Katavi National Park Travel Guide
Known for its diverse landscapes and abundance of game, Katavi National Park’s drawcard is its remoteness.
This has ensured that the area has remained entirely unspoiled.
With so few visitors, a Katavi safari will make you feel like the only people on earth!
With large populations of elephants, lions, hippos, and more, game viewing is beyond spectacular, especially during the dry season when water sources dwindle.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Remote location with refreshingly low numbers of annual visitors
- Varied habitats, from open grasslands to wooded areas to seasonal lakes and rivers
- A wide array of large game, including impressive herds of thousand-strong buffalo
- Densest populations of hippo and crocodile in Tanzania
- Walking safaris are allowed at Katavi for a real bush experience
- Incredible birdlife with over 400 species
- Several cultural and historical sites, including the legendary Katabi Tree
At just under 4,500km², Katavi National Park is Tanzania’s third largest park.
Situated in the remote southwest of Tanzania, access to the park is not easy. Few camps ensure that it is not overrun with visitors and safari vehicles.
According to local legend, the park is named after the Wabende spirit, Katabi, who lives in a tamarind tree near Lake Katavi.
Locals looking for blessings from his spirit still leave offerings at the foot of the tree.
The area was first protected in 1911 during the German occupation and was later named Rukwa Game Reserve under British occupation until 1932.
In 1974, an area of just over 2,200km² was declared a national park, and the larger area was finally gazetted in 1996, officially opening two years later under its current name.
Located in the Rukwa Rift Basin, part of the Central African Rift Valley, Katavi National Park boasts steep highland cliffs, escarpments, floodplains, vast grasslands, and seasonal lakes interspersed with woodlands.
The park’s game is plentiful, with large populations of elephants, buffalo, zebra, and a wide variety of antelope and giraffe.
Plenty of predators here include lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild African dogs.
The main river through the park, the Katuma River, dries to a few muddy pools during the dry season. Here, you can see huge numbers of hippos crammed into small pools, resulting in terrifying fights between the males.
Things to see and do in Katavi National Park
Contents:
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Walking Safaris in Katavi National Park
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Boat Safaris in Katavi National Park
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Fly Camping in Katavi National Park
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Sundowner Moments
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Birdwatching
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Cultural Encounters
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Photography Opportunities
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Relaxation and Reflection
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Wildlife Research and Conservation Programs
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Night Game Drives
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Picnic at Maji Moto Hot Springs
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Visit the Katavi Museum
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Hot Air Balloon Safaris
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Wildlife Conservation Talks and Lectures
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Wildlife Tracking and Identification
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Conservation Photography Workshops
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Nature Walks and Birding Excursions
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Nature Walks and Birding Excursions
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Relax and Unwind in Nature
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Final Thoughts
The main activity is game viewing, which can be done on both game drives and guided walking safaris. The bonus of game drives in Katavi National Park is that you’re unlikely to come across other humans. Walking safaris are an experience not to be missed to get close to the African bush and experience its sights, sounds, and smells.
Fly camping is offered. This is the ultimate definition of bush camping, where regular tents (don’t expect luxury!) are set up at a temporary campsite in the bush. There are no fences, flush toilets, or showers. It’s living in the wild: cooking food over a fire and spending evenings chatting around the campfire, staring up at the breathtaking African night sky, and listening to the nocturnal calls of wild animals.
Katavi has several places of cultural and historical interest. These include Stone and Iron Age sites and sacred sites such as the Katabi Tree, where the Wabende spirit Katabi lives.
The best time to visit
Katavi National Park offers excellent game viewing all year round but reaches its peak during the dry season, which lasts from June to November or December. During this time, the animals gather around scarce water sources in their thousands.
During the wet season, floodplains turn to lakes, providing spectacular birdwatching opportunities.
Getting there
By car – Katavi National Park is a two- to three-day drive from Dar es Salaam and requires a definite level of adventure-seeking. The road from Arusha is even more so.
By air – The easiest way to get to Katavi National Park is by two-weekly scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam. Chartered flights can also be arranged.
Conclusion:
Explore at the pace of the wild, sync your pulse with the earth, and discover true freedom.
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