Saadani is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania bordering the Indian Ocean. Gazetted in 2005, it encompasses a well-preserved ecosystem including the former Saadani game reserve, the former Mkwaja ranch area, the Wami River as well as the Zaraninge Forest.
Many villages are dotted around the boundaries of the park. Saadani village itself once was an important harbor-town and slave-trading center in East Africa. Nowadays it is a small Swahili village of about 800 inhabitants whose livelihood is mostly fishing.
The coastal vegetation zones range from seashore full of palm trees, through the tidal mangrove forest that forms a buffer between ocean and land, to the Wami River shore where the huge sycamore fig is found. Its semi-open woodlands closely resemble the Selous game reserve, while the vast grassy area close to the tourism office is named ‘Serengeti Ndogo’ (Small Serengeti).
Saadani is a one of a kind paradise where beach life meets wilderness. This gives you not only the opportunity to plunge into the Indian Ocean straight after your safari, but also to be submerged in a unique display of both marine and mainland flora and fauna in a naturally fascinating setting.
LOCATION INFO
Sadaani National Park is on the north coast roughly 100kms northwest of Dar-es- salaam and a similar distance Southwest of the port of Tanga.
ACCOMMODATION
Inside the park: There are park owned guest houses known as bandas, rest house, tents and campsites. Booking for bandas, rest house, tents and campsites please contact the Park.
Currently there is one private owned lodge known as Sanctuary Saadani Safari Lodge.
Outside the park: There are several lodges and camps that are privately owned.
WHAT TO DO
Saadani is where crabs meet elephant and the roar of a lion might interrupt your tanning.
This is one of the few breeding sites for green turtles.
To the southern part experience salt harvesting processes (salt pans) in the hands of the locals.
All the usual suspects, such as zebra, buffalo, elephant, warthog, giraffe, wildebeest, and waterbuck are present. But you also stand a high chance of capturing different types of hartebeest, the big-eyed Rondo Galago and the elusive sable antelope on camera during your game drive or wilderness walks. Lion, leopard and spotted hyena might be harder to find, but this makes a sighting an even greater joy.
GETTING THERE
The park is accessible by road or air.
By road:
1. Dar es Salaam – Chalinze – village of Mandera (good tarmac road, 160 km.
About 2-3 hours drive) then from Mandera village drive to Mvave Gate –
Saadani National Park tourism office (rough road,65 km about 2 hours drive).
2. From Tanga town via Pangani to Mkwaja Gate (earth road 120 km, about 3-5
hours drive).
3. From Dar es Salaam drive north to Saadani via Bagamoyo
By air:
Charter flights from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar or Tanga or Arusha and other major towns.
