Saadani National Park
Safari suitability: 7/10
Find your tourFour out of the big five, ocean safaris with whales and sea turtles are special attractions. Slightly more remote location.
What YAS members think
Highlights
- A rare, African animal habitat on the oceanside
- Whales, dolphins, sea turtles and coral reefs
- Wildlife viewing of four of the big five
- Best times of year to visit is May through October
About Saadani National Park
Saandani National Park is a 1100 km² (425 mi²) wildlife sanctuary on Tanzania’s eastern coast adjacent to the island of Zanzibar. Thanks to its Indian Ocean coastline, Saandani is one of the few African parks to offer both aquatic and terrestrial tours. Along the coast dolphins are common and Green sea turtles can be spotted. During the October and November migration, whales swim through the Zanzibar channel. Even when creatures are not swimming around, exquisite coral reefs flourish in the pristine ocean off the coast of Tanzania. Further inland, the park is diverse grasslands and forest home to buffalo, elephant, leopard and lion.
Many adventure types are available in Saandani, including game drives, canoe tours, walking safaris and birdwatching. Adventurers are likely to spot antelope, monkeys, and giraffes in addition to four of the big five. Saadani is a five hour’s drive from the international airport in Dar es Salaam and three hours from Tanga. There are daily buses between the park and Dar es Salaam, Tanga and the village of Mkwaja, respectively.
When is the best time of year to visit Saadani National Park?
October and November are best for whale watching. The park is subject to the region’s rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy seasons, the south end of the park is very muddy and largely inaccessible. The best time to visit is during the dry season of May through October.
I recently had the pleasure of embarking on a 3-day safari to Saadani National Park, and it was nothing short of incredible! From the very first day, I was blown away by the unique combination of wildlife and beach landscapes, making Saadani truly one of a kind. Day 1: Our journey started with a comfortable drive through scenic rural Tanzania, and upon arriving at Saadani, we were greeted with the sight of elephants near the park entrance. The lodge we stayed at was cozy and well-situated, with an amazing view of the surrounding savannah. That evening, we went on a sunset game drive, where we saw giraffes, buffalo, and numerous antelopes in their natural habitat. The highlight of the day was witnessing a lioness resting under the shade – a surreal experience! Day 2: The second day was packed with adventure, starting with an early morning boat safari along the Wami River. We saw hippos and crocodiles up close, and the birdlife was astonishing! The combination of water and wildlife was magical. In the afternoon, we headed for another game drive where we spotted zebras and warthogs roaming freely. The park offers a perfect balance of land and water safaris, which made the experience even more diverse. Our guide was knowledgeable and made sure we had a safe and thrilling adventure. Day 3: On our final day, we took a leisurely walk along the pristine beaches of Saadani, the only place where the bush meets the beach in Tanzania. It was peaceful and surreal to see the ocean while still within a national park. The blend of coastal and wildlife ecosystems is what truly makes Saadani special. As we departed, I couldn’t help but feel a deep connection to nature and a sense of gratitude for this unique experience. Overall, this 3-day safari exceeded all expectations. Saadani National Park offers a rare combination of wildlife viewing and beach relaxation, making it a perfect destination for anyone looking for a unique safari experience in Tanzania. Highly recommended!
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We had a lovely stay. The accommodation was superb and the staff very welcoming. The scenery was incredible and the animals magnificent, we had a great time with the elephants and giraffes. Our only regret was that we didn't see any lions or hyenas. We had the good fortune and honour of donating school supplies to the schoolchildren, a real lesson in life. Many thanks to Anne, our contact, who organised this safari. Audrey, Vincent and Rémi
Belgium
Sadaani was a very nice park with a lot of variation. You could visit the sandy beach and enjoy an amazing sunset. The mangroves are spectacular with all the crabs and small life around this mangroves. We didn't do a boat trip, but it seemed a very good way of exploring the area.
