Sadaani National Park is nestled between Dar es Salaam (200 kilometers) and Tanga (75 kilometers) and borders the mainland coast.
Situated along the shores of the Indian Ocean, Sadaani National Park is a habitat to a variable mix of both marine and mainland flora and fauna.
The vegetation in the park is quite unique and includes mangrove forests around the winding Wami River and ocean, clumps of palm trees, coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, short and tall-grass savannah and the harsh black cotton plains.
Attractions in the Park
Saadani National Park has some of the amazing wildlife to spot, including; populations of waterbucks, buffaloes, reedbucks, wildebeests, giraffes, and hartebeests.
Colobus monkeys, Warthogs, and Baboons are also often spotted, and with much luck you can spot lions, elephants as well as leopards.
The Park is also a birder’s paradise, well as a boat safari on the Wami River is a true highlight for any visitor and apart from pods of hippos and huge crocodiles, malachite, pied and even giant kingfishers can also be spotted.
Other common birds to spot include; ground hornbills, lilac-breasted rollers, fish eagles, woolly necked stork, palm nut vultures, and common sand pipers, among others.
Activities in the Park
There are various activities in Sadaani National Park to indulge in, such as; game drives, nature walks, boat safaris, well as historical tours to the old Sadaani fishing village to see the remains of buildings that existed when this place was a bustling port trading ivory and slaves can also be organized.
Cultural tours to the main ethnic tribes in the area (Waswahili, Wazigua and Wadoe) are on offer. Further ethnic groups from other regions have also migrated to the region because of better trade opportunities.
The Wamangati, originally from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, send their cattle to Zanzibar on traditional dhows in order to make a living. Unlike in other national parks in Tanzania, visitors can combine a safari with a relaxing beach stay in Sadaani National Park, and the beaches are ever clean and lined with palm trees.
The Park’s coast is hot and humid and swimming is pleasant with the ocean’s temperatures usually reaching around 25°C. Maziwe reef can easily be reached by boat from anywhere along the Sadaani coast.
Best time to visit
The Park is visited all-year round and there is no specific time that you are limited from visiting it, though the best time for watching wildlife in Sadaani National Park is after the rains, in January and February, and from June to October, when there is still plenty of water on the plains and wildlife stays within the park. The rains are heavy in March to May, thus sabotaging game viewing in the Park.
Accommodations in Sadaani National Park
Saadani National Park is a place for adventurous and luxury travelers as well as families. Accommodation on offer includes public campsites, luxury lodges and tented camps in- and outside the National Park, among them include:
Sadaani Safari Lodge
Sitting on the beach under the fringes of the casuarinas trees are the 9 original Classic Bandas, which are simple but elegant, with wooden frames supporting grass roofs.
Polished wooden floors and swathes of white cloth create a bright and airy feel, with large Zanzibar-style carved beds (double or twin) surrounded with romantic nets, and chunky, sun-bleached wooden furniture.
Each banda has an en-suite bathroom with solar-heated shower and flush lavatory, livened up by sand floors, shell mosaics and the odd fist of driftwood.
You also have a full-length veranda, with unrestricted sea views. Double Bandas have a daybed out here, which can be made up if you fancy sleeping alfresco under the star-splashed skies; Twin Bandas have a couch.
Five standalone Maridadi Suites are perched on short stilts directly on the beach and close to the newest-built pool and restaurant.
A teak-wood balcony runs around the outside of each, with a couple of cushioned steamer chairs. Inside, under a thick thatch roof, is a stylish double bed of chunky dhow wood, with nets and vibrant red cushions / runner; there’s also a desk, a sitting area and an indoor shower with solar hot water as well as an outdoor courtyard shower room.
Two of these connect, via a shared lounge area, to create a generous family suite for 4-5, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
Tanganyika Coastal Campsite & Lodge
Experience adventures in Saadani National Park while lodging in luxury: enjoy the en suit tents, Safari chalets, a full dining experience, friendly and warm staff, beautiful gardens and being close to nature.
Enjoy the natural tranquility in an oasis in the middle of the bush. It is a common name in Saadani, one can never get lost finding where Tanganyika Coastal Campsite & Lodge is, nested in the middle of mother nature’ a wonderful place for all those nature lovers who seek some fun , excitement , and much more.
