Coastal Circuit · Beach & Bush
The Only Park on the Indian Ocean
Saadani is the one place in East Africa where a proper safari park runs straight into the sea. Elephants walk the beach, and green turtles nest on the same sand. Roughly 1,100 km² of coastal savannah, palm groves, mangrove and river sit between Dar es Salaam and Tanga.
The Wami River is the highlight — a boat trip upstream produces hippo, crocodile, colobus and a dense concentration of waterbirds, ending where the river meets the ocean.
- Game drives and beach in the same morning
- Wami River boat safaris for hippo and crocodile
- Green turtle nesting beaches
- Endangered Roosevelt's sable antelope
Good to Know
Saadani at a Glance
Wildlife You May Spot
Best Time to Visit
January to February and June to August; parts of the park close during the long rains.
Size
Around 1,100 km² of savannah, mangrove and 20 km of protected coastline.
Turtles
Green turtles nest on the park’s beaches, with hatchings watched over by park rangers.
Getting There
Roughly 4 hours by road from Dar es Salaam, or a short charter flight to the airstrip.
- Elephant
- Giraffe
- Buffalo
- Roosevelt's Sable
- Lion
- Hippo
- Crocodile
- Green Turtle
- Colobus Monkey
- Waterbuck
Things to Do
Bush in the Morning, Beach After Lunch
Days here split neatly: an early game drive or river boat trip, then the afternoon on an empty stretch of Indian Ocean beach.
- Wami River boat safari
- Game drives across the coastal savannah
- Walking safaris with an armed ranger
- Turtle nesting visits in season and dhow trips to Saadani village
Safari With Sand Between Your Toes
A short, easy add-on between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Ask us to slot it in.