Overview–tanzania

Saadani National Park

The bush meets the beach in Saadani National Park. Thanks to its long Indian Ocean beachfront, this is the one place in East Africa where those idle hours of sunbathing might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or animals coming to drink at a nearby waterhole. And if you go for an early morning stroll on the beach you might see the Swahili fishers casting their nets at sunrise.

Scenery

Mangroves separate the idyllic palm-lined beaches, and the watercourses are fringed by woodland. The habitat inside the park is mostly grassland interspersed with acacia thickets. Part of the extensive Zaraninge coastal forest, a biodiversity hot spot in Tanzania, is also located within the park boundaries.

Activities

Morning and afternoon game drives are best to see a variety of wildlife, but there is no better way to connect with nature than on a walking safari. Bird-lovers should not miss out on a river safari. A boat cruise on the Wami River is a highlight of any stay. Snorkeling trips and village tours are also available.

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Rates

From: $152 to $651 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: January and February and June to August

High Season

From: June to October (It rarely gets crowded)

Size

From: 1,100km² / 425mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Although Saadani National Park has been hit hard by poachers, wildlife numbers are increasing slowly. Animals you are likely to see on a game drive include giraffes, buffalo, common waterbuck, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, and yellow baboon. Also look out for bohor reedbuck, wildebeest, zebra, greater kudu, and eland. Big elephant herds roaming the savannah make for incredible sightings.

Wildlife Highlights

Saadani harbors a small population of Roosevelt's sable, an endangered species found otherwise only in Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Kenya’s Shimba Hills National Reserve. Another coastal special is the tiny red duiker, often seen scurrying away in the undergrowth. The beaches in and around Saadani form one of Tanzania's last major breeding sites for green turtles. Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River offer a chance to see the acrobatic Angola colobus monkey.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The park is open all year round, but the access roads are sometimes impassable during April and May. The best wildlife viewing is after the rains, in January and February, and from June to August, when there is still plenty of water on the plains and the wildlife stays within the park.

General Wheather

Being located close to the equator and on the coast of the warm Indian Ocean, Saadani National Park experiences tropical climatic conditions. The Wet season consists of two rainy periods: the short rains (October to December) and the long rains (March to May). Thunderstorms are common during the afternoons in the Wet season, but it seldom rains all day. Average temperatures stay high year-round.

Dry Season –June to September

Although it’s still hot, this is the coolest time of the year. The humidity is low, which makes the heat less oppressive.

June, July, August & September – It’s mostly sunny and the rain is minimal. Afternoon temperatures average 29°C/84°F. It cools off at night with temperatures of 21°C/70°F at the lower end of the range.

Wet Season –October to May

Afternoon temperatures are usually around 32°C/90°F, and nighttime temperatures are around 23°C/73°F.

October, November & December – 'Short rains' – A rainy period lasting about a month generally happens within this time. However, it isn’t possible to know exactly when. Short afternoon rains are likely but will rarely extend throughout the day. The rains won’t usually affect your trip.
January & February – A spell of dry weather, the timing of which cannot be predicted, occurs between the two rainy periods.
March, April & May – 'Long rains' – It rains almost every day, but it would be unusual for it to last all day. Heat becomes a burden and the humidity is high, although an ocean breeze does a lot to alleviate this.

Prons

Combination of beach and bush
It is the perfect beach destination for people who prefer a bush environment to a typical holiday resort
The closest wildlife-viewing destination to Zanzibar, connected by daily flights
Walking safaris and boat trips are available

Cons

Most of the major safari animals aren't present or easily seen
The wildlife-viewing circuit is small
Lack of wilderness appeal with human settlements all around

How To Get There

Saadani National Park is usually visited from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, and scheduled flights connect all three destinations. The lodges in Saadani also organize road transfers from Dar es Salaam on request. The 130km/80mi drive takes 3 to 4 hours*.

Your entry point in Tanzania is usually Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and handle all further ground operations or domestic flights.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), and what tickets would cost.

www.skyscanner.com

Domestic Flights

Charter flights are typically booked by your tour operator as part of your safari package. Scheduled flights to Saadani can be booked with several carriers: