Saa Nane is a Kiswahili word meaning 2 O’clock, however some people have wrongly translated the word, implying it means 8 O’clock which is quite wrong as that is a direct translation from the English language. The amazing  rocky island located on Lake Victoria is earmarked to become a full fledged National Park, in the near future.The upgrade will add value to Tanzania wildlife Safaris. It will be an upgrade from its previous status as forest reserve and wildlife acclimatization zone, the upgrade of Saa Nane will increase the number of National Parks from the current 15 to 16. It will be the second National Park to stride Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest water body after Rubondo Island National Park.

A view of Saa Nane Island Game Reserve

Proposed Saa-Nane National Park, the rocky island with breathtaking scenic settings, natural growth and marine attraction has been pulling in many residents from Mwanza and surrounding Lake Zone regions. Saa-nane tours also used to be added on large-spending, Serengeti National Park-bound tourists’ programs. With the upgrade of the little island to a national park, it will present an opportunity for the Lake side region to create a circuit by offering a full product itinerary that will include Rubondo Island National Park, water activities in Lake Victoria due to Lake Victoria’s proximity

Once upgraded, the Island is also going to be the smallest National Park in both Tanzania and East Africa region as a whole, with its territory measuring some 0.7 square kilometers comprising of both dry land and water. The proposed Park will command a 200 meters perimeter of water South and 100 meters aquatic corridor in the North.

Saa-Nane National Park may in future include two smaller islets, the Chankende Kubwa and Chankende Ndogo located in the southern part of the main island into the bargain to curb illegal fishing and environmental degradation.

Saa-Nane Island national park boasts of the following wildlife  like the Impala, Rock Hyrax, Velvet Monkeys, Wild Cats, Clawless Otters and De-brazzas Monkeys, the aquatic part of the park will offer all types of fish, crocodiles, water snakes and Monitor lizards, other reptiles include tortoises, grass snakes, pythons and agama lizards.”

Plans   are also underway to introduce new animal species to boost the island’s wildlife variety. Species to be soon introduced into the park are  Zebras, Grant Gazelles .Other notable attractions at Saa-Nane include the trademark, landmarks of Mwanza; the huge naturally designed rocky hills and landscapes, the lake view and natural vegetation decorated by a variety of birds’ species, insects and flowers. Lake Victoria can also be viewed nicely from the Island’s protruding stone beacons including the famous and mystic ‘Bombay’ cove. All these attractions will enhance your Tanzania safaris experience.

Alpha Mantai is a travel writer and a leading tours & travel consultant based in Arusha. To connect with him drop him a line at sales@smartafricantravel.com