There is no single published fare for a Dar es Salaam to Selous flight. What you pay is assembled from four things: which airstrip inside what is now Nyerere National Park you fly into, the aircraft and how many seats are sold, the season, and whether you buy a seat on a shared shuttle or charter the whole plane. The hop itself is short — usually well under an hour from Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) to strips such as Mtemere, Siwandu, Beho Beho or Kiba. Treat any figure you find online as an old benchmark until a licensed operator confirms it in writing for your exact dates.
Why the Dar es Salaam to Selous flight price is never a single number
Most travelers arrive at this question expecting a fare board, the way they would check Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam to Arusha. Safari flying does not work like that. The aircraft serving Nyerere National Park are small — typically single-engine or light twin machines carrying a handful of passengers — and they do not run to a fixed public timetable. A seat is priced against a specific departure, a specific airstrip and a specific load.
Two people flying the same corridor on the same morning can pay different amounts if one is on a shared shuttle and the other has chartered the entire aircraft. That is not a pricing trick; it is how bush flying is costed. Fuel, pilot time, landing and handling fees at both ends, and the number of seats actually sold all sit inside the number you are quoted.
So the useful question is not “what is the price?” but “what is the price for my route, my dates, my group and my luggage?” Those four variables are what a quote is built from, and they are also what you should insist on seeing broken down before you pay a deposit.
Selous or Nyerere? Sort the name out before you compare anything
In 2019 the old Selous Game Reserve was split, and its northern sector was upgraded to Nyerere National Park — the largest national park in Tanzania. The old name refuses to disappear, which is fine in practice: lodges, pilots and drivers still say Selous, while official documents, park fees and government paperwork say Nyerere. When you request a quote, use both names so nobody misreads your itinerary.
Everything travelers mean when they say “Selous” — the Rufiji River, the lakes, the floodplain game viewing, the walking safari areas — sits inside Nyerere National Park. The airstrips are the same airstrips. The difference is purely administrative, but it matters when fees and permits are calculated.
The airstrips that actually decide your price
This is the part most booking pages skip. A bush flight is not priced to a park; it is priced to a strip. Your lodge’s location determines which strip you use, and that strip determines the flying time, the landing fees and whether your flight can be combined with other passengers heading the same way.
| Airstrip | Where it sits | Who normally uses it | What it means for your quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mtemere | Northern sector, close to the main gate and the Rufiji | The busiest entry strip; many northern lodges and camps | Best chance of joining a shared shuttle, which usually lowers your per-seat cost |
| Siwandu | Central lakes area | Lodges around the lake system | Short transfer to camp; often paired with Mtemere on the same rotation |
| Beho Beho | Eastern highlands side | Camps in the Beho Beho and Tagalala area | Longer routing from DAR than Mtemere, so usually a higher charter cost |
| Kiba | Western sector | Western camps and some fly-camping circuits | Frequently a private charter rather than a shared seat |
| Mbuyu | Southern lakes area | Southern lodges | Often combined with a return leg to DAR or onward to Ruaha |
Other strips exist and new ones appear as camps open. The point is simple: name your lodge first, then ask for the flight price. Asking for “the Dar es Salaam to Selous price” without a camp name is like asking for the price of a taxi without saying where you are going.
What actually moves the number up or down
Aircraft type and how many seats are sold
A five-seat single-engine aircraft and a twelve-seat twin turboprop do not cost the same to operate, and they do not land at every strip. If you are a group of two, you are effectively buying a fraction of a plane. If you are a group of eight, you may fill it and the per-person figure changes completely. This is the single biggest variable, and it is why group size belongs in your first email.
Landing fees, handling and park fees
Every airstrip charges landing and handling fees, and Nyerere National Park charges park entry and conservation fees that are separate from the flight. Some quotes bundle these; some do not. A quote that looks cheaper may simply have left the park fees out. Always ask whether park entry, conservation fees and airstrip handling are inside
How to Verify a Real Quote: What to Ask Before Booking Your Dar es Salaam to Selous Flight
When you’ve narrowed down your lodge and travel dates, the next step is securing a verified, binding quote. Many online travel agencies and third-party safari planners list generic “from $X” prices for a Dar es Salaam to Selous flight—these are not quotes, they’re estimates. A real quote must include four verified elements: the exact departure date and time, the aircraft type and registration number, the specific airstrip (e.g., Mtemere or Kiba), and a line-by-line breakdown of all fees. Without these, you’re not booking a flight—you’re making a reservation based on a guess.
