Sadaani National Park (Saadani)

Saadani National Park, spelled Saadani or Sadaani, lies about 130 km north of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania's Pwani Region and is one of the few East African parks where the bush meets the Indian Ocean beach. The drive takes 3 to 4 hours each way, with the last stretch on unpaved roads, so the trip is a long day that suits a hired 4x4 with driver, costing about 350,000-500,000 TZS per vehicle per day plus park fees. Coastal Aviation also flies to the park for about 150-250 USD return on a seasonal schedule, which cuts travel time to under an hour. A practical day starts at 5:30 or 6:00 so that the park gate is reached by mid-morning. The morning is best for a game drive across the savannah and acacia woodland, where giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, warthog, waterbuck and hartebeest are commonly seen, with elephants and lions present but less reliably sighted. A boat safari on the Wami River in the late morning or afternoon shows hippo, crocodile and a wide range of waterbirds, including herons, storks and kingfishers. Lunch is usually taken at a lodge or tented camp inside the park, such as those near Saadani village, where a simple buffet or packed meal is served. After lunch, visitors can walk the beach near Saadani village, where green turtles nest at certain times of year and fishing dhows are pulled ashore. Visitors should plan to leave the park by 3:00 pm to arrive back in Dar es Salaam before dark, since night driving on rural roads is unsafe. The dry season from June to October gives the best game viewing as animals gather near water, while April and May bring heavy rain that can close tracks. Park entry fees are charged in US dollars per person and per vehicle, and payment is typically by card through the TANAPA system. Overnight stays are a more relaxed alternative to the long day trip.