Saadani Safari Lodge

Facilities

• Saadani National Park has over 1000 sq.km. of mixed terrain – coastal pine woods, mangrove swamps, open grasslands, riverine forests, saline flats and classic acacia-dominated savannah. It has very few visitors; most come on day trips out of Bagamoyo, and Saadani Safari Lodge is the only lodge within the park borders
  
  
• Wildlife includes large numbers of hippo, crocodile, giraffe, buffalo, warthog, zebra, gazelle, waterbuck, reedbuck, hartebeest, wildebeest, yellow baboons and vervet monkeys – at all times of year. Lions are making a comeback, with perhaps half a dozen prides around the lodge area; and leopard, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal are also seen. Less common species include greater kudu, eland, colobus monkey and the endangered Roosevelt's sable
  
  
• Birdlife includes lilac-breasted roller, weaver, grey hornbill, fork-tailed drongo, greenbul, sunbirds and various vultures and eagles; near the water you'll see yellow-billed stork, grey heron, little egret, sandpiper, flamingoes and kingfishers
  
  
• Game drives and walks are arranged by the lodge with its own guides and open 4x4 vehicles; fly-camping is also possible
  
  
• Boat trips are offered along the winding green banks of the Wami river, on the lookout for hippos, crocs, flamingoes and pelicans; or on the high sea as far as a sandbank islet where you can have a picnic under a palm tree and look out for dolphins and turtles as you swim
  
  
• The lodge boasts a boat-shaped bar, a restaurant (not that you'll meet any outside guests!), a swimming pool and a tree-house overlooking the water hole
  
  
• The owners funds 2 local community projects, one to provide water in Saadani village and the other to protect turtle nesting beaches
  
  
• Unlike most parts of Tanzania, Saadani is not part of an established circuit, but is an easy add-on to any trip which passes through Dar or Zanzibar

Social Responsibility

Saadani employs many of its staff from the local fishing village and trys to purhcase from them whenever possible. They have funded various local projects through their affiliate charity SANA (Saving Africa's Nature.) These include the construction of a new school and a mosque in the village, a tree planting program and a womans bio-cooperative who grow and sell their own produce. Tourism here is chanelled positively to encourage grass roots organisations in the area to flourish.

When to go?

June-Sept: the coolest time of the year and best for hippo and crocodile in the Wami river. Landscapes are green after the rains start to dry, opening up the grasslands for good game viewing. This is an ideal time for game driving and forest walks, and also for snorkelling as the sea is at its calmest.

Oct-Nov: Warmer temperatures and the end of the dry season mean that animals are increasingly attracted towards the lodge's waterhole. Buffalo are particularly visible at this time. Migratory birds start to arrive from the north and are at their most active. There are usually some light rains from late October - November, which bring flowers and a green hue to the parched landscape. But the sea can be choppy - not ideal for swimming.

Dec-March: The warmest time of year, when guests are invited to sleep under the stars in the cooling sea breeze. Swimming is at its best, and after short rains there is increasing activity around the waterholes. All the trees are in leaf and the environment is fertile.

April-May: April is traditionally the start of the heavier monsoon, but in recent years it has remained dry so the lodge will remain open for the month (but do be prepared for some rain and choppy seas). In May, the lodge is closed and many tracks and roads become impassable.

Author's tips

A torch is useful as the walkway lights are turned off at around 11pm, also good to spot bush babies, genets, civets, mongoose and bush pigs!

Don't forget that you need vaccination against yellow fever and cholera for all trips to Tanzania.

Features include:

• All meals included
• Room service
• Bar
• Vegetarian menu
• Internet access
• Outdoor pool
• Concierge service
• Meeting rooms
• Airstrip / Helipad
• Airport Transfers