Saadani National Park is Tanzania’s only park where the classic African savannah meets the Indian Ocean, its beaches, tidal creeks and open bush all within the same protected area. Elephant, giraffe and buffalo can be seen against a backdrop of palm trees and coastline, a combination rarely found elsewhere on the continent.

Game drives through the park’s grassland and acacia woodland are supplemented by boat trips along the Wami River, where hippo, crocodile and a wide range of waterbirds can be observed from the water. The nearby beach adds a further option for travellers wanting to combine wildlife viewing with time by the sea in the same visit.

Saadani lies within easy road access of Dar es Salaam, making it one of the more convenient parks to combine with a short beach stay. Its blend of savannah and coast gives travellers a distinctive alternative to a purely inland safari.