Combining brilliance and creativity Tanganyika Coastal Campsite and Lodge is a lodge of its kind. It goes farther from just being a lodge in the bush to being an oasis in the bush. Its services are oriented to make a guest relax and feel in luxury from a day in the safari.
A Safari Lodge in Saadani National Park, truly emulating the culture of the coast of Tanzania while also capturing the Safari essence of luxury tents.
Brings out the best of your lodging, each of the tents is fully furnished; four poster beds with mosquito nets, separate bathroom, WC toilet, Running water; 24-hours hot water, 24-hours Solar lights, Fan, and open veranda.
Its exclusive family tents have an additional lounge area with African Safari sofas and cusions, and a separate area for children with four posture beds with mosquito nets, and a large open veranda.
Its Safari Chalet rooms are comfortable and cozy. Each room is fully furnished with posture beds with mosquito nets, bathroom, WC Toilets, Running water; 24-hours Solar lights, Fans, table and 24 hours Hot water.
Its Safari Restaurant in Tanganyika Coastal Campsite is the perfect place to dine while in Saadani National Park. A wide buffet with delicious food awaits the guests at Breakfast or dinner time.
The Lodge always wants to make a mark in your safari, and its satisfaction is to see its customers walk in the restaurant and be amazed by the buffet table.
That is why it makes it its priority to check every detail to make your meal more than just a plate of food on the table. It is its pleasure when you choose to dine with its restaurant and also immerse in its comfort.
Saadani Park Hotel
Saadani Park Hotel is a beautiful hotel located in Mkwanja Village, a small and quiet area located inside Saadani National Park.
The property is located few minutes away from the beach of Indian Ocean, making it perfect for family, couples or group vacations in Saadani National Park. Free Wi-Fi is available.
The property features 16 spacious and well equipped self contained rooms with balconies overlooking the ocean. Each room features Satellite flat screen TV, Water heater, Air conditions, Mosquito net and intercom.
Meals and drinks are served at the onsite bar and restaurant. The restaurant offers a buffet and a la carte menu. Complimentary breakfast is also served to all guests.
The property features an outdoor swimming pool and guests can opt go and relax at the beach. There is also 24-hours front desk, enough parking space and security guards.
Tours and Safaris can also be arranged at the property. Airport transfer, shuttle and laundry services can also be arranged upon requests.
Kisampa Bush Retreat
Ideally situated between Bagamoyo and Pangani, Kisampa is just a 3 hours’ drive from Dar es Salaam. Set in a 120 square kilometers private conservancy run in cooperation with the local villages.
Kisampa is bordered by the Wami River to the south and Saadani National Park to the east. The rocky outcrop on which Kisampa stands offers stunning views of the uninhabited bush on all sides of the camp.
With nine comfortable bush en-suites and a ridge top suite, Kisampa is ideal for the first couple of nights on safari, or for residents, a weekend getaway.
At Kisampa you can experience a walking safari and canoe safari – without park fees – all as the first experiences of the safari – a perfect way to start.
Being only a short drive from Dar es Salaam, the first day on safari no longer needs a 6-7h road trip before any excitement. Staying at Kisampa, you are off the tarmac and in the bush just 2 hours from Dar es Salaam.
When you leave Kisampa, you can be on the tarmac in 1 hour from the camp, and with only 45 minutes to Chalinze you beat the traffic on the way to Mikumi or Udzungwa.
Accommodation consists of a thatched roof over an open-sided area, within which a large and comfortable hand-crafted bed rests under a protective mosquito net, a relaxing hammock and a little desk to sit and read or write from as you look out over the stunning vistas below.
Bathroom and toilet are ecologically designed, without electricity or running water, but extremely pleasing none-the-less.
The comfortable composting toilet, due to the remoteness of the lodge, is open to the hillside, and can truly be described as a loo-with-a-view! Shower water is heated and brought to your bathroom by friendly staff, and again showering while out in the open surrounded by trees, the bush and the inevitable collection of birds and monkeys is a lovely experience.
