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Katavi National Park

Katavi National Park is an untrammelled and seldom visited, Katavi is a true wilderness, providing the few intrepid souls who make it there with a thrilling taste of Africa as it must have been a century ago. Katavi National Park is Tanzania’s third largest national park, it lies in the remote southwest of the country, within a truncated arm of the Rift Valley that terminates in the shallow, brooding expanse of Lake Rukwa.

The park's main features are the watery grass plains to the north, the palm-fringed lake Chada in the southeast and the Katuma River. Katavi boasts Tanzania's greatest populations of both crocodile and hippopotamus. Lion and leopard find prey among the huge populations of herbivores at Katavi - impala, eland, topi, zebra and herds of up to 1600 buffalo wander the short grass plains. The rare, honey-coloured puku antelope is one of the park's richest wildlife viewing rewards. A kaleidoscope of birds flit across the riverbanks swamps and palm groves while flotillas of pelican cruise the lakes. Elephant graze waist-deep in the marshlands. Katavi is best visited in the dry season between May and October, December and February.

How to get there

Charter flights from Dar or Arusha.
A tough but spectacular day's drive from Mbeya (550 km/340 miles), or in the dry season only from Kigoma (390 km/240 miles).
It is possible to reach Mpanda by rail from Dar via Tabora, then to catch public transport to Sitalike, where game drives can be arranged. If travelling overland, allow plenty of time to get there and back.

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