Saadani National Park : Wildlife safari in Tanzania
Saadani National Park is located along the Indian water between Dar es Salaam and Tanga, and is the sole protected region where the bush meets the water, including pristine white sand beaches. The national park was designated as a game reserve in 1962 and officially recognized as a national park in 2002, encompassing a total area of 1,062 square kilometers. It includes diverse ecosystems such as the Wami River, various vegetation types including mangrove forests, scattered palm trees, tall savannah, and short grass grasslands, among others. The national park hosts a diverse array of wildlife, including waterbucks, reedbucks, warthogs, giraffes, wildebeests, hartebeests, buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, red duikers, greater kudus, elands, sable antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species such as the giant kingfisher, ground hornbills, and woolly-necked storks.
Attractions in Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park serves as a habitat for various wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, hartebeests, lions, leopards, reedbucks, warthogs, spotted hyenas, black-backed jackals, sable antelopes, giraffes, waterbucks, greater kudus, hippos, and primates such as yellow baboons and vervet monkeys, among others. Wildlife in the park can be observed during the game drive, boat safari, and guided nature walks.
The national park is one of the premier birdwatching places in Tanzania, featuring a diverse array of avian species, including marine, riverine, and migratory birds. Bird species observable include the lanner falcon, bateleur eagle, mangrove kingfisher, African skimmer, African cuckoo hawk, and long-crested eagle, among others.
Saadani National Park features exquisite beaches where one may relish the splendid sun, observe breeding green turtles, and encounter other wildlife such as elephants, lions, and warthogs that inhabit the shores. The Wami River is a watercourse that traverses the park, serving as a habitat for animals such as hippos and crocodiles, as well as many bird species including fish eagles, kingfishers, and hornbills.

Top things to do in Saadani National Park
A game drive is a popular activity in the park, conducted in the comfort of a pop-up safari vehicle. Game drives at Saadani National Park are most effectively conducted early in the morning to observe predators prior to their retreat to concealment, since this period offers optimal opportunities to view animals while they remain active. Throughout the game drive, you will observe a diverse array of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, hartebeests, elands, giraffes, lions, leopards, waterbucks, larger kudus, warthogs, and reedbucks, among others.
Boat safari is an exhilarating and adventurous activity conducted on the Wami River within the park. The boat safari lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours, during which participants can observe stunning landscapes, hippos and crocodiles in the water, as well as elephants, buffaloes, lions, waterbucks, and warthogs drinking along the banks. Additionally, various riverine bird species, including giant kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, ground hornbills, and fish eagles, may be seen.
Bird Watching: Saadani National Park is a premier birdwatching site in Tanzania, including a variety of bird species, including migratory and riverine species. Birdwatching in the park can occur in the mangrove forest along the Wami River during a boat cruise, among other locations. During this activity, one may observe various bird species, including the bateleur, crowned eagle, African fish eagle, greater flamingo, African cuckoo hawk, little bittern, Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmer, lesser kestrel, goliath heron, and purple heron, among others.
Guided nature walks offer an exceptional opportunity for guests to traverse the park on foot, accompanied by a knowledgeable armed game warden familiar with the walking routes. Nature hikes in Saadani National Park are most advantageous in the early morning and late evening. During these excursions, one can explore the mangrove forest and see many butterfly species, bats, primates such as vervet monkeys and yellow baboons, as well as a multitude of colorful birds. You will have the opportunity to observe animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, wildebeests, elands, waterbucks, and warthogs, relish the refreshing environment, inhale pristine air, listen to the melodious songs of birds, and capture remarkable photographs, among other activities.
Where to stay on your safari in Saadani National Park

Numerous lodgings are available in Saadani National Pa rk for your safari stay. The accommodation options encompass luxury, midrange, budget, and campsites, including Saadani Safari Lodge, Kisampa Bush Retreat, Saadani River Lodge, Wami River Bush Retreat, Saadani Park Hotel, Safari Mashariki Lodge, The Roof of Saadani, Tent with a View, The Tides Lodge, Sanctuary Saadani River Lodge, and Kijongo Bay Beach Resort, among others.
When is the best time to visit Saadani National park
Saadani National Park is accessible year-round, although the optimal time to visit is during the dry season from June to October. During this interval, reduced rainfall results in sparse vegetation, facilitating clearer visibility of various animals grazing on the open plains. In the dry season, the park’s pathways will be arid and navigable, making nature treks more pleasurable than in the rainy season when the trails are muddy and treacherous.
How to get to Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park is accessible via both road and air transportation.
Road transit entails driving from Dar es Salaam through Chalinze to Mandera hamlet, subsequently connecting to the park headquarters, which requires around three hours of travel. The national park is accessible from Tanga town through Pangani to Mkwaja gate, requiring an approximate driving time of 4 to 5 hours.
Saadani National Park can be reached via air transport by booking scheduled or charter flights from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar, or Tanga to Saadani airstrip. Air travel to Saadani airfield can be arranged through your tour operator such as All Tanzania Safaris