Saadani National Park

Location: Simiyu Region, Northern Tanzania

Area: 1,062 km² (410 sq mi)

Overview

Saadani National Park is located on the north coast approx. 100km (60miles) northwest of Dar es Salaam, and the same distance southwest of the port of Tanga. Gazetted in 2005 under the management of Tanzania National Parks Authority, though the reserve was under protection from the 1960s, and expanded to cover twice its former area in 2002.

The only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa to boast of an Ocean beachfront where the White sand and blue water sparkle beneath the tropical sun, as Traditional dhows sail slowly past, propelled by billowing white sails, whilst Swahili fishermen cast their nets below a brilliant red sunrise.

Saadani is where the beach meets the bush, and possesses all the attributes that make Tanzania’s tropical coastline and islands very popular with European sun-worshippers. And the only place sunbathing hours might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or a lion drinking at the nearby waterhole.

The reserve suffered under the arms of poachers in the late 1990s, in recent years a turnaround has been seen as a result of a concerted clampdown on poachers, based on integrating adjacent villages into the conservation drive. Today a wide range of grazers and primates are notable on game drives and walks.

These include giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs, common waterbucks, reedbucks, hartebeests, wildebeests, red duikers, greater kudus, elands, sable antelopes, yellow baboons, and vervet monkeys. Herds of elephants, pride of lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and black-backed jackals.

Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come with a high chance of sighting hippos, crocodiles, and a selection of marine and riverine birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo. Where the beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding sites on mainland Tanzania.

Accessible by charter flight from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, scheduled flights are yet to be tabled in and by road only from Moshi road approx. 160km (100miles) then 60km (36miles) on a dirt road and from Tanga and Pangani by 4×4 wheel drive.

• • The only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa to boast for an Indian Ocean beachfront.

Accommodation Options

• • Saadani Safari Lodge (consists of 15 cottages, made up of 9 Classic bandas, 5 Maridadi Suites, and one Siri Suite for honeymooners and “romantics”).

• • Saadani River Lodge (seventeen treetop timber suites, and a private villa).

• • Bab’s Camp ( private tower with 2 ensuite bedrooms, a crow’s nest with a 360degrees view, Tower sleeps up to 6 guests ).

Activities at the Destination

Game drives and guided walks, Boat trips, Swimming, Visit Saadani fishing village, which lies within the reserve, where a collection of ruins pays testament to its 19^th-century heyday as a major trading port.