Saanane Island National Park

Saanane Island National Park holds the unusual distinction of being Africa's smallest national park, covering just 2.18 square kilometres in Lake Victoria a stone's throw from Tanzania's second city, Mwanza. It is also one of Africa's most unusual — a wildlife sanctuary accessible by a ten-minute boat ride from a busy port city.

The island supports impala, rock hyrax, Nile monitor lizards, large crocodiles, and a range of waterbirds including African fish eagle and several heron species. Olive baboons are conspicuous and entertaining company. The lake views, with granite kopjes and sunset light, are beautiful.

Saanane is best understood as a bonus addition to a Lake Victoria or Mwanza visit, not a primary safari destination. Combined with Rubondo Island and the ferry crossing on Lake Victoria, it forms part of a genuinely unusual Tanzania experience.