Saanane Island National Park is a remarkable Tanzanian national park situated in the city of Mwanza, nestled within the blue waters of Lake Victoria. Let me delve into the fascinating details of this unique island sanctuary:

1. Location and Access:
   • Coordinates: The park is located at 2°32’39.71″S, 32°53’23.″E on Saanane Island, which can be reached by boat from the TANAPA offices on Capri Point in Mwanza town ¹.
   • Size: Covering a modest area of 2.18 square kilometers (0.84 square miles), Saanane Island National Park is the only national park that forms part of a city, albeit off the mainland ².
2. History and Name Origin:
   • Originally known as the “Saa Nane Island Game Sanctuary,” this park has an intriguing past. During the Uganda–Tanzania War of 1978–1979, the sanctuary was accidentally bombed. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ordered a Tupolev Tu-22 bomber to attack Mwanza, hoping to intimidate Tanzania into halting its invasion of Uganda. However, the bomber missed the city and hit the game sanctuary instead, injuring a worker and causing casualties among animals ².
   • The park is named after a local farmer and fisherman, Mzee Saanane Chavandi ².
3. Wildlife and Biodiversity:
   • Mammals: Saanane Island is home to various mammal species, including velvet monkeys, wild cats, zebras, and rock hyraxes. Interestingly, it is the only place in Tanzania where De-brazza’s monkeys are found ².
   • Birds: Over 40 species of birds have been recorded on the island ².
4. Record-Breaking Firsts:
   • Saanane Island National Park holds the distinction of being the first-ever national park located within a city in Tanzania and East Africa ³.
   • Despite its small size, it offers a perfect weekend getaway or day trip destination for visitors from Mwanza town ⁴.
5. References:
   • Tanzania National Parks Corporate Information: TANAPA. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008 ¹.
   • Saanane Island Declared National Park: TANAPA. Retrieved 3 September 2013 ¹.
   • Saa-Nane Island Becomes Fully Fledged Park: Daily News (Tanzania). Retrieved 4 September 2013 ¹.
   • Rocking and Rolling on Saa Nane Island Park: Daily News (Tanzania). Retrieved 8 September 2013 ¹.
   • Saanane Island National Park: ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved 17 June 2020 ¹.
   • Cooper & Fontanellaz (2015). War in Uganda: The Legacy of Idi Amin. Dar es Salaam: Tanzania Publishing House ².
   • News | Tanzania National Parks: TANAPA. Retrieved 27 January 2021 ²