Most
Unique Saadani National Park
Saadani
Game Reserve was gazetted in 1964, covering an area of some
350 sq km
from the Wami river in the south to the Mligaji
river in the north, with the Arusha-Dar es Salaam railway line
as the western boundary. Wildebeest, zebra and eland joined
the resident populations including buffalo, elephant, giraffe,
lion wild dog and the extremely rare Roosevelt's sable
antelope. Saadani is Tanzania's only protected
coastal wildlife preserve. i.e. only park with
beach experiences. The reserve has since expanded to
include a further 300 sq km of land north of the Mligaji. This
is an important area containing the only permanent elephant
population in the area as well as sable antelope. To the west
of the old boundary lies the Zaranyingi forest, another
important area for its variety of indigenous vegetation and
animal and birdlife. This is also now included in the Saadani
boundaries, creating a substantial reserve of 1,100 sq km (430
sq miles). In 2002 Saadani was gazetted to become Tanzania's
13th National Park and it is hoped that the upgrade to
National Park status will bring improved infrastructure
development, access and anti-poaching activities, as
well as the reintroduction of few animal species from other
country's parks.
Geography
Saadani is
geographically the closest reserve to Dar es Salaam (130km)
and Zanzibar, even considering the present situation of no
coast road, it is still a similar distance in terms of time to
Mikumi National Park, the next closest wildlife
destination. Saadani is the closest wildlife destination
to Dar and Zanzibar especially for families with children,
will offer an irresistible combination of beach and wildlife
viewing. Saadani also sits almost directly opposite Zanzibar's
Stone Town, located just 27 km away. Flights from Zanzibar to
Saadani take just 15 minutes, making both day trips as well as
longer stays an appealing and easily accessible wildlife
option from Zanzibar, Arusha or Dar es Salaam.
Main Features:
Saadani is where
the beach meets the bush. The combination of beach and big
game is unique in Tanzania. It is only wildlife sanctuary in
East Africa to boast an Indian Ocean beachfront, it possesses
all the attributes that make Tanzania’s tropical coastline and
islands so popular with European sun-worshippers. Yet it is
also the one place where those idle hours of sunbathing might
be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or a lion coming
to drink at the nearby waterhole! Game numbers and visibility
do not at present match the more popular parks in the north
and south but, especially with the upgrade to National Park
status, there is improvement in both aspects. The diversity of
animals is comparable to many parks but numbers. Large game
currently seen include giraffe, buffalo, elephant, lion,
leopard, sable antelope, eland, hartebeest, wildebeest, zebra,
waterbuck, reedbuck, greater kudu, Oryx, warthog, mongoose,
civet, serval, baboon, black and white Colobus, crocodile,
hippo, three species of duiker as well as a great variety of
birdlife. Saadani is dominated by acacia woodland, coastal
thickets and miombo woodland. It also protects a large area of
mangrove swamps around the mouth of the Wami river on the
south boundary, and includes several species of palm including
the mysterious looking 'walking palm', not actually a palm at
all! Dolphins are sometimes seen offshore and whales
pass through the Zanzibar channel on their migration. Of
particular interest is the green turtle project at Madete,
this endangered species is under particular threat from
fishing practices offshore from Saadani and a conservation
project has been established to help protect both turtles and
their eggs.
Accessibility:
Saadani National Park
(SANAPA) is accessible by road, air and boat. Driving
time from Dar es Salaam is roughly 4 1/2 hours. Pangani is
about 1 hour drive north and from Arusha is a 6 hour drive.
Saadani is the closest
National Park to both Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. By air can
take roughly 20 minutes from Zanzibar and 30 minutes from Dar.
When to visit:
Generally
accessible all-year round, but the access roads are sometimes
impassable during April and May. The best game-viewing is in
January and February and from June to August.
For more details
contact us
SAFARIS -->I TANZANIA I
KENYA I
ZANZIBAR I MAFIA I
KILWA I
MOMBASA
