Saanane Island National Park, National park on an island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania.
Saanane Island National Park is a national park located on an island in Lake Victoria and covers about 2.2 square kilometers of grasslands, forests, and rocky shorelines. These different habitats support a variety of mammals, birds, and other wildlife adapted to the island environment.
The park was established in 2013 as a formal protected area, building on an animal garden that was created back in 1964. The island also experienced bombing during the Uganda-Tanzania War in 1979, making it a site of both natural and recent history.
The park is named after Mzee Saanane Chavandi, the farmer and fisherman who founded the animal garden. Between 1964 and 1966 animals including buffalo, dik-dik, elephants, duikers, suni, impala, warthogs, zebras, monkeys, giraffes, porcupines and crocodiles were moved onto the island; dangerous species such as rhino and buffalo were penned while the gentler ones roamed free.
Visitors reach the park by boat departing from TANAPA offices at Capri Point in Mwanza. Once on the island, you will find picnic areas and walking trails to explore at your own pace.
The island's name comes from Mzee Saanane Chavandi, the farmer and fisherman who founded the animal garden; between 1964 and 1966 animals including buffalo, bushbuck, elephant, giraffe and zebra were moved onto the island. Dangerous species such as rhino and buffalo were penned while the gentler animals roamed free.
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