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Fly-In Safari
Zanzibar ยท Southern Tanzania Fly-In Safaris

Beach to Bush In Hours, Not Days

Board a scenic light aircraft in Zanzibar and touch down among the riverine forests, open floodplains and game-rich wilderness of Southern Tanzania the very same day. No long road transfers, just a swift, breathtaking hop from the Indian Ocean to Nyerere National Park, Mikumi and the Rufiji River, depending on your chosen package.

View Our Flying Safaris Get a Quote ?
1-3
Days Duration
4
Fly-In Itineraries
~45 min
Zanzibar to Southern Tanzania
Big Cats
& River Giants
Light aircraft flying safari over Southern Tanzania
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Direct Fly-In Safaris
Fly-In Overview

Zanzibar to Southern Tanzania

A flying safari is the fastest and most scenic way to pair a Zanzibar beach holiday with the untamed wilderness of Southern Tanzania. Instead of a long day on the road and a lake crossing, a short scheduled flight lifts you off the island and sets you down on a bush airstrip close to Nyerere National Park or Mikumi, ready for your first game drive or boat safari within hours.

Every itinerary below starts and ends in Zanzibar, so you can bookend your safari with as many beach days as you like. Whether you have just one day to spare or three, we've built a fly-in package around it. All routes and camps can be tailored to your dates, budget and interests.

Scenic Light-Aircraft Hops
Skip the long road and ferry transfer with a short scheduled flight from Zanzibar
Nyerere National Park
Tanzania's largest protected wilderness, famed for lion, wild dog and boat safaris
Rufiji River Safaris
Hippo pods, crocodiles and elephant herds along one of Africa's great waterways
Combine With the Beach
Start and end every safari on the white sands of Zanzibar
Nyerere Lion Prides & Wild Dog Packs
Mikumi Open Plains & Easy Access
Rufiji River Boat Safaris & Hippo Pods
Southern Wilderness Untouched, Uncrowded Bush
Zanzibar White Sand Beaches & Turquoise Waters
Nyerere Lion Prides & Wild Dog Packs
Mikumi Open Plains & Easy Access
Where You'll Land

Four Destinations, One Short Flight

Depending on the package you choose, your bush plane touches down at an airstrip serving one or more of these Southern Tanzania destinations.

Nyerere National Park fly-in safari
Southern Tanzania ยท Flagship Park
Nyerere
National Park
Africa's largest game reserve, with dense predator populations and unrivalled boat safaris
Mikumi National Park fly-in safari
Southern Tanzania
Mikumi National Park
Open plains teeming with elephant, giraffe and lion, easily reached in a short hop
Rufiji River fly-in safari
Southern Tanzania
Rufiji River
Glide past hippo pods, crocodiles and elephant herds on a classic boat safari
Southern Tanzania wilderness fly-in safari
Southern Tanzania
Southern Wilderness
Vast, uncrowded bush far from the busier northern circuit, ideal for fly-in stays
Zanzibar Departure
Nyerere Lion
Mikumi Elephant
Rufiji Hippo Pod
Wild Dog Pack
Nyerere Leopard
Rufiji Crocodile
Zanzibar Sunset
Mikumi Giraffe
Zanzibar Departure
Nyerere Lion
Mikumi Elephant
Rufiji Hippo Pod
Wild Dog Pack
Nyerere Leopard
Rufiji Crocodile
Zanzibar Sunset
Mikumi Giraffe
Our Fly-In Tours

Zanzibar Flying Safari Packages

Every itinerary is bespoke. These packages are starting points. We tailor flight times, camps and pacing to your dates, budget and wishes.

1-Day Mikumi Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar
Short on Time
1-Day Mikumi Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar

A quick, scenic escape from the beach. Fly from Zanzibar for a full day of game drives across Mikumi's open plains, spotting elephant, giraffe, buffalo and lion, before returning to the island by air the same evening.

Duration
1 Day
Park
Mikumi
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1-Day Nyerere Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar
Nyerere Taster
1-Day Nyerere Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar

A focused one-day introduction to Nyerere National Park. Fly straight from Zanzibar for a morning game drive or river boat safari among lion, hippo and crocodile, then return to the coast the same day.