Always request the quote in writing from a licensed Tanzanian aviation operator. Operators like Air Tanzania, Zanzibar Air, and Safari Air are authorized to fly into Nyerere National Park. Ask for their Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) license number and confirm the aircraft’s current airworthiness certificate. A legitimate quote will include the pilot’s name and contact, the aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight, and whether the flight is scheduled or on-demand. If the operator refuses to provide this detail, treat the price as non-binding.
Additionally, confirm whether the quote includes all landing fees, handling charges, and park entry fees. Some operators list a base fare of $350 for a shared seat from Dar es Salaam to Mtemere, but fail to mention a $120 park conservation fee per person and a $85 airstrip handling charge. These can push the total per person over $600. Always ask: “Is the total price inclusive of all park fees, landing fees, and handling charges?” If the answer is “no,” request a revised quote with all inclusions listed.
For group travelers, clarify the minimum and maximum passenger count for the aircraft you’re booking. A 6-seat Cessna Caravan may be listed as available, but if the operator only books it for groups of 4 or more, a smaller party may be charged as if they were a full charter. This is standard practice, but it must be disclosed. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple, confirm whether the operator offers a seat on a shared shuttle for that date—some fly only on fixed schedules, others only when full.
Finally, ask about return logistics. The return flight from Selous to Dar es Salaam is not always the same day. Some lodges require a return flight the next morning due to park entry rules, and the aircraft may be grounded for maintenance or weather delays. Always confirm the return flight is included in your quote, and whether it’s guaranteed for a specific date. If not, you may be responsible for arranging a last-minute return, which can cost significantly more.
The Hidden Cost of Last-Minute Bookings: Why Timing Matters More Than Price
While most travelers focus on the headline fare for a Dar es Salaam to Selous flight, the true financial risk often lies in timing—not the price itself. Booking within 72 hours of departure can increase your per-person cost by 30% to 50%, not because of higher fuel or landing fees, but due to operational scarcity and aircraft availability. Small bush operators typically schedule flights based on confirmed group bookings, park entry permits, and weather windows. When a flight is booked last-minute, operators may need to reroute aircraft from other routes, delay maintenance, or even cancel if the pilot is unavailable or the strip is closed due to weather.
For example, a Cessna Caravan flying from Dar es Salaam to Mtemere airstrip on a Tuesday morning might be fully booked weeks in advance. If you attempt to book on the same day, the operator may offer a seat on a different aircraft—a larger, more expensive twin-engine plane with higher fuel burn—or charge a premium for a last-minute charter. In some cases, operators may not have a flight scheduled at all, forcing you to wait or pay for a private charter with no shared cost savings.
Even if a flight is available, last-minute bookings often exclude bundled services. A quote from a reputable operator like Safari Air might include a shared shuttle to Siwandu airstrip with park entry and handling fees already covered—provided you book at least 14 days ahead. Book the same flight 48 hours before departure, and those inclusions may be removed or replaced with a higher base fare that excludes them. This is not deception; it’s a reflection of how small-scale aviation operations manage risk and inventory.
Additionally, park entry permits for Nyerere National Park are issued on a daily basis and are tied to flight schedules. If your flight is not confirmed in advance, your lodge may not be able to secure a permit, which can delay your arrival or force a costly rescheduling. Some lodges in the southern sector (like Selous Serena or Singita Grumeti) require that your flight be confirmed at least 72 hours prior to arrival to allow for permit processing. If you arrive without a verified flight, you may be required to pay a $75 administrative fee just to rebook, plus a new flight cost.
How to Avoid the Last-Minute Premium: A Realistic Booking Timeline
To avoid the hidden cost of urgency, plan your Dar es Salaam to Selous flight at least 14 days before your travel date. This gives operators time to schedule your flight, confirm pilot availability, and secure park entry permits. It also ensures that your quote includes all standard inclusions: landing fees at Mtemere or Kiba airstrip, handling charges, and park conservation fees.
For groups of 2 to 4, aim to book at least 21 days in advance. This allows the operator to pair your flight with other travelers on a shared shuttle, reducing the per-person cost. If you’re booking solo, confirm whether the operator offers a seat on a shared flight for that date—some only run shared flights on weekends or during high season. If no seat is available, you may be offered a charter at a rate that’s 2–3 times higher than a shared flight.
Finally, if you’re traveling during peak season (June to October and December to February), booking 30 days ahead is essential. During these months, demand for flights into Nyerere National Park surges due to optimal wildlife viewing conditions—especially for elephants, lions, and wild dogs. Operators may limit the number of flights per day to avoid overloading airstrips or disrupting park operations. Without a confirmed booking, your flight may be delayed or canceled, and your lodge may not be able to accommodate you.
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