Tanzania
We spent the weekend in Saadani National Park. You won't get to see your big 5, but this is all compensated by spectacular scenery, location by the sea. Getting there easy and the road to the park (from Dar es Salaam) and the main road through the park are good.
When I was in Zanzibar I noticed there were a few places that were a very short plane ride away. One was Saadani. I decided to check out this less-visited park and spent two days there. It's very lush and tropical and I did not see as many animals as I was hoping; mainly Colubus monkeys. It is a nice break for those looking for some sea, sand and a bit of wildlife.
Kenya
We had an awesome experience at Saadani National Park. This park is unique in many ways, one of them being its the only national park bordering the sea. After a 5 day trip in northern Tanzania we came to Saadani for some peace and tranquility. We arrived by air to Saadani airstrip. Our stay was at the Saadani lodge, a relaxing beautiful lodge in the heart of snp, exquisitely designed the lodge offered each tent a slice of the beautiful private empty beach. A good blend of beach and wilderness. This was the first plus for us. We had the option of just relaxing and unwinding, but we opted for the two safaris on offer, river and bush. We started with the bush safari. we didn't see much game here, our drive only led us to a leopard and some monkeys here and there. The other highlight in the game drive was seeing some footprints of which we were informed belonged to a lion. Well this was going nowhere, not to have our spirits dampened, we went to experience the other safari on offer. The river ride was better. We saw lots of birds chirping, coloring the sky with their many and unique colors. Hippopotamus and crocodiles were also on offer. It was a relaxing ride which reminded us why we chose to come here. To relax and unwind. The nature all around us was infectious as we stayed the next couple of days relaxing on the beaches. Our visit here was crowned by a village tour in Saadani, getting to learn about the history here both positive and negative (the town had links to the slave trade in the early century). It was an eye opener for us, all that glitters.... Beach Bush and River--a perfect combination. A perfect stay, a perfect getaway.
Driving to Saadani National Park
From Dar es Salaam it is about four hours, in normal weather and traffic conditions.
Flying to Saadani National Park
Flights from DAR are 30 minutes in duration. It is also possible to fly from Zanzibar and flights are around 20 minutes in duration.
The following airlines travel to Saadani National Park
As Salaam Air has grown to be a leading air carrier between the Tanzanian Islands. Our experienced team understands that customer satisfaction is important to the creation of a successful flight operation. Thus, we go above and beyond to satisfy our clients. The airline plies eight routes to promote tourism within and outside the country. We have two fuel-efficient aircraft Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, which are good for the environment and the safety of our clients.We would like to help you discover more about our Islands here on our website and at every step of your journey Visit website
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TANZANAIR was formed in 1969 and pioneered aviation throughout Tanzania. Today it continues to live up to its slogan as theComplete Aviation Company. It was founded by Dinos J Samaras who managed the Company until he passed away in April 2010. It is now headed by his son John Samaras who was his deputy since 1983. With 45 years experience, TANZANAIR offers tailor-made air travel to suit the needs of its customers. With a modern fleet of twin and single-engine Cessna and Beechcraft turbine aircraft, TANZANAIRs well-established reputation leads the way in air charter services throughout the region. TANZANAIR operates out of its own purpose-built Passenger Terminal located between Terminal I and II at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. The passenger lounge is adjacent to the two hangars. It is housed within a secure wall enclosed compound with ample parking facilities. Visit website
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Flown by an international team of pilots, Zantas Air has one of the youngest fleets of Cessna Grand Caravans in Tanzania. These are maintained to the highest safety standards and comply with the ICAO, CESSNA, and TCAA directives. We have an exclusive lounge at Arusha airport. Guests can relax in our comfortable lounge while they wait for their flight. Our operations are designed to suit our client's needs with a customized itinerary based on their schedule. Zantas Air works with its sister company, Mbali Mbali Lodges and Camps, to offer shared charter flights. We fly passengers from Northern Tanzania to Western Tanzania twice a week on Monday and Thursdays. Visit website
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