Saadani Safari Lodge
Saadani National Park, Tanzania
Press Reviews
Nominated for Tanzania's Leading Safari Lodge 2010, World Travel
Awards
The Guardian, February 2010
"This is the beauty of the Saadani Safari Lodge: it is as much
about the people, the locals, as it is the wildlife. Instead of
being in the middle of the bush and miles from civilisation –
where the only chance of meeting the locals is by going on a
"village tour" – at the Saadani Safari Lodge you live with
the locals.
Within minutes of arriving we were darting around our suite like
excited children, gawping at our ginormous carved wooden
four-poster bed, the beautiful swathes of linen, the elegant
handmade furniture, and pointing out the flecks of colour in the
sea. It wasn't until we padded down to the white sandy beach (via
our private deck with pool for two) that we saw the flecks were
actually fishermen, dozens of them, standing waist-deep in the sea,
long nets submerged between them.
Game drives left us spellbound. we were heading towards the
sundowner spot when David spied a long tail hanging down from the
branches of an acacia tree. A young lioness. We went closer. At the
base of the tree, we could see a fluffy mane in the tall grass. Her
brother. And, yawning next to him, showing off an impressive set of
canines, the mother. [Another day], an adult and a baby hippo. As
if on cue, they slowly rose out of the water: huge lumbering
bodies, followed by five others. It was breathtaking."
The Telegraph, December 2010
""Long, lush and serviced by just two small and exclusive tented
camps, the seafront of Saadani National Park boasts dozens of
beautiful beaches and is a great spot for swimming, snorkelling and
sunbathing. There really is no better destination for discerning
travellers looking for a true African beach wilderness – a
stunning palm-lined beach where you have a good chance of
encountering creatures as diverse as eagles and giant turtles,
lions and dolphins, seagulls and hippos, and giraffes and
jellyfish. What makes Saadani – which bills itself as 'where
the beach meets the bush' – even more special is that it is
one of the only places on the planet where snoozing sunbathers
might conceivably be interrupted by a beachcombing elephant."
The Guardian, January 2008
"If wild and remote is your idea of romantic, you've hit the
jackpot here. Tanzania's only seaside game lodge is made up of
tented huts hidden in the trees bordering a massive empty beach. Go
for an early dip and you might spot elephant or even lion prints in
the sand. Roam the game reserve by jeep, or chug upriver at dawn
looking for hippos and crocodiles."
The Independent Travel Supplement, June 2007
"Set in Saadani National Park, the nine tented cottages at this
luxury East African lodge offer guests an unusual combination of
beach, bush and river. From elephants on the beach, to hippos,
flamingos and pelicans in the river estuary, and dolphins and
turtles just off the coast, the different habitats cater for most
wildlife-spotters. Less energetic types can relax by the pool,
stroll along the sand, snorkel off the beach or snooze in one of
the alfresco beds strung along the beachfront veranda."
Lonely Planet
"This delectable beach-side retreat is the only lodging within the
park, and a fine base from which to explore the area. Each of the
cosy cottages is set directly on the beach with nothing in front of
you except the sea and the sunrise, or the night sky full of stars.
There's an open, thatched restaurant, also directly on the sand,
with a raised sundowner deck, and tree house overlooking a small
waterhole. The atmosphere is unpretentious and comfortable, staff
unfailingly friendly and helpful, and the cuisine is excellent."
