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Protected as a game reserve since the 1960s, in 2002 it was expanded to cover twice its former area. The reserve suffered greatly from poaching prior to the late 1990s, but recent years have seen a marked turnaround, due to a concerted clampdown on poachers.
Today, a wide range of grazers and primates is seen on game drives and walks, among them giraffe, buffalo, warthog, common waterbuck, reedbuck, hartebeest, wildebeest, red duiker, greater kudu, eland, sable antelope, yellow baboon and vervet monkey.
Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with increasing frequency, and several lion prides are resident, together with leopard, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal.
Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come with a high chance of sighting hippos, crocodiles and a selection of marine and riverine birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo, while the beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding sites on mainland Tanzania.
Saadani Game Reserve is generally accessible all-year round, but the access roads are sometimes inaccessible especially after the heavy rains around April - May.
There are plenty of activities for everyone :
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The Beach
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You can pad barefooted on the beach for a gentle stroll or to watch the fishermen bringing in their nets.
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Out at sea there is a small tidal sand island set in clear waters, which makes a lovely full day ocean boat trip.
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You can picnic lunch under an umbrella on the cool island sand and there are good snorkelling spots just offshore. Dolphins are often seen at the island and love to play around the boat.
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The River
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Tanzania's glorious Wami River ends its journey in Saadani. A water adventure to the estuary to explore the lower reaches of the river is unforgettable. Flamingoes are often seen in the shallow estuarine waters, as are flocks of pelicans perched in dead trees in the dawn light. You will see hippo and crocodile literally round the corner from the open sea, and the diversity of birdlife and variety of vegetation as you boat upstream is outstanding. There's no best time of day to be on the river because in true Saadani style access to the river is entirely at the mercy of nature - the ebb and flow of the tides.
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The Bush
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Walking safaris and game driving provide very different bush perspectives. The pace is entirely flexible and you can explore in your own time, catching the odd glimpse of sparkling blue sea as you watch the African animals go about their business.
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Game drives are paused for feasting on a fresh picnic breakfast or for evening sundowners at a waterhole. And there is nothing more lovely than ending a bush walk with a refreshing barefoot wander back to the lodge through the surf.
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Click here to know about accommodation in
Saadani Game
Reserve
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