REGIONS : Katavi National Park [Tanzania]

 

 

 

 

KATAVI NATIONAL PARK - WESTERN TANZANIA [Tanzania]

Isolated 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.
  
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 bulk of Katavi supports a hypnotically featureless cover of tangled brachystegia woodland, home to substantial but elusive populations of the localised eland, sable and roan antelopes. But the main focus for game viewing within the park is the Katuma River and associated floodplains such as the seasonal Lakes Katavi and Chada. During the rainy season, these lush, marshy lakes are a haven for myriad waterbirds, and they also support Tanzania's densest concentrations of hippo and crocodile.

It is during the dry season, when the floodwaters retreat, that Katavi truly comes into its own. The Katuma, reduced to a shallow, muddy trickle, forms the only source of drinking water for miles around, and the flanking floodplains support game concentrations that defy belief. An estimated 4,000 elephants might converge on the area, together with several herds of 1,000-plus buffalo, while an abundance of giraffe, zebra, impala and reedbuck provide easy pickings for the numerous lion prides and spotted hyena clans whose territories converge on the floodplains.

Katavi's most singular wildlife spectacle is provided by its hippos. Towards the end of the dry season, up to 200 individuals might flop together in any riverine pool of sufficient depth. And as more hippos gather in one place, so does male rivalry heat up - bloody territorial fights are an everyday occurrence, with the vanquished male forced to lurk hapless on the open plains until it gathers sufficient confidence to mount another challenge.


Not to be missed in Katavi National Park ...

Fly Camping - Katavi Style Whilst staying at the main Katavi Camp, drive out much further than normal into the park for a full day of game viewing before arriving late in the afternoon in time for sundowners at the fly camp. The crew have been busy all day setting up the camp which consists of mosquito/dome tents, bucket showers, short drop loos and a dinning area.

Our Katavi National Park favourites...

Watch this space for upcoming favourites...

Our selected properties in Katavi National Park...

Our exclusive selection of properties range from comfortable, luxurious, exclusive and extravagant. The green symbol indicates exclusively yours properties that can be all yours.

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Chada Katavi Camp
Palahala Luxury Tented Camp


Best time for visiting Katavi National Park [Tanzania]...

July to October

Meet our Tanzania experts...

	Lisa De Swardt Lisa joins the Pulse Africa staff as one of our Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa experts. Born and bred in Kenya, Lisa has travelled extensively throughout East Africa and more recently South Africa. One of Lisa's particular skills is her ability to really understand what her clients want and she has the ability to transform this into a perfect holiday.
	Stuart Inglis If you are interested in any of our destinations, but unsure of what you are looking for, what is available or where and when to go, then Stuart, Pulse Africa's Sales & Marketing Director who has travelled extensively throughout Africa, may be the ideal person to talk to.
	Hayley Kingaby Hayley is one of our South Africa and Kenya experts. A born and bred South African, she has eleven years experience in the travel industry. Hayley creates holidays that will amaze and leave everlasting memories within people, making them want to repeat their visits over and over again.
	Warren Pearson Having spent time managing and guiding at luxury safari camps in Tanzania and South Africa Warren brings a new meaning to the phrase "know what you sell". Warrens holidays stem from a deep understanding and love for the wilds of Africa. Warren also brings a new aspect to personalised service. He is Pulse Africa's in house Private Guide - see private guide section.
	Sandy Wood Sandy is our Zambia, Seychelles, Mozambique and East African expert and is also Pulse Africa's managing director.

What to do in Katavi National Park...

	bird watching
	cultural interaction
	fly-in safaris
	game drives
	guided walks
	night game drives
	walking safaris

Ask the experts for the best personalized advice...