Saa-Nane Island was named after its previous owner MzeeSaananeChawandi, a fisherman, who turned a farmer later shifted to another island (after being compensated to pave way for conservation efforts in the early 1960s. The Tanzania government officially owned the island in 1964 as the first ever government owned zoo. Saa- Nane Island is the second national park to stride Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest water body after Rubondo island National Park.
LOCATION;
Saa- Nane Island National park is located in Mwanza region. The park was gazetted in October 2012 after being ratified by the Tanzania National Assembly in Dodoma.
SIZE;
Currently, Saa- Nane Island is the smallest National park in both Tanzania and East Africa, with its territory measuring some 0.7 square kilometers comprising of both dry land and water. Saa- Nane Island National park also command a 200 metres perimeter of water South and 100 metres aquatic corridor in the North.
COMMON MAMMALS; Impala, Rock hyrax, velvet and De-brazzasmonkeys.The aquatic part of the park offer all types of fish, crocodiles, water- snakes and monitor lizards. Other reptiles include tortoises, grass snakes, pythons and agama lizards. Other attractions at Saa- Nane include the trade mark, landmark of Mwanza.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Between 1964 and 1966 different species of wild animal were ferried to the island, and these included, buffalo, bushbuck, dikdik, elephant, eland, impala, black rhino, Topi, Warthog and Wildebeests. Others were Zebras, Monkeys, Giraffe, Porcupine and Crocodiles.