We also keep a canoe on the Mafui salt water creek which offers fantastic and relaxed bird watching combining a large variety of coastal and bush bird life. It is especially nice to combine a canoe ride with a walking safari.

There is a private platform overlooking a small waterhole. The platform is some 11 metres from ground level which affords tremendous 360 degree views of bush, sea and coastline and offers the chance to spot elephants from an amazing vantage point.

Boat safaris
A Boat Safari on the Wami River is one of the highlights of any visit to Saadani. We combine this as part of a full day, with a game drive and usually have lunch on the banks of the Wami. The river is home to large crocodiles and many hippo which at low tide can be seen on the sand banks.

There is a profusion of both coastal and riverine birdlife and the Boat Safari provides the ideal opportunity for observing this diversity of species. It is not uncommon to see 5 types of kingfisher on the Boat Safari. Black and white colobus monkeys are often seen frolicking in the trees beside the river.

Game Drives

In Saadani, there are some wonderful half day game drives. The Mkwaja region has several dams and is the main habitat for Saadani's elephant population. These 'elephant safaris' are best undertaken in the early morning. The rolling hills of south Mkwaja offer some of Saadani's most stunning landscapes and are productive for a variety of plains game and ungulates. This is also where you are most likely to find the endangered Roosevelt's sable antelope.

The Game Drive to the Wami River and through the southern section of Saadani offers a spectacular, varied landscape and is home to large populations of giraffe and several antelope species. On request we can stop en route in Saadani village which is one of the oldest settlements on the Swahili coast. The old fort and graveyard bear testimony to this history and it is also possible to visit the school and see the fishermen at work.

The elephant population is dominated by one particularly large herd which often visits the area around the camp. Whilst sightings cannot be guaranteed, early morning safaris offer the best opportunity to see the elephants.

The nearby Madete Marine Reserve is a green turtle nesting site. Our lodge supports the Madete Marine Reserve to help conserve this endangered species with encouraging results.

The lodge at Saadani is approximately 4.5 hours driving time from Dar es Salaam or just half an hour by air from Dar es Salaam using chartered flights.

Zanzibar is a mere 20 minute flight away, making Saadani geographically the closest wildlife reserve to both Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.