Saanane Island National Park

Overview

Saanane Island National Park is located 2 kilometers Southwest of Mwanza city centre, lies in the Gulf of Lake Victoria, can be reached by boat in about 10 minutes, from Mwanza City and covers 2.18 square kilometers. The park made a record of being the first ever National Park to be located within the City and the smallest National Park in both Tanzania and East Africa. The Island has amazing attraction and Wildlife species like Impala, Zebra, Rock Hyrax, Clawless Otter, Velvet Monkeys, Wild Cats and Birds. The presence of “De-brazas Monkey” underscores its potential as the only Park in the country inhabiting the species.  Reptiles are also dominant; they include crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Agama Lizards commonly known as Agama Mwanzae, Pancake and Leopard Tortoises, Snakes particularly Python. The aquatic part of the Park inhabits a variety of fisheries life, mainly Tilapia and Nile Perch.

Saanane Island was named after its previous owner, Mr. Saanane Chawandi, a fisherman who turned into a farmer and later shifted to another island (after being compensated) to pave the way for conservation efforts in the early 1960’s. The Tanzania government officially owned the island in 1964 as the first ever government owned zoo. The main objective was to promote intense and conservation education in wildlife and to promote recreation.

Saanane Island offers a variety of attractions for visitors, from game viewing, bird watching, rock hiking, boat cruise, walking, picnics, bush lunch, photographing / filming, meditation and sport fishing.  Special occasions like wedding, engagements, team building, family day and birthdays.

How to get there

The Park can be reached by rail, ship, air or by road followed by a boat trip to Saanane.

Road and boat: One can drive to Mwanza from Dar-es-salaam, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Tabora or by ferry from Uganda, Kenya, Bukoba and nearby islands. It takes short boat ride about 10m from Mwanza to Saanane

Air: A flight from dar-es-salaam or Kilimanjaro International Airport to Mwanza.

Park Attractions

The Island is a home to free roaming mammals such as zebra, impalas, rock hyrax, velvet monkeysand wild cat. It’s the only place in Tanzania where you might encounter the De-brazza’s monkey.

Sun-Downing and Sun-Rising

Four sites exist for sun rise/set watching: two for sun-rising and the remaining for sun-downing. This phenomenon creates fascinating object silhouettes across water to look at.

Tourism Activities

Saanane Island is an ideal place for game viewing, bird watching, rock hiking, boat cruises, walking, picnics, bush lunch, photographing or filming, meditation and sport fishing, special occasions like wedding, engagements, team building, family day and birthdays can also be organized.

Accomodation facilities

Tourists can camp inside the park but can also obtain budget hotels and lodges from Mwanza.