The park will contain a mosaic of distinctive and rare habitats. Most obviously, and unique in East Africa, is the beach and salt grass flats along the Indian ocean facing Zanzibar. Among the large mammals found is the rare Roosevelt sable antelope (Hippotragus niger roosevelti) and the beach areas contain one of the last significant breeding beaches in East Africa for the green turtle_0912_ (Chelonia mydas).

Several places on the coast, particularly at the mouth of the Wami river, contain large and still well preserved mangrove swamps. This habitat differs dramatically from Zaraninge, an area of lowland Tanzanian coastal forests, which along with the Eastern Arc mountains has been identified as one of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots in most urgent need of immediate conservation action. Populations of wildebeest, zebra, and eland, which had been exterminated, have been successfully re-introduced since the Game Reserve was founded nearly 30 years ago. The Tanzania Game Department has pursued a campaign to preserve and re-develop wildlife numbers in the face of very limited resources, considerable local sport hunting, and a tradition of game harvesting for food.

The Indian Ocean Coast forms the Eastern border of part of the park, which includes several pristine sand dunes and very interesting vegetation types. This area is considered one of the last strongholds of the endangered green turtle in Tanzania.

In the south it is possible to spot African buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, several antelopes species and lions. The southern boundary is represented by the Wami river that, with its delta, represents an incredibly complex ecosystem with a large number of water birds including the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), high concentration of cetacean on the delta and right on the river, mangrove forests and important population of crocodiles and hippos.

To the west lies the most important biological asset of the whole area: the Zaraninge Forest, 200 square kilometers (50,000 acres) of closed canopy tropical forest, one of the larger coastal forests in Tanzania and part of the "Eastern Arc and Coastal Forest for Kenya and Tanzania Hotspot". The area hosts several internationally scarce species including 8 mammals, 10 birds, a new species of reptile (dwarf gecko), one amphibian (Hyperolius parkeri), an endemic snail and many other species of invertebrates.