Angled woodlands are interspersed by Lake Katavi and Lake Chada’s seasonal floodplains while the perennial Katuma River provides an important source of water for the significant amount of wildlife that roams about Katavi National Park. This safari sanctuary is undoubtedly for the seasoned game-viewer – those with a taste for adventure and those who want to venture off the beaten track. This is one of few places in Tanzania where safari-goers might venture for days before actually coming across another tourist.
The marshy floodplains of the park are a virtual stomping ground for Tanzania’s densest population of hippos and crocodiles while its trees boast a myriad of birdlife. In the dry season, 4,000-strong elephant herds descend upon the banks of Katuma alongside several hundred buffalo. The park’s predators – most notably lions and hyenas – have easy pickings from the abundance of giraffe, zebra, and impala.
Spanning across almost 450,000ha, Katavi is the 3rd largest park in the country. Its remote location in southwest Tanzania makes it a game-viewing destination for the intrepid traveller, with only a small number of accommodation options available in the entire park. The park can be reached after a challenging yet magnificent drive while charter flights leaving Arusha and Dar-es-Salaam arrive at Ikuu’s dirt airstrip.
Being so remote and difficult to get to, once you reach the end of your arduous journey you will want to relax in comfort and you can definitely do so at one of these lodges in the Katavi National Park. With vast herds of animals right on your doorstep and a varied ecosystem of swamps, lakes, grassland and bushveld there is no shortage of things to see and do in Katavi.
Highlights
Contact a consultant to organize your stay in Katavi, your transport around Tanzania and any other aspects of your trip.
