania have stricter conservation rules compared to game reserves, prohibiting activities, like hunting, that were previously allowed in the Selous Game Reserve.
While other parks like Arusha, Serengeti, Masai Mara in Tanzania, throughout Kenya, or other African countries are also very unique, at Nyerere you can have an accessible and very diverse safari experience in East Africa in just a short amount of time. This is why:
Photogenic landscapes
The reserve is a mix of diverse ecosystems, including savannahs, woodlands, lakes, swamps, and open plains with mighty baobab trees. The Rufiji River, Tanzania's largest, runs directly through the reserve, which has created an intricate network of lakes, channels, and lagoons.
This diverse topography makes this National Park very photogenic, versatile and ideal to experience and capture Africa's untamed beauty.
Diverse wildlife encounters
Nyerere offers a wide variety of wildlife, with one of the largest elephant populations in East Africa and is also home to lions, leopards, buffaloes, and hippos. And one of the highlights is the presence of endangered African wild dogs, which are rarely seen in other National Parks and we had the pleasure to spot them twice on our game drives.
This park also houses more than 440 bird species, including fish eagles, bee-eaters, and pelicans, perfect for birdwatchers!
During our 3 game drives we spotted lions, elephants, buffaloes, wild dogs, monkeys, crocodiles, hippos, eagles, several species of antelopes, zebras, giraffes, wildebeests and much more.
Almost everything except rhinos, since they unfortunately don’t live there anymore. All very photogenic and highly Instagrammable as you can see here below.
Get an impression of our game drives through my own pictures, and don’t forget to click on the pics to see the full version:
Unique safari activities
Unlike some other safari parks, this reserve offers a variety of ways to explore the wilderness. You can enjoy traditional game drives in open 4x4 vehicles with expert guides, but boat trips and even walking safaris are possible, to track wildlife on foot with a local tribe’s man.
Our boat safari on the Rufiji River at sunset was also very special and provided a unique perspective, and close encounters with crocodiles, hippos, and birds, while enjoying the river scenery.
How to get to Nyerere National Park?
Reaching Nyerere National Park from Zanzibar is surprisingly easy from either the mainland or Zanzibar, and therefore perfect to combine with a beach vacation, like we did.
There are daily flights from Zanzibar to Selous with domestic airlines like Unity Air, that takes 30 minutes, with a capacity of 30 passengers per flight.
We flew straight from Zanzibar's main airport to Selous - Mtemere airport, located right next to the entry gate of the National Park. Direct flights to Tanzania go early around 6 am and back also in the morning at 6.30, 10 am or late in the afternoon from 4.15 pm.
Return flights can cost up to €600 p.p., but to save money we booked this excursion through Corendon, as a combination package with our Zanzibar trip, in which this excursion with flights and transfers was included already.
Coming from Tanzania you can also book a flight from Dar es Salaam to Selous. This will take around 45 minutes. Once in the reserve, most lodges and camps provide pick-up services from the airstrip, taking you on your safari adventure smooth and fast.
Where to stay?
During our safari we stayed at the Selous Kinga Lodge, just outside the gates of the National Park.
An authentic lodge that combines comfort, hospitality, a real local vibe and proximity to wildlife. Here's 5 things that made it unique to me:
1. Prime location
Selous Kinga Lodge is strategically located on the banks of the Rufiji River. Its riverside setting makes it an ideal spot for boat safaris and a front-row seat for diverse wildlife sightings, such as elephants, that frequently gather near the river’s edge.
2. Comfortable & authentic accommodations
The lodge offers several cottages equipped with modern amenities with an authentic design and interior. While they provide almost everything you need, it’s good to know that they have fans in the rooms, but no air-con, which can get quite hot in the summer months.
You can also relax by the swimming pool after a day of safari adventures, or by the fire on the riverside, while enjoying the sounds of the African wilderness.
Get an impression of our stay at the authentic small-scale Selous Kinga Lodge in this gallery:
3. Unique safari activities
Selous Kinga Lodge offers guided game drives, boat safaris, and walking safaris, bookable with their local guides, so you can optimally explore the diverse terrain of the National Park.
4. Local dining & hospitality
The lodge is known for its warm hospitality and authentic dining options, while overlooking the Rufiji River. With their extensive bar and lounge they offer a great place to relax and play games in the evening surrounded by their friendly staff.
5. Conservation & eco-friendly practices
They are also committed to sustainability and conservation and actively participate in wildlife conservation and supporting local communities. So staying here helps to contribute to the preservation of the Park’s natural beauty and wildlife at the same time.
Why combine Zanzibar with a Tanzania safari
A safari in the Nyerere National Park is perfect to complement your Zanzibar beach holiday if you like the taste of adventure as well. The combination of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of Zanzibar with the raw wilderness and wildlife of Nyerere made our trip very memorable!
The quick and direct flights from Zanzibar made it easy to experience the best of both worlds in a relatively short trip and is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Nyerere National Park provides a more exclusive and intimate safari experience compared to the more crowded National Parks in northern Tanzania. With fewer tourists, here you can enjoy close-up wildlife encounters on a diverse terrain of unique landscapes.
This National Park offers a combination of diverse wildlife, photogenic landscapes, and unique safari activities, making it very Instagrammable.
Nyerere National Park's accessibility from Zanzibar and authentic accommodations are perfect if you’re looking for an easy and off-the-beaten-path safari with knowledgeable guides. Now extra convenient with Corendon’s combination packages.
See their full Zanzibar offering on: Corendon-Zanzibar for your own dream vacation to Zanzibar, easily combined with Tanzania.
Read more about my previous Africa safaris here: South Africa safari and find more inspiration for other Africa trips and Zanzibar adventures on this page: Authentic Chic trips Africa.
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