Saadani National Park in Tanzania
Saadani National Park is one of the few places in country where you can enjoy a relaxing beach vacation while seeing safari animals. While it may not compare to some of the major parks in terms of wildlife sightings, you can still see plenty of exciting animals in this wonderful stretch of land. From mangrove forests and winding rivers to palm trees and beachfronts, Saadani National Park offers a tranquil and unique safari experience.
-
Best Time to Go
January - February and June - August
-
Average Safari Cost
$200-$600 pp/day. Park fee: $30 (adult), $10 (child).
-
Highlights
Game drives, lovely scenery, walking safaris, boat safaris, historical and cultural tours.
Why Visit Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park is the perfect destination if you enjoy both beach and safari getaways. It offers an interesting and enjoyable combination of two very different types of holiday destinations, which makes it a perfect place for people who enjoy both! See animals wander around as you sunbathe on the beach, explore the meandering Wami River on a boat safari and keep an eye out for the elusive big cats that can occasionally be seen in the park.
Enjoy historical and cultural tours of the old villages and local tribes for a truly enriching and educational experience. Take in the beautiful, sparkling beach views and swim in the refreshing waters of the Indian Ocean. Wake up bright and early and bask in the glorious sunrise over the calm seas as fishermen cast their nets. Saadani National Park is a very special safari destination, filled with wonderful adventures and beautiful sights to see!
Pros and Cons
Pros
- A unique blend of beachfront and safari landscape
- Good wildlife viewing
- Great birdwatching destination
- Many activities
- Easily accessible
Cons
- Lacks many typical safari animals
- Not a complete wilderness destination
Best Time to Go
The best time to visit the Saadani National Park is from January to February, which is a dry period between the short and long rains of the wet season, and from June to August. These are the best months for wildlife viewing as there is water in the park after the rains. The dry season is from June to September and consists of hot and sunny days, averaging 88˚F(31˚C), followed by cool nights with temperatures lowering to about 70˚F(21˚C).
The wet season is from October to May and consists of the 'short rains' from October to December, a dry period from January to February, and the 'long rains' from March to May. March, April and May are the wettest months, with frequent rainfall. It is very hot and humid during these months with daytime temperatures averaging 91˚F(33˚C). This is the best time for bird watching as migrant species can be seen.
For more information when to visit see our Tanzania Safari - Complete Travel Guide.
Start your African Adventure
Popular Tours in Tanzania
6 Days Migration Safari
Tanzania is regarded as one of the big countries in East Africa and terms of size and this has come having many and big national parks and reserves. The most common and famous ones are in the Northern part which includes Serengeti National park known for the great wildebeest migration, Ngorongoro national park and its crater lake as well as Lake Manyara National Park. This is what makes this safari the best and Tanzania and most preferred by millions on people who visit these parks. It is important to note this safari is available any day as long as 2 or more are booked ex Arusha with free return airport transfers.
The Greatest Show On Earth – The Great Migration
The earth trembles with the thundering of a million hooves, as the heaving herds fill the plains to chase the rains in the epic annual struggle for survival, known as the Great Migration. The journey is beset with many deadly dangers, as young calves are snatched by predators, the slow are brought down by prides of lion, brave beasts break legs on steep river slopes, crocodiles take their share from the stragglers and the weak and exhausted drown. Every year and estimated 1.5 million wildebeest and 200 000 zebra complete the 1800 mile circuit from the Ngongorogoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, through the Serengeti, across the border into the Kenya and the Maasai Mara and back again. It is the greatest show on earth, a natural spectacle like no other and a life changing experience. At Moonlight Tours we aim to ensure you have front-row seats away from the crowds to this spectacular event. Our camps are created with the purpose of highlighting the migration – you can choose to stay at one of our permanent camps which are situated close to the river crossings, or stay in one of our seasonal camps that move a few times during the year to follow the migration and all the action. The Moonlight Tours experience When you choose to experience the Great Migration with , you can expect to be transported to the best seat in the house. We offer different ways of viewing the migration – Our guides take you as close to the action as possible, or you can enjoy sundowners or even a morning tea and coffee at your camp whilst watching the herds slowly making their way past you. We would love to have you come and stay at any one of our camps and experience this spectacle which has been dubbed as one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” first-hand with us! Browse through our camps which offer a front row seat to all the action or make an enquiry directly with us and we will put you in touch with a trusted tour operator who will help you find the perfect camp to stay at in order to take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
10 Days Kenya Tanzania Safari
This safari will give you a chance to visit the major game parks and reserves both in Kenya and Tanzania with each of them giving a different experience from the other. Maasai Mara and serengeti will give an opporunity to experience the savannah, the Big five and a beutiful wild nature feeling, Nakuru will be able to sight the rhinos, lake and different bird species, amboseli will offer he BEST views for Mt. Kilimanjaro while Ngorongoro is the most scenic unique park that you must visit. The combination of all is perfect for a great Africa safari experience.
3 Day 2 Nights Fly- Safari to Ngorongoro Crater
Tour three of the most spectacular and varied wildlife areas in Northern Circuit of Tanzania, See beautiful scenery of Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park popular of its big herds of Elephants. You will also have the opportunity to visit the local market in Mto wa Mbu a colourful cultural experience.
Wildlife and Birds
- Lion
- Cheetah
- Leopard
- Hippo
- Buffalo
- Hyena
- Giraffe
- Crocodile
Rare Animals
- Lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena
Frequently Seen Animals
- Giraffe, buffalo, hippo, crocodile
Saadani National Park is a great birding destination as its diverse landscape provides many different habitats for a number of bird species to thrive in. Beautiful, bright kingfishers dart around the river, while palm nut vultures and various eagles soar over land in search of prey.
Endangered birds:
- African skimmer, white-backed vulture, hooded vulture
Getting There and Safety
For the flights to Tanzania, it is advised to check Skyscanner (for multiple destination flights), to see which airlines can take you there and compare various ticket prices.
If you are based in the UK and Europe, check out these flights to Tanzania.
If you are based in the USA and Canada, check out these flights to Tanzania.
For more information on visas see our Tanzania Safari - Complete Country Guide.
The vaccinations recommended for Tanzania are typhoid, rabies, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Having a yellow fever vaccination certificate is advised. There is also a risk for malaria, especially from November to May, so anti-malarial drugs are recommended as well as using insect repellent.
Check your local travel health authority for more information:
Going on a safari in Africa comes with obvious risks. We recommend you get travel insurance for all safaris in Tanzania. Make sure your insurance has full medical coverage, emergency air evacuation, repatriation and the standard travel insurance for cancellations, delays and luggage cover.
Check World Nomads’ travel insurance calculator to see the cost of your safari trip cover.
Pack for warn and cold weather as temperatures are warm during the day and quite cold at night. Try to pack neutral, earthy toned clothes and avoid bright colours and white. Other essential items are a hat, sunglasses, sun screen, toiletries, closed shoes, torch, batteries, insect repellent, first aid kit, binoculars and camera.
For more details on what to pack see our Safari Packing List.