Duration
1 Day
Park
Nyerere
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2-Day Nyerere Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar
Most Popular
2-Day Nyerere Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar

Two unhurried days in Nyerere National Park, combining game drives across the woodland and floodplains with a leisurely boat safari on the Rufiji River. A balanced fly-in itinerary without giving up too many beach days.

Duration
2 Days
Park
Nyerere
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3-Day Nyerere Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar
Extended Nyerere
3-Day Nyerere Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar

An extended three-day fly-in safari giving you more time across Nyerere's varied habitats, with multiple game drives, a Rufiji River boat safari and the chance of a walking safari, before flying back to Zanzibar's beaches.

Duration
3 Days
Park
Nyerere
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The Haven Trails Way

What Makes Our Zanzibar
Flying Safaris Different

Seamless Flight Booking
We handle every scheduled flight from Zanzibar to the Southern Tanzania airstrips, so you simply show up with your bags packed.
More Time, Less Transit
A road and ferry transfer can eat a full day. Our flights get you into the bush in under an hour, leaving more time for game drives.
Built to Pair With Zanzibar
Every itinerary starts and ends on the island, so you can bolt on as many beach days before or after as you'd like.
Private Guides on Arrival
Your private vehicle and guide meet every flight at the airstrip. No shared transfers, no waiting around.
Boutique Airstrip Camps
We select camps and lodges close to each airstrip, cutting drive times further while keeping you deep in the wilderness.
Fully Bespoke Scheduling
Flight times, park combinations and camp levels are all built around your travel dates, budget and interests.
Seasonal Guide

The Best Time to Fly to Southern Tanzania

Flights from Zanzibar to Southern Tanzania run through the dry season and into the shoulder months, and each period offers a different kind of wildlife viewing. Here's how each one plays out.

Jun Jul
Early Dry Season
Vegetation begins to thin, water sources shrink and wildlife starts to concentrate along the Rufiji River. Clear skies and easy flying conditions.
Aug Oct
Peak Season
The height of the dry season, with the best game viewing of the year. Boat safaris on the Rufiji are outstanding, book well in advance.
Nov
Short Rains
Brief showers refresh the bush and bird life peaks. Fewer crowds on flights and camps, with rewarding game viewing still on offer.
Dec
Festive Season
Green landscapes and dramatic skies as the short rains ease. Popular with holiday travellers combining Zanzibar and the southern bush, book early.
Jan Mar
Green Season
Warm temperatures, lush scenery and newborn wildlife. A quieter, more affordable time to fly south, with some brief afternoon showers.
Apr May
Long Rains
The wettest months, when several camps close and some flights may see brief weather delays. Not our recommended window for flying safaris.
FAQ

Zanzibar Flying Safari
Questions

Everything travellers ask about combining Zanzibar with a fly-in safari to Southern Tanzania.

Scheduled light-aircraft flights from Zanzibar to airstrips serving Nyerere National Park and Mikumi typically take under an hour, sometimes with a short stop en route. It's a scenic journey that saves a full day of road and ferry travel.

It isn't required, but most guests do. Since every fly-in safari starts and ends in Zanzibar, it's easy to bolt on a few extra nights on the island before or after your safari. We can arrange beach accommodation as part of the same booking.

The 1-Day Mikumi and 1-Day Nyerere Fly-In Safaris are our shortest options and work well if you only have a single spare day. For a fuller Southern Tanzania experience with a boat safari included, the 2 or 3-Day Nyerere packages give you more time on the ground.

Yes, light aircraft have soft-sided baggage limits, usually around 15kg per person including hand luggage. We'll send exact allowances once your flight is confirmed and can arrange bag storage in Zanzibar for anything you don't need on safari.

Yes. Our Nyerere fly-in packages include the option of a boat safari on the Rufiji River, where you can watch hippo pods, basking crocodiles and elephant herds coming down to drink from the water's edge.

All packages include scheduled flights from Zanzibar, park entrance fees, accommodation, meals, private game drives, a dedicated guide and airstrip transfers. International flights to Zanzibar are not included. A full inclusions list comes with every tailored itinerary.