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Saadani safari lodge, Tanzania

country:Tanzania
location:Saadani National Park 
price:From US $285 - US $500 per person per night full board including one of the listed activities & government park fees. Price depends on choice of room
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vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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introduction to Saadani safari lodge, Tanzania

Perched on the Indian Ocean, this cosy and elegant safari lodge is the only one within the boundaries of the newest and only beach fronted national park in Tanzania, Saadani National Park.

One of Africa’s most unique and distinctive destinations where beach, bush and river converge in a colourful clash of ecosystems. The lodge is privately run and set in the heart of Saadani National park, a blend of rustic chic and eco cool. This environmentally sensitive lodge consists of nine tented bandas, five thatched suites and one Luxury suite strung along a deserted, golden beach. An open air bar, two swimming pools, lounge and private water hole are cleverly hidden amongst indigenous flora, providing a genuine blend of beach and bush safari.

Our privileged position allows for a plethora of activities from the sedate to frantic. From tracking lion in the bush to swimming with dolphins around a sand bank, we offer you all. Local qualified guides take out small groups for game drives in open sided vehicles with the highlight a walk on the beach to spot wildlife tracks.
special things to do and see here
Safari, Safari lodge in Tanzania
  • Wildlife on the beach
  • National Park is home to 4 of Africa’s Big five – Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Elephant
  • Turtle hatching on the beach
  • River safari
  • Driving safari
  • Walking safari
  • Snorkelling
  • Village cultural tour
  • rooms, food and facilities
    This environmentally conscious lodge boasts 15 unique and charming beach cottages (bandas). The Classic bandas are light and airy with cosy day beds on the verandas for afternoon siestas or nights sleeping almost under the stars. The five new Maridadi suites have been constructed using grass collected in the local village and give a wonderful ambiance and light to the spacious interiors. The courtyard showers allow guests to shower in complete privacy and enjoy the stars at night.

    Bedroom, Safari lodge in TanzaniaThe award winning Siri Honeymoon suite is the epitome of rustic chic; perched on top of a sand dune it commands views over the Indian Ocean as well as the national park. A private pool and bar are serviced by your own butler and security is proved by the resident leopard.

  • Laundry is offered complimentary
  • Lounge area
  • Gift shop with aquarium
  • Star gaze platform
  • Tree house and water hole are also available

    Family friendly: We are very much family friendly however due to our position inside the National park we do not accept bookings for children below the age of 6 years.
    how to find us
    Beach, Safari lodge in Tanzania By car: It is a four hour drive from Dar es Salaam to Saadani via Chalinze. The lodge has its own four wheel drive and can arrange pick-ups from Dar.

    By air: It is is just a 20 minute flight from Dar es Salaam and 15 minutes from Zanzibar to the Saadani airstrip.

    By boat: Via Bagamoyo, just north of Dar es Salaam, it is possible to reach the Wami River from the south, from where we will meet you by boat to take you to the lodge across the ocean.
  • how this holiday makes a difference
    All the bandas were built around the natural vegetation. No trees were cut down to make room for our structures. Our medium sized swimming pool uses 50% water from the sea, and 50% fresh water to conserve fresh water resources. All building materials occur naturally in the environment and are readily replenish. All roofing is done with dried banana leaves. We encourage our guests to reduce their usage of water at the lodge by suggesting that towels should be cleaned when necessary. Our Saadani safari lodge is run off solar power for the majority of the time with a generator to charge the batteries a little in the evening. We are located in side a National park so we retain the highest possible standards for wild life conservation around the lodge i.e. only using bio-degradable products.

    All the fish and the prawns consumed at the lodge are purchased at a fair price from the local fisherman. This is helpful to them because otherwise the fishermen have to travel 5 hours to Dar es Salaam to sell at the larger markets. This helps the working people of the village with income quickly and allows them to return to work without spending the travel time to sell their wares abroad.

    Staff are recruited first from the village. If we cannot find suitable candidate, the search continues outside the area and in Dar es Salaam. The vast majority of goods we buy are locally made or produced. All services are produced, run and managed by local people.

    Projects that the Saadani Safari lodge has been directly responsible for are as follows:
  • The construction and oversee of the upkeep of the water pump responsible for supplying the village with fresh water. The project was designed to give the village complete control over the project. Staff were hired and given salary to be responsible for the machinery and repairs.
  • The improvement of the facilities and supplies at the only local dispensary in the village. With the help of the lodge, the building itself was improved and restored. Money also given for general upkeep.
  • The Primary School in the village has been repaired and maintained in part from funds collected from guests and staff at the lodge.
  • Scholarships – one student a year is chosen to be sponsored for their studies, through secondary school. There is no secondary school in the village, so the students must select a boarding secondary school to attend. The owner of the lodge pays the school fees, uniform costs, shoes, food and materials for the whole year.
  • We have supplied rubbish bins throughout the village and assist in the education of collection and refuse treatment; this includes a once yearly litter picking exercise with school children on the beach.

    Guests are encouraged to take the walking tour through the village with a guide who lives in the village with his family.

    Beach view, Safari lodge in TanzaniaVisitors from other countries are counselled on appropriate dress and behaviour in the village. We ask that all guests request permission from subjects if they would like to take a picture, and they are told that if they do take any picture they will be expected to share the photo with the villagers later. We encourage the download and developing of pictures here.

    We also set up SANA – a non-profit company designed to assist conservation with the local communities.
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    We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

    'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

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    We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

    This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.

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