Simply Saadani Camp: Our full report

Simply Saadani Camp is a small lodge situated on a stretch of beach just outside the northern border of the ...

... Saadani National Park. This is one of very few national parks in East Africa which has both big game and good beaches. The lodge originally opened in 1995 as a mobile tent safari and it has since evolved, in 2003, to become a permanent safari/beach lodge.

Expert Africa haven't yet had a chance to visit Simply Saadani Camp – but here is what we know about it form the information we have been given:

The accommodation consists of one honeymoon suite; three bandas suitable for families of up to five people; and six other twin sized rooms. All of the tree-house style bandas are on raised wooden platforms with private verandas and a hammock. The honeymoon suite, known as 'Venus', also has a sunken bath sat deep in the mangroves.

The restaurant and bar area is separate from the rooms, overlooking the Indian Ocean. They tell us the menu largely consists of seafood and there is a wide selection of wines available from the well stocked bar – and recent reports suggest that the food is very good.

The activities available from the lodge are said to include: nature trails; canoe rides; game drives (both full and half day); boat safaris and walking safaris. The management of the lodge seems to have a welcome focus on conservation, and guests may also like to visit the nearby Saadani Wildlife Research Center, which the lodge team help to run. Guests who stay at Simply Saadani Camp between July and September may also have the opportunity to see turtles hatching on the beach.

The flora and fauna in Saadani is varied, however animal populations are not in the same concentrations as found in the other reserves of Tanzania.

Our view

Saadani's Simply Saadani Camp seems to offer a gentle safari experience, and by all accounts it is run in a very responsible and eco-sensitive way. If you're looking to spend just a few days on holiday in Tanzania and combine a few days safari with a few days on the beach, in the same place - then it might suit you perfectly. However, with more time to spend, most of our travellers opt to safari in one of the more 'classic' big game parks, and to link this with time for pure relaxation in a lodge that focuses firmly on the beach experience.

Jessica Plumb

Country manager: Tanzania

Geographics

Location: Saadani National Park, Tanzania
Ideal length of stay: We’d recommend it for a stay of 3-4 days.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Drinks included: Drinks are charged as an extra.

Children

Attitude towards children: The camp welcomes children of all ages.
Property’s age restrictions: The camp does not have any minimum age limit.
Special activities & services: There are three family rooms (“High Life bandas") here – each consists of two interconnecting rooms: one room for two adults and a connected room which can sleep up to three children.

Note that children aged 2-11 are charged a reduced rate; children under two years old are usually free of charge.
Generally recommended for children: The camp is unfenced – and although Saadani hasn’t got a reputation for large amounts of dangerous big game, we’d couldn’t recommend it for younger children.
Notes: Although the camp accepts children of all ages, because of the big game presence we’d only recommend it older children.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: In case of medical emergency, it’s a 30-minute (day-time) flight, or about a three and a half hour drive from Saadani to Dar es Salaam – where there are several of the country’s best hospitals.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Fire safety

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Snorkelling
Watersports

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: There’s a laundry service here, charged at an extra cost.
Accepted payment on location: Local payments are best made by cash in US Dollars. However, note that the lodge won’t accept US$100 bills or US$50 bills printed prior to the year 2000.