Katavi National park
Explore Katavi National park
Katavi National Park is one of Tanzania’s most pristine wilderness areas, located in the southwestern park along the western branch of the Great Rift Valley. This area of about 4471 square kilometers is known for having the highest wildlife population, second only to the Serengeti and Ruaha national parks. The majority of Katavi is located within the Central African Rift System’s Rukwa Rift Basin. The Rukwa basin is a parallel arm of the Tanganyika Rift Valley that stretches 360 kilometers long and 40 to 60 kilometers wide.
The Rift Valley floor and the escarpments are the main features of Katavi National Park. The valley floor is flat to slightly undulating wooded terrain divided by vast floodplains, seasonal lakes, rivers, and shallow drainage lines that serve as habitat for various bird and mammal species. The areas’ elevations range from 820 to 960 meters. Katavi National Park’s escarpments are the Lyamba Lya Mfipa to the west and the Mlele to the east.
HISTORY OF KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Katavi National Park was established in 1911 during German colonial rule, and it was renamed Rukwa Game Reserve in 1932 when it came under British control. It was declared a national park in 1997 with an area of 2,200 square kilometers, and it was expanded to a larger area of 4471 square kilometers in 1997. It was officially named Katavi National Park in 1998.
EXPERIENCE AN EXCLUSIVE SAFARI IN KATAVI NATIONAL PARK.
This national park is located in western Tanzania and can easily be visited on a fly-in safari. While the game viewing is excellent, Katavi receives only a fraction of the visitors seen in northern Tanzania Safari Parks. It’s easy to get lost in the wild bounty, savoring mystical encounters with a sublime array of mammals, if you come for a couple of days. Sounds guide you, especially when the hippos emerge from the water at dusk. All of the camps and lodges we recommend seamlessly blend into nature, giving you the impression that you’re a part of the wild. Often, the safari comes to your balcony in the form of a wonderful procession of wildlife that returns your gaze before continuing on their journey.
WHY VISIT KATAVI NATIONAL PARK?
- Katavi National Park is home to some of Tanzania’s largest concentrations of buffalo and elephants.
- Because of its remoteness, it is less visited by tourists, making it an ideal destination for a more private and unique Tanzania safari experience.
- During the dry season in Katavi, you can see over 200 hippos in the Katuma River’s deep pools.
- Katavi has a variety of habitats, including waterways teeming with crocodiles and hippos, which enhance game viewing.
- It has the most hippos and crocodiles in the country.
- There are over 1500 buffalo roaming the plains, as well as a wide variety of other African wild animals.
- Its untouched natural landscape sets it apart from the country’s other, more frequently visited parks.
- Katavi immortalizes a legendary hunter, Katabi, whose spirit is said to inhabit a tamarind tree ringed with offerings from locals pleading for his blessing.
- The animals rely on Lake Katavi in the north, with its vast short grass flood plains, Lake Chada in the southeast, and the Katuma River all year for water.
TOURIST ATTRACTION IN KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Because of its stunning landscapes, which result in biodiversity, this park has a variety of tourist attractions. Tourist attractions include:
Wildlife
Along the Katuma River, the park has the world’s largest population of buffaloes and hippos. Lions, elephants, leopards, wild dogs, hippos, zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, and crocodiles are among the other common animals found in Katavi National Park. Katavi is home to over 450 bird species, making it one of the best bird-watching destinations in the world. Herons, plovers, spoonbills, African openbill, and stork groups, including yellow-billed and saddle-billed storks, are among the common bird species in Katavi. Raptors are abundant, with the fish eagle, bateleur, and white-backed vulture being particularly common.
Katavi Plains
The Katavi plains are home to a diverse range of game animals, which can be seen on game drives during the dry season. During this time of year, wildlife congregates in large herds near the only available water sources, such as water pools and rivers like Katuma, Chada, and Katuma. Aside from game viewing, the plains of Katavi National Park are ideal for bird watching safaris
TOURIST ACTIVITIES IN KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Katavi offers a diverse range of activities, making it easy to spend three or more days there. A mobile camping experience—a chance to be in the heart of the wilderness and open all your senses to the animal world—should be on top on anyone’s Katavi safari itinerary. You can also explore the katavi national park on foot/Walking safari, allowing for a more natural connection with nature.
During the wet season of March to May, the Katavi savannah becomes a swamp, and we would not recommend visiting during these months. However, it is ideal for escaping the crowds during Tanzania’s peak visitor season, which runs from June to September. You always have breathtaking encounters in Katavi, and we believe it is one of Africa’s best-kept secrets. Other worthwhile activities in Katavi National Park include:
Guided game drives: During the dry season, Select Adventure Safari offers guided game drives in the Katsunga and Chada Plains, as well as along the Katuma River, Lake Katavi, and Chada. These locations provide excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Your professional guide will assist you in spotting a variety of game animals, birds, and plant species.
Guided nature walks: The guided nature walk is the best way to walk around the park. Visitors will trek the Chorangwa trail with the assistance of a professional and armed ranger for approximately 17 kilometers and 5 hours of walking. While walking, you will be able to see the Lukima, Choringwa, and Ndibo waterfalls. Visitors who prefer a shorter walk can take the Sitalike hiking trail, which takes about 3 hours and covers about 9 kilometers.
GETTING TO KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Select Adventure safari will assist you in flying into Katavi National Park. All flights must land on a dirt airstrip; the Ikuu airstrip (near the Ikuu Ranger Post) has limited facilities. A small, bush-compatible light aircraft takes about three hours to fly from Katavi to Dar es Salaam and two hours to fly to Mwanza. A flight to Arusha is also three hours away.
By Road: Katavi National Park is accessible by road from all major Tanzanian cities and airports, including the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and the Kilimanjaro International Airport. However, because this park is located in a remote area, it will be a long drive. The drive from Arusha takes approximately 1100 km.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Katavi, like the touristy northern Serengeti, provides safari-goers with a year-round safari experience. However, if you want to have the best experience possible without getting too wet, visit the park during the dry season, which runs from June to October. During this time, you will likely see large herds of wildlife grazing or gathering around watering holes, which is Katavi’s most unique wildlife spectacle.
