Located in the far west of Tanzania, Katavi National Park is for the true safari enthusiast. Often combined with nearby Mahale, Katavi receives very few travelers due to its relative inaccessibility and the high cost of flights. However, if you spend the time and money to get here, you’ll be richly rewarded. Katavi is nothing short of magical.
Where wild is really… WILD
Firstly, this park is truly wild with only a few camps and very few visitors. Katavi is one of the few places in Africa where you feel like you’ve stepped back a thousand years. Many safari experts argue that this is the quintessential Tanzania safari park, and we certainly believe it to be the country’s best-kept secret. Furthermore, combining this park with Mahale creates the best safari in Africa.
Moreover, the volume of game in Katavi is outstanding. Some researchers believe that the concentrations are even higher than in Ngorongoro. Huge herds of buffalos and lions prides duel daily, while hippos and crocodiles gather in pods and nests which is not found anywhere else in Africa. Although the cost of getting here is high, this has protected the park from the crowds affecting other areas. Once you arrive, lodge prices are reasonable, and most camps are of very high standards.
Additionally, Katavi showcases buffalos and lions duels like nowhere else. Game drives here can be seriously explosive! Katavi is equally famous for its enormous crocodile and hippo populations. The huge hippo pool can see 600 hippos at its peak, and nowhere else in Africa crocodiles hide in holes in the ground as they do here. The wildlife in Katavi hasn’t read the species behavioral rule book! Sizeable elephant herds and good numbers of zebra, giraffe, topi, leopard, waterbuck, hyena, and occasionally wild dog make this a park to compete with the best safari experiences in the world.
Furthermore, the main activity in Katavi is daytime game driving. Night safaris are not permitted. Some camps offer walking safaris.
When to visit Katavi National Park
Like Nyerere National Park and Ruaha National Park, Katavi is a classic dry-season park. The game viewing gets progressively better towards the end of the year. As the water holes and rivers dry up, game moves down from the surrounding hills and congregates around the remaining river system. Consequently, the viewing gets seriously good. July to October is absolutely peak season for Katavi, but more and more travellers are trying Katavi out of season, maybe even to have the park completely to themselves!
For accommodation
There are a few accommodations in Katavi. Please contact us for your best options based on your wishes and budget. Some more information about Katavi you can find here.
