Saadani National Reserve

Saadani Game Reserve has a unique boast: it is where the bush meets the beach. It is the only reserve or Park in East Africa that runs down to the shore of the Indian Ocean, giving a different dimension to visits there. Originally set up in the 1960's poaching was a great problem until a scheme in the 1990's to integrate local villagers into the conservation of the area. The success of this was illustrated in 2002 when the size of the reserve was nearly doubled to just over 1,100 square kilometres.

It now boasts a good variety of game, with herds of up to 30 elephants frequently seen, several prides of lions, as well as good numbers of giraffe, buffalo and many different grazers. There are yellow baboons and velvet monkeys from the primates and hyenas and jackals from the scavengers. Leopards have also been spotted. The Wami River runs through the reserve and it is possible to take boat trips up its mangrove lined banks to spot Hippos crocodiles and the mangrove kingfisher.

There is one luxury camp within the Park, unique amongst game lodges in offering a beach as one of its attractions! It is also possible to visit a small fishing village within the borders of the reserve.