Saanane National Park

Saanane Island, which has three islets and an aquatic environment, has been a fully functional national park since July 2013 and covers an area of 2.18 sq. km. The islets are located on the main Island’s southern coast.

Saanane Island was the first Tanzania zoo which was founded in 1964 just After Mzee Saanane Chawandi, who at the time owned the island. Its primary goals were to increase public interest in and knowledge of wildlife conservation, followed by encouraging recreation for residents of Mwanza town. The park has an area of 0.5 square kilometers.

Wild animals of various species, such as buffalo, bushbuck, dik-dik, elephant, eland, impala, black rhino, topi, warthog, wildebeest, zebra, and monkeys like pats and vervet, as well as giraffe, porcupine, and crocodiles, were transported to the island between 1964 and 1966. While other animals were allowed to roam freely, dangerous animals like rhinos and buffalo were caged. In 1991, the Island received the designation of game reserve.

The park set records for being the smallest national park in Tanzania and East Africa, as well as the first national park to ever be situated inside a city. Mammals like Impala, Rock Hyrax, Velvet Monkeys, and Wild Cats reside in the Park. The fact that “De-brazas Monkey” is present indicates that it has the potential to be the only park in the nation to contain the species. Crocodiles, Monitor and Agama lizards, Pancake and Leopard Tortoises, and Snakes, particularly Pythons, are among the other dominant reptiles. Numerous fish species, primarily tilapia and Nile perch, live in the park’s aquatic areas.

SAANANE NATIONAL PARK: A BRIEF HISTORY

The island of Saa Nane bears the name of Mzee Saanane Chawandi, a former fisherman who later became a farmer and relocated to another island (for which he was paid) in order to facilitate conservation efforts in the early 1960s. As the first government-owned zoo, Tanzania assumed ownership of the island in 1964. Its original territory, which included both dry land and water, was about 0.5 square kilometers. However, Saa Nane National Park expanded its protected area to 2.18 square kilometers by annexing and including two additional smaller islets, Chankende Kubwa and Chandkende Ndogo, both of which are situated in the southern part of the main island. The main goals were to encourage thorough education about wildlife conservation and to encourage recreation among the Mwanza population.

Activities in Saanane national park

The National Park is located in a rocky city that is characterized by enormous, severely weathered granite boulders that hang precariously and comically.

Zebras, Impalas, rock Hyraxes, Velvet Monkeys, Fish, Water Otters, and Wild cats are among the mammals that call it home. The fact that a very timid “De-brazas Monkey” lives there confirms that it may be the only National Park in the nation to house the species. Lioness has been introduced as well. It is caged.

Crocodiles, Monitor lizards, Agama lizards, pancakes, leopard tortoises, and snakes, particularly Pythons, are among the other dominant reptiles.

Tilapia and Nile perch, in particular, benefit from the better habitat provided by the National Park’s aquatic features. Ecologically speaking, the Saanane Island ecosystem is one of the best fish and crocodile breeding habitats in Lake Victoria.

Saanane Island is a bird watcher’s paradise, with over 70 different bird species recorded there, including both resident and migratory birds that use both terrestrial and aquatic environments.

The Sukuma cultural dance performance at cultural venues like Bujora is an exhilarating experience that is well worth going to in order to appreciate pure African cultures.

SAANANE NATIONAL PARK: WHAT TO DO AT SAANANE NATIONAL PARK

Saanane National Park is a popular destination for Tanzania birding tours. It’s also a great place for picnics, photography and filming, rock climbing, hiking, boating, photography and filming, sports fishing, and meditation. One can also arrange for special events like team building, engagement parties, weddings, birthday celebrations, and family days.

SAANANE NATIONAL PARK: ACCOMMODATION

A public campsite is where visitors can stay in this park. The city of Mwanza, which is close to this park, offers every type of hotel accommodation.

SAANANE NATIONAL PARK: SPECIAL LAKE SAFARI

Visitors who stay in Mwanza during the holidays can include Saanane Island in their unique lake safaris. These trips, which are novel and distinctive in the African tourism industry, are well-known in Mwanza. Making use of the lake, they arrange boat safaris rather than jeep safaris. People will be able to admire the lake itself, the towns, and the creatures that typically inhabit its shores below its surface. These itineraries also include Lake Victoria’s numerous islands. T

With stops at Rubondo Island National Park and other Lake Islands along the way, Saanane serves as a tranquil midpoint stop for a Lake Tour that could run between Musoma and Burigi Chato National Park.

: HOW TO GET TO SAANANE ISLAND

The main tourist destination is Mwanza. The majority of regional excursions and safaris depart from this city. Thus, you must travel to the Mwanza region and its capital town in order to visit Saanane National Park. With flights from Uganda, Dar es Salaam, and Arusha (Kilimanjaro Airport), Mwanza has its own airport. There are some connections that can be made from Kenyan airports as well. Saanane Island is accessible from any port on Lake Victoria, but traveling from Mwanza is unquestionably the best option.

From Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam International Airports (Julius Nyerere International Airport), one can fly or take a car to get to Mwanza. As an alternative, you can travel from places like Arusha, Kigoma, Dar es Salaam, and Tabora, to name a few, by train or by road. Additionally, individuals can take a boat from Kenya, Uganda, Bukoba, and nearby islands to Mwanza Port. From the offices in Saanane National Park on the mainland, a quick regular boat ride to the island takes about 5 minutes.