SAADANI

We flew in another small plane this am,after breakfast. It was a short flight to Saadani National Park on the shores of the Indian Ocean, and Tanzania's only coastal wildlife reserve. We got into our safari vehicles and started the 2-3 hour drive to the Wami River where our lodge was located. This is a very primative and poor area and the roads were not so great. What else is new! Most of the locals are fishermen or work in salt drying fields.   The last rains had washed out the last few miles of roads, so we got in skiffs on the river and went upstream until we came to Saadani River Lodge.

We arrived before lunch and were met by the manager who explained how thngs work at this ALL inclusive eco lodge. We each were shown to our own stitled house nestled in such privacy, that being  naked became our savng grace! Man! It was hot. The rooms were open, airy and spacious with good fans that whirled 24/7, but it was still hot! We had a wonderful outdoor shower that we used numerous times a day, and never turned on the hot water...not once! We had a small frig, which they generously stocked with any beverage we wanted...so a nice south African white and local beers were brought, along with icey cold bottles of water . All laundry was included, except for "smalls" (Those are ladies undies, and since this is a primarily male staff, the culture of the staff was not permitted to wash them. But they has wonderful washing,bathing, and lotion products, and bug sprays, and other handy items including a small clothes line in each room.

We had a delicious  first meal,and realized right then that the cook was a phenomonem , and we werein store  for some fabulous food. EVERYTHING was made on premises, including the breads. 

Coffee was made fresh in a French Press for each guest, and the wine flowed like the river.  We were given a nice water bottle with our names on them, and we could fill them at will from the chilled water in the lobby. So nice to see the restriction of plastic water bottles!