Mikumi, Selous or Serengeti from Zanzibar?
Three parks, three very different days. Here is how they compare on time, price and what you can expect to see, so you can choose the one that fits your holiday.
The short answer
- Mikumi if you want the most animals for the lowest price, on a day trip.
- Selous if you want a boat safari on a river full of hippos and a wilder, quieter park.
- The Serengeti if you want the big cats and the great herds, and can give it at least three days and a bigger budget.
Side by side
| Mikumi | Selous (Nyerere) | Serengeti | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight from Zanzibar | About 1 hour | About 1 hour | About 2 hours, often with a stop |
| Shortest trip | 1 day | 1 day | 3 days |
| Our price from, per person | $475 | $640 | $3,025 |
| Adult park fee per 24 hours | $35.40 | $82.60 | $82.60 |
| Landscape | Open floodplain, easy to see far | River, lakes and woodland | Endless grass plains and rocky kopjes |
| Boat safari | No | Yes | No |
| Black rhino | No | Very few, rarely seen | Few, rarely seen |
| Best for | A first safari, families, short holidays | Water, birds, a wild feel | Big cats and the migration |
Prices are our lowest per person, for a group of six or the shared Mikumi trip; the Serengeti price includes a balloon flight. Every trip page shows the price for 1 to 6 people.
Choose Mikumi if…
…you want a real safari without giving up much beach time. Mikumi's open plains make elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest and hippos easy to spot, and lions are seen fairly often. It is the lowest-priced park to reach from the island. See the Mikumi day trip or stay a night on the 2-day safari.
Choose Selous if…
…you want something different from the classic plains. The Rufiji River and its lakes bring hippos and crocodiles close to the boat, and elephants and giraffes come down to drink. The park fee is higher, so the trip costs more, but few parks combine a game drive and a boat in one day. See the Selous day trip or the 3-day safari with a guided walk.
Choose the Serengeti if…
…the big cats and the great migration are the reason you came to Africa. It is further away, so a day trip makes little sense; plan at least three days. Our 3-day Serengeti fly-in from Zanzibar includes a sunrise balloon flight.
Can't decide?
Combine two parks: the 3-day Mikumi and Selous safari gives you open plains one day and the river the next. Or send us your dates on WhatsApp and we tell you honestly which park suits your month.
Questions
Which park is best for a first safari?
For most people Mikumi: the flight is short, the animals are easy to see on the open plains and it costs the least.
Is a day trip worth it?
Yes, if your holiday is short. You get several hours in the park. If you can stay a night, you also get the late afternoon and early morning, the best times for animals.
Why is the Serengeti so much more expensive?
The flight is longer, the park fee is more than twice Mikumi's, and you need at least two nights in a safari camp.
Sources: our own trip prices (November 2026); TANAPA tariff 2023/24 for park fees; flight times as on our trip pages.
Trips that go there
Mikumi Day Trip from Zanzibar
The quickest safari from the island: open plains where animals are easy to spot, and lunch in the park.
Selous Day Trip from Zanzibar
A game drive and a boat safari on the Rufiji River in Nyerere National Park, the old Selous.
3-Day Mikumi & Selous Safari from Zanzibar
Both parks in one trip: fly into Mikumi, drive to Selous, fly back to the island.