Saanane, the rocky Island in Lake Victoria was named after its former owner Mzee Saanane Chawandi, who was a farmer and fisherman. The Island was established as the first zoo in Tanzania in 1964 whose objectives were to promote interest in wildlife conservation education and provide recreation to Mwanza people. Between 1964-1968, the Island was stocked with an array of wildlife species, many of which were released into Rubondo Island National Park.
In 1991, the Government declared the Saanane Island as a Game Reserve to promote and strengthen conservation. It was fully fledged as the 16th National Park in July 2013, covering an area of 2.18 Km2including aquatic environment, dry land. The Park is made up of other two smaller islets; “Chankende Kubwa” and “Chankende Ndogo”, which lie in the south. The Saanane Island is the smallest and first ever National Park located within Mwanza city Tanzania.
How to get there
- Stepping into the city of Mwanza (the rocky city) is much easier by air, road, train and water transport means. Saanane Island is easily accessed using a boat skip taking five minutes from a dock located a walking distance about 15mins from the city centre.
Best time to visit
All year round is possible: birdlife is most varied and scenery greenest over November-March. June-August is the dry season and great for iconic, game viewing and rock hiking.
- Main tourist attractions
- The National Park is in a rocky city, dominated with massive and highly weathered granite boulders looking funnily and precariously overhanging, acting as the iconic city features.
- It is a home of mammals like Zebras, Impalas, Rocks Hyraxes, Velvet Monkeys, Fish, Water otter and Wild cats. The presence of a very shy “De-brazas Monkey” underscores its potential as the only National Park in the country harbouring the species.
- Lioness has been introduced as well. It is caged
- Reptiles are also dominant, namely; Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Agama Lizards, Pancakes and Leopard tortoises and snakes particularly Pythons.
- The aquatic part of the National Park renders a better habitat for a variety of fish, mainly Tilapia and Nile Perch. Ecologically, the Saanane Island environment peculiarly and splendidly forms one of the best breeding habitats for Crocodiles and Fish in Lake Victoria
- For bird watchers, Saanane Island offers unsurpassed paradise, where more than 70 bird species have been recorded including both resident and migratory birds utilizing terrestrial and aquatic environment
- The local community (Sukuma) cultural dance performance at cultural centers such as Bujora offers fabulously exciting experience worthy visiting to appreciate the pristine African cultures