Wildlife Safari 10-Day Mkomazi, Usambara Mountains & Saadani Safari
Mkomazi National Park (2) · West Usambara · East Usambara (2) · Saadani National Park (4) · Dar Es Salaam
Explore Destination · Tanzania
Saadani National Park
Saadani safari: Saadani is the only national park in Tanzania that borders the sea. Its 1,100 km² take in savanna, coastal forest.
- CountryTanzania
- Best timeJune to October is dry and best for game drives
- Trips1 sample trip
- Destinations nearbyZanzibar, Zanzibar Island
Saadani safari: what to know
Saadani is the only national park in Tanzania that borders the sea. Its 1,100 km² take in savanna, coastal forest, the mangrove-lined mouth of the Wami River and a long stretch of Indian Ocean beach. It became a national park in 2005, and it is the one place in the country where you can watch giraffe in the morning and swim in the ocean in the afternoon without moving camp.
What to know before you go
-
Game drives
Wildlife is less dense than in the big inland parks, and that should be understood before you go. You can expect giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, hartebeest, warthog, baboons and often elephant. Lions are present but not seen every day. The park also has Roosevelt's sable, a rare subspecies.
-
Wami River boat safari
The boat trip is the highlight for many visitors. The lower Wami has pods of hippo, crocodiles on the sandbanks and very good birding: mangrove kingfishers, fish eagles, and flamingos near the river mouth at the right time of year.
-
Beach and turtles
Green turtles nest at Madete beach in the north of the park, and at certain times visitors can watch hatchlings head for the sea. The old village of Saadani was a trading port in the 19th century and can be visited with a guide.
-
Getting there
Saadani is about four hours by road from Dar es Salaam via Bagamoyo, or a light-aircraft flight of around 20 minutes from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam.
When to visit Saadani National Park
June to October is dry and best for game drives. January and February, after the short rains, are also good, with green landscapes and plenty of animals near the water. Roads can be difficult in April and May.
Where It Is
Saadani National Park and the other places we travel to nearby.
Saadani National Park
Trips that include Saadani National Park
Sample itineraries. Every trip is private, so we change the days, lodges and pace to suit you.
Wildlife Safari Plan Your Safari to Saadani National Park
Our team in Arusha answers in English, French, German and Spanish.
Questions about Saadani National Park
What makes Saadani National Park unique?
It is the only wildlife park in Tanzania on the Indian Ocean, so game drives, river boat safaris and beach time can be combined in one stay.
Is Saadani good for wildlife?
It is good for a relaxed bush-and-beach stay, with giraffe, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and sometimes elephant and lion. It does not match the Serengeti or Ruaha for numbers.
How do I get to Saadani from Zanzibar?
By light aircraft, a flight of roughly 20 minutes, which makes Saadani a workable two-night safari add-on to a Zanzibar holiday.
Shall we plan your trip?
Tell us your dates and what you would like to see. A specialist in Arusha sends a route and a clear proposal within 24 hours.
Plan this trip
