Getting aroundLight aircraft and an open safari vehicle
Group sizeFrom 2 travellers
PriceFrom US$1,650
Overview
Water, wheels and footprints: three days in Nyerere with a Rufiji River boat safari, game drives among the lakes and a guided bush walk. Fly in from Zanzibar, fly out to the beach.
Three days is the sweet spot. You get the boat, the drives and a walk in the bush with an armed ranger, and you still come back to Zanzibar with time for the beach. It is the trip we would book for our own family.
The Richstar Tour crew
This is our favourite way to show the wild side of Tanzania to people based on Zanzibar. You fly over the coast to Nyerere, Africa’s biggest national park, and see it three ways: from a boat on the Rufiji River, from an open vehicle on the game drives and on foot with an armed ranger.
Two nights at a tented camp by the water give the trip room to breathe. You will have time for an early drive when the predators move, a quiet afternoon on the river and a fireside dinner under a sky with no city lights.
Highlights
Rufiji River boat safariWalking safari with an armed rangerGame drives along the lakesTwo nights in a riverside tented camp
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere
Pick-up from your hotel and a short drive to Zanzibar airport. The flight crosses the channel and follows the Rufiji delta inland. Your guide meets you at the airstrip and drives you to camp with a game drive on the way. Late afternoon game drive and sundowners by the lake.
An early morning walk with an armed ranger: tracks, dung, birds and the small things you miss from a car. Brunch at camp, rest in the heat of the day, then out on the Rufiji River by boat for hippos, crocodiles, elephants at the water and the colours of the evening.
NyerereOvernight: Riverside tented camp, Nyerere
Day 3Morning game drive and back to the beach
A last game drive at sunrise, the best time for lions and wild dogs. After breakfast, the flight back to Zanzibar and a transfer to your hotel. Lunch on the beach is optional and very much recommended.
Nyerere / Zanzibar
Route map
⚑Zanzibar Airport · start
1–3Nyerere
Flight or boat
1Day numbers at each place
Start / finish
National park / conservation area
Illustrative map — routes and distances are approximate.
Price by group size
Travellers
Per person
Luxury upgrade
2
US$1,650
US$2,390
3–4
US$1,560
US$2,250
5–6
US$1,480
US$2,160
Prices per person in US dollars. Bigger groups pay less each.
When to go
The parks are at their best in the dry months, when animals gather near the water. Green-season trips are quieter and cost less.
Hot and clear. Calm sea, great snorkelling.
Hot and dry. One of the best months for the sea.
Very hot and still. Rain starts at the end of the month.
Long rains. Quiet island, lowest prices.
Rain eases at the end. Green and fresh.
Dry season begins. Breezy and sunny.
Dry, sunny and busy. Great for safaris.
Dry and windy. Peak kitesurfing.
Dry and warm. Excellent for safari and sea.
Warm and dry. A sweet spot before the short rains.
Short rains, mostly afternoon showers.
Hot again and busy over the holidays.
Included
Return flights Zanzibar – Nyerere
Park and conservation fees
Two nights in a riverside tented camp, full board
Boat safari, walking safari and game drives
English-speaking guide and armed ranger
Airport transfers on Zanzibar
Not included
International flights and visas
Travel insurance
Tips for guides and pilots
Drinks other than water
Personal items
Good to know
One clear price
US$1,650 per person sharing. Send a request with your date and we confirm it with you.
Easy booking
A 30% deposit confirms your trip; the balance is due 30 days before you travel. Pay by bank transfer, card or cash on arrival. Booking terms
Make it yours
Add a day, swap a beach, upgrade a room or add a safari — just ask.
Is the walking safari safe?
Yes. Walks are led by an armed park ranger and a guide, at a slow pace, and only in areas the park allows. You need to be able to walk for about two hours on flat ground.
When is the best time to go?
June to October is dry and the animals gather at the water. January to March is green and beautiful. The park is quiet in April and May, and some camps close for the long rains.
The Richstar Tour crew
