“What a fantastic trip. This really is an excellent way to see wildlife very close to you. From the first time you put your canoe in the water you start seeing all the African wildlife you’ve dreamt of…”
GALLERY
KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Isolated, untrammelled and seldom visited, Katavi National Park, 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, covering some 4.470 km2, it lies in the remote south west of the country, within a truncated arm of the Rift Valley that terminates in the shallow, brooding expanse of Lake Rukwa, east of Lake Tanganyika.
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 water birds, and they also support Tanzania’s densest concentrations of hippo and crocodile.
Katavi is really a dry-season park as the rainy season makes travelling around the park, on black cotton soil, almost impossible and big game disperses far and wide. It is during the dry season, when the floodwaters recede, that Katavi truly comes into its own. River 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 predators including large lion prides and spotted hyena clans whose territories converge on the floodplains. Also, prominent amongst the mammals are topi, hartebeest, impala, reedbuck and water buck. Leopards, though elusive, can often be spotted around the forest fringe.
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. As more hippos gather in one place the male rivalry heats up and bloody territorial fights are an everyday occurrence, with the vanquished males forced to lurk hapless on the open plains until they gather sufficient confidence to mount another challenge.
The park hosts several species of water associated birds including various species of stork, herons, pelicans, spoonbill, egrets and plovers. In addition, there are hornbill, bee-eaters, fish eagles, vultures to name but a few. Bird life however, is dominated by large flocks of sandgrouse.
Getting there:
By Air- either twice weekly scheduled flights or by charter plane.
It is possible to reach Mpanda by rail from Dar es Salam 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.
By Road- 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).
What to do:
Walking, driving and camping safaris.
Near Lake Katavi, visit the tamarind tree inhabited by the spirit of the legendary hunter Katabi (after whom the park is named). Offerings are still left here by locals seeking the spirit’s blessing.
Best time:
The dry season (May-October).
Roads within the park are often flooded during the rainy season but may be passable from mid-December to February.
Accommodation:
There are two seasonal luxury tented camps overlooking Lake Chada. There is a rest house at Sitalike and campsites inside the park. Basic but clean hotels at Mpanda.
Accomodation
In the center of Katavi National Park lies Katuma Bush Lodge, offering an exciting bush experience with breathtaking views over the vast plains of Katisunga.
Mbali Mbali has untapped this national secret and created a highly exclusive experience at the heart of the park. Katuma Bush Lodge is ideal for the traveler looking for a truly remote experience away from regular tourist routes. All eleven rooms were constructed for exclusivity, with complete furnishings including writing desks, fine linen, and en suite facilities. Designed specifically for subtlety, the lodge is well frequented by wildlife that makes for spectacular viewing. The main deck houses a swimming pool, lounge and dining facilities to complement the breathtaking views of the Katisunga Plains.
Please contact KOMPASS SAFARIS for or information.
In Flycatcher Katavi Camp you will be staying in a spacious tent. The tents are equipped with comfortable beds with Nordic bedding, canvas cupboards, luggage racks, safari chairs and electric lights generated from solar panels. Each tent consists of an en suite bathroom with a flush toilet and a bucket shower where hot water will be provided daily. Screened windows on all sides of the tent allow you to encounter nature at its closest.
All six tents are arranged in the shade of trees and have superb views over the Katuma River. You can enjoy watching animals coming for water from the privacy of your veranda.
For more information please contact KOMPASS SAFARIS.
Chada Katavi is designed to be a stylishly simple bush camp and since we share all the resources here with Katavi’s animals and so we’ve ensured that our footprint remains light. We’ve avoided unnecessary fripperies but you’ll still find all your needs taken care of.Chada Katavi’s tents, just 6 of them, rest beneath shady trees on the edge of the Chada Plain. They have wide-open fronts and lots of shade net windows to let in the passing breeze.
The en-suite bathrooms are reached via zipped flaps and all have eco-flush loos and an urn of cool water to refresh yourself. Safari style bucket showers are the best thing here, tried and tested and we can think of no better way to wash off the Katavi dust under one of these.
For more information please contact KOMPASS SAFARIS.
In a place as big as Katavi National Park, it’s possible to travel long distances exploring many areas and still not see any other vehicles. To help reach the more distant corners of Katavi, the Chada Camp’s team can arrange one- or two-night fly-camping trips. These are often combined with walking safaris to help you to appreciate the sheer scale and remoteness of this park.
A few members of staff will go ahead to set up the camp, which consists of small dome tents of mosquito netting with comfy mattresses, proper quilts and pillows, a (hot) bucket shower and a long-drop toilet.
For more information please contact KOMPASS SAFARIS.