Northeastern Tanzania - Tanzania - page 242

GETTING THERE & AWAY
Air
There is an airstrip for charter flights. Contact any of the charter companies listed on Click
here to arrange. Rates average from US$220 one way from Zanzibar (20 minutes) and from
US$300 from Dar es Salaam (30 minutes) for a three-passenger plane.
Boat
Local fishing boats sail regularly between Saadani and Zanzibar (from behind Tembo
House Hotel), but the journey is known for being rough and few travellers do it. It's better
to arrange boat charter with one of the Saadani lodges or on the MV Ali Choba near Pan-
gani ( Click here ) .
Road
All the lodges provide road transport to/from Dar es Salaam from about US$200 per
vehicle, one way. Allow 4½ to five hours for the journey.
From Dar es Salaam, the route is via Chalinze on the Morogoro road, and then north to
Mandera village (about 50km north of Chalinze on the Arusha highway). At Mandera bear
east along a good gravel road and continue about 60km to Saadani. There's a signposted
turn-off to Kisampa (about 30km south along a road through the Zaraninge Forest) just be-
fore Mvave park gate. Saadani village and Saadani Safari Lodge (about 1km north of the
village) are about 17km straight on. For Tent With a View Safari Lodge, continue north
from Saadani village for about 25km. Some parts of this latter stretch get quite muddy dur-
ing the rains and 4WD is essential in this season. Via public transport, there's a daily bus
from Dar es Salaam's 'Standi ya Shamba', just after Ubungo main station near Tanesco,
departing Dar at 1pm and Saadani at 5am (Tsh9000, five to six hours).
Coming from Pangani, take the ferry across the Pangani River, then continue south along a
rough road past stands of cashew, sisal and teak via Mkwaja to the reserve's northern Ma-
dete Gate. Transfers can be arranged with Saadani or Pangani (Ushongo) lodges for about
US$150 per vehicle each way (1½ to two hours). There's also a daily bus between Tanga
and Mkwaja (five hours), on the park's northern edge, from where you could arrange to be
collected by the lodges. However, it's prone to breakdowns and the whims of the Pangani
River ferry so ask around locally to be sure it's running. Departures from Tanga are around
11am, and from Mkwaja around 5am.
If you've arrived in the park via public transport, there's no vehicle rental in the park for a
safari, unless you've arranged something in advance with the lodges, or through the tour-
ism warden ( 0754-730112, 0787-336612; [e-mail]).