Saadani National Park

How to get there: Saadani National Park

By Road:

• 131km from Dar es Salaam via Bagamoyo off Makurunge to Gama Entrance Gate
• 146km from Tanga via Pangani and Mkwaja to Madete Entrance Gate
• 225km from Dar es Salaam off Chalinze and Mandera junction via Miono to Mvave Entrance Gate
• On the Arusha – Dar es salaam road, off Mkata Junction via Kwamsisi to Madete Entrance Gate 79km from Mkata to Madete.

By Air:

• Charter flight from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga, Arusha or any other major town landing at all seasons Saadani Airstrip in the South or Mkwaja Airstrip in the North.

Best Time To Visit:

• The park can be visited throughout the year; however the best time to visit is between June and February. Short rains are usually experienced in October to November while long rains are from March to May. The climate is coastal, hot and humid with annual maximum temp of 29C and with an average rainfall varying from 800 to 1200mm.

Attractions & Wildlife: Saadani National Park

Saadani's wildlife population is increasing during recent years after it has been gazetted as a National Park and was a hunting block beforehand. Wildlife in Saadani includes four of the Big Five, namely lions, African bush elephants, Cape buffaloes and leopards. Masai giraffes, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, waterbucks, blue wildebeests, bohor reedbucks, common and red duikers, Dik-Diks, yellow baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, Colobus monkeys, mongooses, genets, porcupines, sable antelopes, warthogs, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, nile monitors are also found in the park.

Wami River and Estuary:

It is among few African coast where large wildlife is still present in an estuarine situation. Here you are as close as one likes to get to hippo, crocodile and other wildlife. Bird watchers will also be treated to not-often-seen migratory birds that love the shore, such as different kinds of sandpiper, Eurasian oystercatcher and the common greenshank. Evergreen mangrove trees along the river provide resting and feeding place for many birds’ species, bats, monkeys and other reptiles.

Mafui Sandbank:

It is within the marine extension of the park whose colourful coral reefs are important breeding sites for many fish species. While in the sandbank tourist enjoys snorkelling and diving underwater and learn on many different type of Indian Ocean living organisms. The chances of seeing dolphins and humpback whales putting on their show in the Indian Ocean are beyond.

Madete beach and nesting site for Green Turtle:

Madete beach is one of the most significant breeding sites for the Green turtle the largest of the hard shelled sea turtles in Tanzania. Female’s Green turtle lays eggs along the shore and return to the sea. The high season is in July - November and a moderate season in January - March. Approximately 8 nests can be available during the season. The incubation time of the eggs buried in the sand is 45 – 60 days after which the hatching emerge.

Where to stay: Saadani National Park

Saadani National Park provides variety of accommodations which are found inside and outside the park. Beautiful public and special camping grounds are available inside the park.

Inside the park:

• Private owned lodge known as Saadani Safari Lodge with 30 bed capacity.
• Park owned Tourist Cottages known as Bandas together and Rest-house with 25 bed capacity.

Campsites

Public Campsite:

• Two (2) Public campsites (Beach & Kinyonga) with basic facilities- water, kitchen & washrooms providing accommodation in the Park with a capacity of 50 campers per day in each camp. Campers should come with their camping gears.

Special Campsite:

• Two (2) Special campsite(Tengwe and Kiwandi)- naturally wild with no facilities