Saadani National Park. People don’t always pay attention to Saadani National Park. Because it is on the coast, it is unique because it is the only national park where you can go on an adventure safari and then rest on one of the many beautiful white beaches with palm trees. In this way, you can see wildlife in a special setting. The only national park on the coast of East Africa is Saadani. It’s the only wildlife refuge in East Africa that has a beach on the Indian Ocean. It’s where the beach meets the bush.

It also has all the things that make Tanzania’s tropical beaches and islands so popular with sunbathers from Europe. However, it is the only spot where you might have to stop relaxing because an elephant might walk by. Or a lion coming to the nearby watering hole to drink! There are marshes, big coral reefs, savannahs, cotton fields, the sea, and beaches with lots of palm trees.

There is wildlife in Saadani National Park.

Four of the “Big Five” species live in Saadani National Park. Even though it’s hard to see them because there aren’t many of them and the animals tend to hide. Since this park is close to some towns, animals try to stay away from people who live there. Because they see them as their foes.

There are also a group of Masai horses there. Along with Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, you can see blue wildebeest, common and red duikers, bohor reedbucks, and Dik-Diks. Blue sykes and vervet monkeys, mongooses, genets, and porcupines are some of the other animals that live there. There are also Colobus and White-bearded emperor tamarin monkeys.

More than just kudus live in Saadani National Park. There are also elands, warthogs, hippos, crocodiles, and nile monitors there. Tigers, lions, and leopards that live in the African bush are not as outgoing here. But if you’re lucky, you might also see them! More and more often, you can see groups of up to 30 elephants. There are also leopards, spotted hyenas, black-backed jackals, and several lion groups living there.

The protected area has been known as a Lion Conservation Unit since 2005. People who live near the Wami River can see the beautiful mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo. One of the last important places for green turtles to lay their eggs in Tanzania is on the beaches.

Trips in Saadani National Park

You can go on a boat tour in Saadani National Park along the mangrove-lined Wami River. There you can see hippos, big crocodiles, and beautiful birds like the lesser flamingo and mangrove kingfisher.

A walking tour is another fun thing you can do here. You walk through the park with a guard who is armed.

Or, you could go to the Saadani fishing town, which is inside the reserve. There are a lot of ruins that show how important it was as a trading port in the 1800s.

A sand bank is off the coast of the national park. You can get there by boat and snorkel, swim, rest, and enjoy the tropical scenery. The sand bank can only be reached when the tide is low, so that’s when you should plan your trip.

Time it takes to get to Saadani National Park

3–4 hours by car from Dar es Salaam
Three hours by car from Tanga
Here are some travel tips from our pros about Saadani
My name is Wilfred, and I’ve worked as a park ranger for 9 years. Our guests mostly like this park because it’s close to the ocean. They love this one-of-a-kind mix of relaxing on the beach and exciting wild game drives because it’s all in one place. The many animals and boat tours make for moments that will last a lifetime.

How long are you staying? Two days

Which hotel?

Refuge Saadani River Lodge (Golden) Kijongo Bay Beach Resort (Silver)
The Platinum Saadani Safari Lodge
When is the best time to visit Saadani National Park?
Since there is still a lot of water on the fields after the rain in January and February and from June to August, these are the best times to see wildlife in Saadani.

Stay away from the wet months of April through May and November.