About Saadani National Park

You’ll not find large groups of animals in Saadani National Park like in you do the Serengeti. However, it’s the only place in Tanzania where you may encounter elephants walking on the beach.

Landscape of Saadani National Park

Saadani National Park is one of the newest national parks in Tanzania and relatively small compared to other parks.
Saadani National Park is located attractively on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Elephants and other wild animals roam the beaches, which are among the few remaining breeding grounds for green turtles on mainland Tanzania. The Wami River flowing through the park is flanked by mangrove trees and is the habitat of hippos, crocodiles and a high concentration of river birds.

Climate & season

The climate in Saadani National Park is tropical, so close to the equator and on the coast of the warm Indian Ocean. There are two green, somewhat wetter seasons. During the year the temperatures hardly vary. Average temperatures remain high all year round. During the day the temperature is around 33 degrees and at night around 23 degrees.

June to September This is the coolest period, the rain is minimal. The sun shines most of the day, the average temperature is 31 degrees during the day and about 21 degrees at night.

October to December Around November it rains for about 30 days, with short rains in the afternoon. These rains rarely last all day, and will hardly affect your trip. The temperature is rising slightly.

January and February
This is a period of dry and warm weather between the two green seasons, with temperatures of 34 degrees during the day and 23 degrees at night.

March to May
This time around, it rains almost every day, often with a thunderstorm in the afternoon. It is very hot and the humidity is high. At times, the sea breeze brings some relief and the temperature drops a little.

Interesting facts

1. The Saadani National Park is located four hours north of Dar es Salaam. By plane, it takes about 20 minutes to fly from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar Island.

2. Saadani has been officially a National Park since 2005. Before that, it was a game reserve and hunting ground since 1969. As a result, the number of animals has risen heavily.

3. Saadani has been investigated by the famous explorer, Richard Burton (1925-1984).

4. Sights include the Old Boma Hotel, the Saadani Village Graveyard and the ruins of ancient settlements in Mkwaja Village.

5. Saadani village – once a major port – is located at the main entrance of the park. The ruins of the Arab fort were once the place where slaves were detained before they were shipped to Zanzibar Island. In the German period, the fort served as a customs office.

6. At sunrise, the Swahili fishermen cast their nets.

Activities

In Saadani National Park, you can enjoy both the magnificent coastline and wilderness simultaneously.

A nice addition to your trip if you like walking and tranquil days in a beautiful setting.

Boat safari

Explore the wonders of the famous Wami River, a paradise for bird lovers and nature lovers. The Wami River is an example of overwhelming natural beauty, full of birds and wildlife.
The boat safari starts right from your lodge, as there are many hippos in front of the suites, and takes you from there to the river mouth. Along the way you see groups of hippos, many crocodiles, osprey, colobus monkeys and dozens of bird species. No trip on the Wami is ever the same.

Sea safari

At a pristine atoll in the middle of the Indian Ocean, about 20 miles from the coast, lies a sandbank which is visible only at low tide.
Depending on the tide, you leave the lodge to go snorkling, swimming and relaxing in the stunning turquoise waters.

Snorkeling gear, drinks and a light packed lunch are provided.

Walking safari

The best way to explore the area is a walking safari with a qualified safari guide. Walking by yourself is strongly discouraged.

A walking safari in the area of our lodge is an exciting activity. Nowhere else in Tanzania but here, you can walk through lowland coastal forests, acacia forests and dry riverbeds cooled by the Indian Ocean. The walking safari starts from the tropical forest and takes you to the coastal savannah. The expert guide will show you the unique flora and fauna of this most intriguing area.

Jeep safari

Saadani National Park is known for being one of the last remaining protected coastal areas in Africa and the only national coastal park in East Africa!
Here, safaris are unique and intimate. You rarely come across other vehicles. It’s important to remain silent in the vehicles because the animals are not used to people and are therefore very skittish. The best time to go is early in the morning and late in the afternoon as the temperature is more pleasant for both animals and people at these times.

Animals in the area

The population of wild animals in Saadani National Park is growing rapidly.
You’ll find four of the Big Five, namely lions, African bush elephants, Cape buffalo and leopards.

Common animals include: giraffes, hartebeasts, waterbucks, wildebeest, porcupine, warthogs, hippos and crocodiles and many monkey and bird species.

Click here for the wildlife overview