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Katavi National Park

Katavi National Park In Tanzania

Katavi National Park is the third-largest national park in Tanzania, a tour destination well known for its spectacular wildlife concentration, in dry season concentration of big mammals particularly Hippos, Buffalo, Elephants, Giraffe, Eland, Topi and Zebra, and predators such as Lion, and hyena.

Katavi National Park, is found on the western part of Tanzania, it was formerly a game reserve; the park was established in 1974. It was originally 1,823km2 In 1997 it was extended to 4,471km2. The park is located 40km south of Mpanda town, being Tanzania’s third-largest national park, after Ruaha and Serengeti.

Highlights
  • Remote location with refreshingly low numbers of annual visitors
  • Varied habitats from open grasslands to wooded areas to seasonal lakes and rivers
  • 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
  • A number of cultural and historical sites, including the legendary Katabi Tree
OverviewAttractionsWildlifeWhere To StayWhen To VisitHow To Get TherePhotos

Overview

Katavi National Park is a Tanzanian national park created in 1974 and is located in Katavi Region, Tanzania. It is a very remote park that is less frequently visited than other Tanzanian national parks. The park is approximately 4,471 square kilometers (1,726 sq mi) in area, which makes it the third largest national park in Tanzania. The park encompasses the Katuma River and the seasonal Lake Katavi and Lake Chada floodplains.

How to Get There:

  • By Air: Several companies like zantas air, Safari air link (SAL) arrange charter flight from Dar es Salam, Mwanza or Arusha cities to either Mpanda airport which is located in Mpanda town or to Sitalike and Ikuu airstrips inside the park. Usually every Monday and Thursday. Coastal Aviation Charted flight within the park Ikuu airstrips.
  • By Road: From either Dar es Salaam via Mbeya (1513Km), Dar es Salaam via Tabora (1392km), Arusha via Tabora (1015.7km) or Mwanza via Tabora-Inyonga (741 km).
  • By Rail: It is also possible to reach Mpanda by train from Dar es Salaam via Tabora then catch a public transport to Sitalike, where game drives can be arranged.
Activities:

Katavi national park is endowed with various tourism activities that visitors can do during their visit. The activities includes; Nature Walking Safaris, Long Walking Safaris, Picnicking, Filming, Camping, Birding,  Bush meals, Night Game Drive, Hiking and Game Viewing .

  • Game drive.
  • Long walking safari (Chorangwa Hiking Trail): It takes more than five hours walking, more than 10kms long.
  • Short walking safari (Sitalike Walking Trail): that range from 1-9kms Long, it takes more than three hours.
  • Birding: Katavi national park offers an outstanding diversity of birdlife, it has more than 450 species of birds, ranging from turkey sized group hornbill to the tiny sun birds.
  • Camping: Special campsites; places that are identified as potential with maximum exclusivity for visitors to stay for a night, usually these places don’t have facilities; ensure everything inn should be taken out.
  • Public campsites: These are places with all important facilities available like Toilets, Bathrooms, Kitchen, Dining and water.
  • Flying Camping: a very prominent mode of special camping where visitors maximizes privacy, adventurous and unique experience offered as moving safari, by stop and move.
  • Night Game Drive: the activity conducted during the night, using open vehicle and special spotlights to observe nocturnal or active during animals during night’ and their behavior. It gives an opportunity to see the range of animals which are generally unseen during the day.
  • Picnicking: They are best places for outing or excursion in which participants carry food with them and share a meal in the open air.
  • Hiking: Walking through trails to a waterfall It is being practiced in Katavi National Park, 17 Kms walking Trails to an elevated point where it will be easy to view Waterfalls it includes Chorangwa, Lukima and Ndido waterfalls within the parks.

Where to stay:

These are places, amenities, or pieces equipment provided to tourists for a particular purpose. In the Katavi National Park, a number of tourist facilities exist, including:

  • Bandas: Bandas is found inside the park and booking can be done through online services.
  • Rest House: Rest House is found inside the park and booking can be done through online services.
  • Ikuu Public campsite: Ikuu Public campsite, popular for visitors, it has all important facilities, its a all weather Campsite.
  • HQ Public Campsite: HQ Public Campsite is found inside the park and booking can be done through online services

 

  • Katuma Bush Lodge: Katuma bush lodge as seen on dinning side and reception, and the look of the room.
  • Flycatcher seasonal Camp: Flycatcher seasonal Camp is a seasonal camp within the Park, close to Ikuu airstrip and Katuma River.
  • Fox Tented Camp: Fox Tented Camp is a popular as Katavi Wildlife Lodge, close to Katsunga Plain, within the park and Ikuu Circuit.
  • Nomad Tented Camp: A normal tented Camp, found within the park, close to Chad plain in dry season, and Seasonal lake during rainy seasonal.
  • Kapimbye Special Campsite: A place that offer maximum exclusivity for visitors to stay for a night, it don’t have facilities; ensure everything inn should be taken out

Gallery

Pilanesberg National Park
Lake mburo National Park
Hells Gate National Park zebras

Best Time To Visit:

Katavi is accessible throughout the year, from May to October and mid-December, Any vehicle can be used.

Attractions:

Wildlife features include large animal herds, particularly of Cape Buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and elephants, plus along the Katuma river, crocodiles and hippopotami which upon annual dry seasons results in mudholes that can be packed with hundreds of hippos. Carnivorous animals that roam this park are cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, and lions.

Chada Plains:

  • A plains that exist within the park, harbors great number of wild animals due to space and nutrients available, in rainy season, usually all plains become seasonal lakes flooded with Water.

Paradise Plain:

  • A plains that exist within the park, harbors great number of wild animals due to space and nutrients available, in rainy season, usually all plains become seasonal lakes flooded with Water.

Katsunga Plain:

  • A plains that exist within the park, harbors great number of wild animals due to space and nutrients available, in rainy season, usually all plains become seasonal lakes flooded with Water.

Katuma River:

  • A life line of Katavi National Park, it pours its water into important habitats of lake Katavi, chada and Kavuu plains, which harbors huge concentration of wild animals, and it is important habitats for Aquatic animals.

Lake Katavi:

  • Covers an area that ranges from 100-150km2 depending on volume of water available to the lake. The lake harbors enough number of birds’ species, animals and plants.