Saadani Safari – Tanzanias Cork

No – I don’t mean you’ll find Roy Keane hanging out drinking Tanora in an African version of the English Market. I mean going for the less obvious choice when looking at a destination. When tourists come into our lovely country, Dublin often springs immediately to mind, but I’m sure a lot of people would agree that Cork – although possibly the less obvious city has just as much to offer. I feel the same about a lot of “secondary” destinations and I think we should open our minds to the possibilities. Thinking of The Maldives – have you looked at Mauritius? Have you been to Dubai – would you give Abu Dhabi a shot? Instead of Lisbon, maybe Porto? Thinking of Thailand – are you open to Malaysia? Ditch the crowds in Santorini and hop on a ferry to Mykonos instead.

While the Serengeti will always be home to the iconic Great Migration, Saadani certainly has a lot of benefits.

We can’t talk about safari without talking about wildlife and Saadani really delivers. It’s the ONLY coastal wildlife park in East Africa, so you’ve got all the classic safari favourites with a salty twist. Picture this: elephants and not just a few, but herds of up to 80 – roaming free with the ocean in the distance. You’ll find healthy lion prides, stealthy leopards, towering giraffes, and dazzle after dazzle of zebra (yes, that’s the real collective noun, how lovely is that?). Antelope fans will be spoiled too, with several species including the rarely spotted Roosevelt’s sable antelope, a real showstopper. Keep an eye out for yellow baboons and black-and-white colobus monkeys swinging through the trees, adding a bit of cheek to the scenery. And the birdlife? Absolutely stunning - over 300 species, from bold fish eagles to the tiniest, most dazzling kingfishers. It’s a real wildlife wonderland, all wrapped up in that unique Saadani setting where the bush brushes up against the beach.

As Saadani is one of only two wildlife parks that offer boat safari it promises great variety. For example, on one of the days you will drive to the Wami river for a two-hour cruise by boat. Enjoy your packed lunch (Tanora not included!) while cruising through hippo pods and looking for crocodiles. You return by safari vehicle at last light looking for elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and whatever else may pass you by. While you stay at Saadani you will also have the opportunity to enjoy talks on at the wildlife research centre.

The logistics of Saadani couldn’t be simpler. We can either fly you into Dar es Salaam, where you will have a night on arrival after your long-haul flight. This would be followed by a 4-hour drive North to Saadani. If you prefer to travel by air, I can arrange your flight to arrive into Zanzibar, where you can take a short 30-minute flight to Saadani Airstrip – that’s right Saadani has its own airstrip – which is a short 30-minute drive to my preferred camp. Compare this to the often 5 and 6 hour drives (sometimes daily) of the Serengeti and you can see why Saadani shines. It’s just so EASY. The trip usually ends with a half an hour drive to the airstrip and a half an hour flight to postcard perfect island of Zanzibar – it would be rude not to really!

So, if you’re after a safari that’s off the beaten track but still packed with wow-factor, where elephants meet the ocean and you swap dusty crowds for river cruises and quiet magic – then Saadani might just be your kind of wild. And here’s the thing – I don’t just sell holidays, I tailor them with care, backed by 24/7 support, insider knowledge, and the kind of personal touches that only come from working with someone who genuinely LOVES what they do. You bring the dream, I’ll bring it to life. Email me at joanne.obrien@mytc.com to schedule a chat and get Saadani booked – trust me, you’ll be so glad you did.