Saanane Island National Park is a Tanzania national park it is located in Mwanza, Saanane island national park is the second national park in Tanzania to be located on the shores of Lake Victoria, where you can reach their by boat from the Tanapa offices on Capri point in Mwanza town, the local farmer and fisherman Mzee Saanane Chavadi, the former owner that’s where the name of the park was originated from.  Saanane Island national park covers an area of 2.18 square kilometers (0.84 sq. mi),  Saanane Island National park in 1991 was declared as agame reserve by the government to promote and strengthen conservation and later it was established in 2013 as a national park, it is the only National park within the city limits, to thrill while on Tanzania Safaris Tours

Attractions in Saanane Island National Park.

Wildlife.

Saanane island National Park is a home of mammals like the Impala, Rock Hyrax, Velvet Monkeys, Wild cats,’’ De-brazzas Monkey’’ underscores its potential as the only park in the country inhabiting the species. Saanane Island National Park also harbors the reptiles like the crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Agama Lizards, Pancake and Leopard Tortoises, snakes particularly the Python. In the park, the aquatic part of Saanane island National Park inhabits a variety of fisheries life like mainly Tilapia and Nile Perch.

Saanane Island National Park
wildlife in Saanane

Bird species.

The  park is one of the birding destination safari in Tanzania with more than 70 recorded bird species including the resident bird species, migratory birds and water birds, the common birds to spot in the park includes the African grey parrot, pied kingfisher, egrets, cormorants, fish eagles and many others.

Activities done in Saanane Island national park.

Sport fishing.

Saanane Island national park organizes the sport fishing for the guests or tourists who visit the park, in the designated areas with in the park and then with an experienced guide to help them and showing them how the fishing sport is done while in their fishing gears. The Nile perch, Tilapia fish species are the mostly caught fish species through using the catch and release method during fishing.

Game viewing.

Game viewing is one of the major activity done in the park by the tourists as in to view the entire park, during the game viewing in Saanane Island National park, various and different park animal species can be notified like the dik-dik, elephants, crocodiles, buffalos, wildebeest, zebras, impalas, rock hyrax, wild cats, warthogs, velvet monkeys, De-brazzas monkeys and many others, during game viewing you can still be able to spot some of  the bird species and beautiful scenery in the park.

Bird watching.

The park offers the tourists who are bird lovers with the most attractive, colourful bird species which makes the park to be the awesome birding destination in Tanzania, the most suitable bird watching activity is mostly done along the shores of Lake Victoria which gives the best sight of water birds, the bird species in the park are over 70 species including the residents, migratory, water birds. The birds in the park includes the pied kingfisher, egrets, cormorants, fish eagles, hornbills and many more, during the bird watching in the park the tourists who are birders are requested to always come with their binoculars to spot far bird species, and the cameras to takes the pictures of various bird species as to notice the different species of birds and also for remembrance.

Saanane Island National Park
cormorants

Boat riding.

Since the park is located on the shores of Lake Victoria, boat riding is always done by the tourists who come to visit the park, the tourists can explore the animal species like the crocodiles, hippos, several fish species, the water birds can be spotted during the activity, the activity takes about one hour and a half while with the experience boat ride guide.

Rock hiking.

Tourists can hike up to the island and have gorgeous views of the out spreading Lake Victoria and some across a lot of  animal species like the vervet monkeys, elands, impalas, elephants, buffalos, zebras and may more while coming across many plant species.

Nature walks.

The Park offers the tourists with   nature walks, this is done on the foot while moving the entire park along the designated trails, which also provides you the chance to move closer to some more of the wildlife in the park, the bird species which gives you the best moment in the park.

Picnic sites.

Tourists are given the opportunity to go and enjoy their time in their picnic sites in the park, here the tourists enjoy their packed lunch they had carried and while they are enjoying the coolest and the breeze of Africa on Lake Victoria.

Camping.

The park experiences the tourists to the nature of the night wilderness in the park, the island gives the guests nice camping and the most incredible services, here the tourists carry their own tents and they pitch them near the island as they are experiencing the most conducive cool breeze of the island.

Saanane Island National Park
camping

Best time to visit saanane Island National Park.

June to August is during the dry season, thus being the best time to visit Saanane Island National Park, as well the season is great for game drives, picnic and also rock climbing.

Where to stay in Saanane Island National Park.

The park provides the accommodations to the tourists during their visit, the accommodation facilities some are located inside the park while others outside the park and they range from Budget, Mid-range, Luxury as follows Waghill lodge, Lessa Garden hotels, Rocky Bay Resort and camping, Adden Palace hotel, Dreezy hotel, Pentagon hotel, Royal sunset Beach hotel, Mango village, Gold Crest Hotel, Isamilo Lodge and spa, The Lahe Hotels, Hotel Tilapia and many more.

Entrance fees of Saanane Island National Park.

Category JULY –JUNE
  EA (Tsh)  Non EA Citizen ( USD) Expatriate/Residents(USD)
Of above the age of 16 years 5000 30 15
Between the age of 5 and 15 years 2000 10 5
Children below the age of 5 years Free Free Free

How to get to Saanane Island National Park.

The Park is located in the southwestern park in Mwanza city and the park can be accessed by both the road and the air means of transport.

By Air means.

Here you can book your scheduled or charter flights from Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro to Mwanza Airport and then connect to the park headquarters.

By Road means.

Using the road means you can drive from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Kilimanjaro to Tabora and then to the park.

The Park  is a home to various species of mammals, including the velvet monkey, wild cat, zebra, rock hyrax, amongst others, the park is the only place in Tanzania where the De-brazza’s monkeys are found which the park to be unique and best in Tanzania tours.

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