From Zanzibar to Nyerere: my fly-in safari experience
Written by: Giulia Sporck, Sales Assistant Paradise & Wilderness
Can you still go on safari once you’ve arrived in Zanzibar? Yes. Halfway through my stay on the island, I joined a three-day fly-in safari to Nyerere National Park, formerly known as Selous Game Reserve. Within a few hours, I went from white beaches to the African bush, with a game drive, a night in the park, a guided bush walk and a boat safari on the river.
First, time to unwind on Zanzibar
After several days on safari with my own driver on the mainland, I arrived on Zanzibar: the perfect place to let all those impressions sink in. The moment I stepped off the plane, I noticed how different the atmosphere is here. The warm sea air, the palm trees and the slow pace of the island put you in holiday mode almost straight away.
I stayed at Paradise Beach Resort, and I quickly understood why so many travellers choose to end their Tanzania trip here. The resort has several swimming pools, direct access to the beach and a beautiful pier where you can watch the sunset at the end of the day.
Zanzibar turned out to be much more than sun, sea and sand. I swam with dolphins near Mnemba Island, explored the lively north around Nungwi, smelled and tasted vanilla and cloves on a spice farm, and wandered through the narrow streets of Stone Town with a local guide. You’ll find these trips among our Zanzibar excursions.
From the beach straight into the bush
Halfway through my stay, I had the chance to add one more adventure: a three-day fly-in safari to Nyerere National Park.
Within a few hours, the view changed from white sand and a turquoise ocean to wide savannah and untouched nature.
That transition alone made the experience special.
My first game drive in Nyerere National Park
The first day was all about a game drive through the park. We were soon rewarded with large herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas and a buffalo cooling off by the water. What struck me most about Nyerere was the peace and the sheer size of the area. At times, it felt as if we had the whole park to ourselves.
One of my personal highlights was spotting several hyenas, including a mother with her cub. Even though I had already been on safari earlier in my trip, every wildlife encounter felt special and unique. Perhaps that’s the most beautiful thing about safari: no two game drives are the same.
A night in the middle of nature at Africa Safari Nyerere
I stayed at Africa Safari Nyerere, and I was genuinely impressed. The rooms were spacious and luxuriously furnished, each with its own swimming pool and a terrace overlooking the bush. At some lodges, you may even see elephants or buffalo coming to drink near your pool in the evening.
After a generous dinner under a beautiful starry sky, I fell asleep to the sounds of the African bush. Those are moments you won’t easily forget.
A bush walk and a boat safari: safari from a different perspective
The next morning, we set off on a bush walk. It showed me a completely different side of safari. Where a game drive is mainly about spotting wildlife, a bush walk is about the small details of nature. Our guide told us all about the plants and trees, and how local people use them as medicine or even to make soap. It was fascinating to see how much knowledge there is about nature here, and how strong the connection with the landscape still is.
Later that day, we boarded a boat for a safari on the river. Along the banks, we saw crocodiles, hippos, monkeys and an incredible number of birds. It was a completely different experience from a traditional game drive, and that is exactly what made it so special.
Why I would recommend adding Nyerere to your Zanzibar stay
Looking back, what stays with me is how well relaxation and adventure go together. Zanzibar is the perfect place to unwind, and a fly-in safari to Nyerere shows that you can still add a piece of wilderness from the island. You can wake up with a view of the Indian Ocean and, a few hours later, stand face to face with a herd of elephants in the African bush. Trust me: that’s a combination you won’t forget.
Start planning your complete journey
Planning a complete trip through Tanzania and Zanzibar? Take a look at our Tanzania and Zanzibar roundtrips.
Would you like to experience Nyerere yourself? Take a look at the 3-day Nyerere safari I joined, including the bush walk and the boat safari. Short on time? The 2-day safari to Nyerere is a shorter option.
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