Saanane Island National Park

Saanane is a small granite island in Lake Victoria off Mwanza, made a national park in 2013 and the smallest in the country. It was a zoo from the 1960s and some animals remain from that period along with introduced ones: impala, vervet monkeys, rock hyrax, de Brazza's monkey and a great many agama lizards on the rocks. Paths run over the boulders to viewpoints across the lake and back to the city, and crocodile and hippo are seen in the water.

What's there

• The granite boulders - the rock landscape the island is built of, walked over on paths.
• The agama lizards - brightly coloured lizards abundant on the warm rock.
• The lake views - Mwanza and the open water seen from the island's high points.
• The introduced animals - impala, monkeys and hyrax remaining from the old zoo.

When to go

June to October is driest. Mornings and late afternoons are best for the light and the heat. Boats run through the day from the Mwanza waterfront.

Practical notes

The island is very small and an hour or two covers it. Animals are few and largely introduced rather than wild populations. Park fees are high relative to what is on offer.

Nearby

Mwanza is across the water, and Ukerewe is north.

Key facts