What a Selous safari means today
The name Selous covers two different things. The remaining Selous Game Reserve, run by TAWA, lies in the south. Nyerere National Park, run by TANAPA, was split off in 2019 and holds the Rufiji boat trips and the airstrips that visitors use. When a trip is sold as a Selous safari, ask which of the two it enters. The answer decides the fees, the activities and the rules.
In Nyerere you can do game drives, boat trips on the Rufiji and guided walking safaris. Walking safaris need advance booking, a permit and a ranger as escort. In the reserve itself there is a rest house and there are designated campsites, and TAWA also leases hunting concessions to private companies. Do not assume that every block is open to visitors.
Our picks: Selous-area safaris
A fly-in with a bush walk if you have one day, a two-day road trip if you would rather not fly, and four days with Mikumi added.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Four-day Mikumi and Nyerere safari
- Game drives in two parks
- Rufiji boat ride
Wildlife viewing in Mikumi and in Nyerere National Park (formerly part of the Selous). Ask whether park fees and lodging are included before you book.
Check availability →
Fly-in bush walk and boat safari from Zanzibar
- Return flights
- Walk with an armed ranger
- Rufiji boat ride
A day in Nyerere National Park (formerly part of the Selous) on foot and on the water, with a bush lunch. Park and conservation fees are included.
Check availability →
Two-day road safari with a Rufiji boat ride
- Rufiji boat ride
- Game drive
- Dinner, breakfast, lunch
A small-group trip by road from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park (formerly part of the Selous), with one night in a lodge. Ask whether park fees are included before you book.
Check availability →Selous safaris and day trips
Fly-in days, game drives and Rufiji boat trips, with live prices and availability.
Safari types compared
What each format involves.
| Format | Where | How it works | Check before you book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game drive | Nyerere, designated tracks | Open vehicle with a guide on marked tracks | Whether the park fee is included |
| Boat trip | Rufiji River, Nyerere | Small boat on the river, life jackets on board | Length and boarding point |
| Walking safari | Nyerere | On foot with a ranger, short or long | Advance booking and permit |
| Fly-in day trip | Airstrip, then drive and boat | Flight, game drive, boat trip and lunch in one day | Return flight time and what the price covers |
| Three days by road | From Dar es Salaam | Overland, one full game day, return | Road conditions in the rains |
| Three days by air | Airstrip, camp stay | Flights in and out, nights in a camp | Camp location and activities |
For most visitors with limited time, a fly-in day or two nights at a camp along the Rufiji is a good fit. The day trip is short but covers game drive and boat. Travellers with three or more days gain from a second game drive and a walk.
Selous game reserve safari: fly-in and road
How you get there changes the day.
Fly-in
Morning flights leave Zanzibar at 08:00 and arrive at 09:15. From Dar es Salaam they leave at 08:30 and land at 09:15. Further Dar departures run from 10:45–11:30 and 16:30–17:35. Times vary with the airstrip, so check the timetable for your date.
Trips from Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam →By road
From Dar es Salaam it is 288 km to Kingupira and 366 km to Miguruwe. The national park advises four-wheel drive, especially in the rains, and organised airstrip transfers.
All ways to get there →Planning ranges for three days
For three days and two nights from Dar es Salaam, these are typical planning ranges. A shared road safari runs $400 to $600, a private road safari $600 to $1,050 or more, and a fly-in $1,100 to $2,200 or more per person. These are planning examples, not fixed tariffs.
Fees for 2026
Two authorities, two tariffs.
| Area | Visitor | Adult | Child 5 to 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyerere, high season 16 May to 14 March (2023/24 tariff) | Non-East African | $70 | $20 |
| Nyerere, low season 15 March to 15 May (2023/24 tariff) | Non-East African | $60 | $20 |
| Reserve, special concessions (2024 tariff) | Non-East African | TZS 250,000 | TZS 125,000 |
| Reserve, other concessions (2024 tariff) | Non-East African | TZS 50,000 | TZS 25,000 |
Children under 5 pay nothing. The Nyerere fee covers 24 hours. A short walking safari adds $20 and a long one $25 (2023/24 rates). Check the current amount before you book. On a package trip the fee is usually part of the price or shown separately, so ask which. Whether 18 percent VAT is included can differ, so ask.
Payment in the park runs through card or the government payment system. The practical details of fees, camps and boat trips are in the Nyerere park fees guide.
Safari rules to know
Short and practical.
Stay on tracks and keep your distance
Use the marked tracks, follow ranger instructions and do not feed animals. Your guide decides how close is close enough.
Drones need a permit
Drones are allowed only with a special permit. Leave yours at home unless the operator has arranged it.
Life jackets on the river
Wear a life jacket on boat trips and keep arms and legs inside the boat.
Animals you may see →Hippos and crocodiles are found along the river, but sightings are never guaranteed. For the dry months and the rains, see the Rufiji boat safari guide and our weather page.
Selous safari: frequently asked questions
Is a Selous safari in the Selous Game Reserve?
Not always. Boat trips on the Rufiji and the airstrips used by visitors belong to Nyerere National Park. Ask the operator which park your trip enters.
Can I go on a walking safari?
In Nyerere, yes. It requires advance booking, a permit and a ranger as escort.
How long is the flight?
About 75 minutes from Zanzibar and about 45 minutes from Dar es Salaam. Times vary with the airstrip.
What does a Selous safari cost?
Day trips from Zanzibar start from about $360 per person, with flights, park fees and taxes included and insurance excluded. Longer trips cost more. See the fee table above for park fees, which are set separately.
Is this the official Selous website?
No. This is an independent guide and has no link to TAWA, TANAPA or any operator.