Saadani National Park

Saadani is definitely beautiful and tropical. There is wildlife, but it's not as abundant as the other parks. You won't see it constantly. The best part of Saadani was the safari lodge. The Indian ocean was beautiful.

Fabulous accommodations right on the Indian Ocean! The safari outing weren't as exciting as some of the other parks, but the accommodations couldn't be beat! Also, the giraffe on the airport runway added excitement! The river safari to see the hippos and birds was excellent.

Bush, beach and wide open river - a perfect combination

Saadani was the first time I'd experienced a real safari. I'd been to Tanzania before and was bewitched by the place, but I hadn't actually made it properly out into the bush on the first visit. This time, it was going to be different.

The park had recently been upgraded from a Game Reserve at the time, so wasn't very developed as a destination. However, that made for perfect conditions.

The road in was clearly under water during the rainy season, but we arrived at a time that it was passable, finding our way by buffalo skull signposts. The lodge that awaited us was set in the bush and very welcoming, stylish and comfortable without being ostentatious, and the huts we stayed at were set on the beach. Having arrived in from Tokyo, the wafting breeze of the Indian Ocean and a long sandy beach with no-one else on it was the perfect tonic. Apparently, elephants would sometimes come down and frolic in the surf.

If there was anything I could have changed about the visit, I'd have drunk a little less in the evenings and awoken at the crack of dawn to get a better look at the wildlife. With fine food and hospitality, this was a difficult thing to do! However, given that most of the animals try and stay out of the sun in the heat of the day, we saw plenty. It's always going to be difficult for a giraffe to hide much.

What was the best thing about it? The ability to combine a bush safari, a river safari and a beach holiday all in one place. Would I go to Saadani again? If only I could!

Saadani park is not very populated: it is hard to spot lions and zebras for example. It is interesting because it is located on the coast: there are bushes, a river and the Ocean as well. Due to our lack of experience and to the lack of information from the tour operator we have chosen, this safari was very badly organized: I think that even if Saadani is a small park, there is no point to go there for less than 3 days. You have to take into consideration several elements that could overturn the original plan: for these reasons you need to take some time to enjoy the wild nature, have time for a walk and so on.

Too beautiful

Not so many large mammals here. The scenery and Indian Ocean are ok but not great. Probably the only reason to go is for convenience from Dar.

It was very hot here, but the scenery differed from other parks and was worth it! This coastal park didn't have as much wildlife as other parks, but we saw lions, cheetahs and many others.

this park has been totally emptied by poachers, harly any wildlife to find.

Beautiful Park, with an amazing diversity, but wildlife often difficult to encounter. Can be in one spot of the park and difficult to locate. Good guide is thus necessary.

It's an Average national park.