The wilderness of Katavi National Park, located in the western area of Tanzania, is one of the most untouched areas in the entire country. This classic Dry-season park is completely off the beaten track, but teeming with wildlife. Four of the Big Five are present. Lion, buffalo and elephant are all very common but leopard sightings are more hit-and-miss. Rhino is absent.
It offers un-spoilt wildlife viewing in the country’s third-largest national park, in a remote location far off the beaten track. The national park is Africa at its most wild — unadulterated bush settings, spectacular views, and rich wildlife.
Katavi National Park Highlights
Katavi National Park is the 3rd largest national park in Tanzania and offers visitors a personal and exclusive safari experience in a wild and untouched area of Tanzania. This is primarily due to its position in the far south west of the country and the associated cost and time involved in reaching the park.
For those who do take the time to visit, an unforgettable safari awaits them. Being one of the least visited national parks is a bonus for the few who make it, not a reflection on the experience to be had there it is a place for those seeking the Africa of decades ago.
Katavi is predominantly high plains grassland, which becomes swampy wetland during the rains, interspersed with fringes of miombo woodland and scattered acacia. It has 2 lakes, Lake Katavi in the north and Lake Chada in the south, fed by the Kutuma River. These lakes are cracked open plains during the dry season from June to November and fills up only in the rainy season.
Pros & Cons
⦽Good general wildlife viewing in the Dry season
⦽Hippo pods converge in spectacular numbers in the Dry season
⦽Unusual antelope species, like sable and roan
⦽Very exclusive and doesn't get crowded
⬲Difficult to get to and accommodation options are limited
⬲Animals are scattered during the Wet season, and most lodges are closed from March to May
Wildlife
There might not be the widest variety of wildlife on the average drive, but sightings tend to be spectacular, and you'll mostly have them to yourself. While lion are very common, the more remarkable sightings are buffalo herds that number in the thousands and the hippo, which are pushed into small pools as the river dries up. Pods of them share too small a place, and fights are a common sight.
Scenery
The habitat is mainly grassland savannah and brachystegia (miombo) woodland on the east of the park. After the rains, the place transforms to lush marshes and shallow lakes, leaving behind dusty floodplains of the Dry season.
Weather & Climate
Katavi is a hot place in the Dry season (May to October), except for the evenings when the temperature sinks along with the sun. Not by much, though – nights average a warm 17°C/63°F. The Wet season (November to April) is when things get really uncomfortable, with high levels of heat, plus humidity thanks to the brewing rain.
Best Time to Visit
It’s best to visit Katavi in the Dry season (May to October). Unlike during the wetter months, you won’t get cooked by the temperature, savaged by mosquitoes, or have to negotiate boggy tracks. Most importantly, the drier months are when animals congregate on the floodplains to get a drink, and the thin vegetation won’t shield them from your view.
Mystery Gorilla Safaris Says
The Katavi National Park is at the heart of one of the biggest and richest wildlife areas in Tanzania, but its remoteness makes it far less visited than its popular neighbours. Only several hundred people have been recorded visiting the Katavi every year.
The park offers incredibly diverse scenery, encompassing immense wetlands, roaring waterfalls and original miombo woodlands, where the sable antelopes often hide.
Vital water sources attract a plethora of wildlife in the dry season when one can watch the lions, leopards and wild dogs stalking their prey, watched by patiently waiting vultures who share the trees with fish eagles, storks and vervet monkeys.
Katavi National Park got its name from the Wabende tribe spirit, 'Katabi', and the story says that this spirit lives near Lake Katavi in a twin pair of trees.
Katavi National Park Game Viewing and Activities
In the dry season, the Kutuma River shrinks to a narrow stream, with pools that become the extremely cramped quarters of hundreds of hippos and crocodiles. In fact, it is said that Katavi is home to the highest density of hippos and the largest crocodiles in Tanzania, and the dry winter makes for excellent viewing of these wallowing animals.
Katavi's vast ecosystem means that the lush floodplains attract a very large biomass and huge herds of wildlife. It is not uncommon to see herds of over 1000 buffalo at a time, along with large herds of topi and zebra, all grazing the plains during the day when they are less vulnerable to predators, while they prefer to return to the relative safety of the woodland at night.
The abundance of prey means that predators are a plenty. Katavi is home to lion, leopard, spotted hyena, cheetah, wild dog, wild cat, serval and caracal. There are over 400 bird species, giving it equal credit to bird-watchers too.
During the Dry season, huge herds of buffalo, zebra and impala gather with elephant and defassa waterbuck around the drying water reserves of Lake Katavi and Lake Chada. At this time, the Katuma River is packed with hippo, and crocodile can be seen in caves in the river banks. Opportunistic lion are never far from the remaining water sources, waiting for their prey to come to them.
Katavi is mainly visited in the Dry season, which isn’t the best time for birding, but the rivers harbor a large concentration of water-associated birds throughout the year. Particularly common are herons, plovers, spoonbills, African openbills and groups of stork including yellow-billed and saddle-billed stork. Raptors are well represented, with the fish eagle, bateleur and white-backed vulture being very common. Over 400 species have been recorded, and migratory birds are present from November to April.
How to Get There
The best way to get to Katavi is by a flight from Arusha. The only public, scheduled flight is the twice-weekly service between Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale operated by Safari Air Link.
Zantasair works with its sister company Mbali Mbali lodges, to offer twice-weekly shared charter flights between northern Tanzania and western Tanzania, incorporating Katavi and Mahale National Parks
Depending on your itinerary, your entry point to the country will either be Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about 46km/29mi from Arusha, or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. In most cases, Mystery Gorilla Safaris will pick you up from the airport and make ongoing arrangements, including the charter flight to the park's airstrip.
Airlines & Ticket Prices
Please check Skyscanner, or for multiple-destination flights check Expedia, to see which airlines can take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), and what tickets would cost.
Domestic Flights
Charter flights between parks are usually booked by tour operators as part of the tour package. Scheduled flights to Katavi can be booked with Safari Air Link.
Katavi National Park Seasons and Climate
The climate in Katavi is hot and remains this way year-long, as it is close to the equator. Katavi's nights are different from those of parks in the north, as they are generally warmer (around 20°C/68°F). Temperatures during the day are around 32°C/90°. A wide range in altitude (825-1,618m/2,707-5,308ft) is responsible for variations in temperature. Temperatures drop by about 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb (or 3.5°F per 1,000ft). The areas with tourist access are mainly at low altitudes.
Unlike the coast and parks to the north, Katavi has one continuous Wet season (from November to April). It tends not to rain all day long but afternoon thundershowers can be expected. The Dry season is from May to October.
Dry season –May to October
May – This is the end of the Wet season. It still rains occasionally during this month.
June, July, August & September – Afternoon temperatures are usually around 31°C/88°F. Most days are sunny and clear. Rain would be very rare at this time. June to August have the coldest nights but are still moderate with minimum temperatures of about 17°C/63°F on average.
October – This is the end of the Dry season. October has the highest temperatures of the year, differing only slightly from other months. Rain can be expected on some days and humidity will gradually increase.
Wet season –November to April
November, December, January, February, March & April – The humidity is high, and it can feel incredibly hot. Afternoon temperatures are usually around 32°C/90°F and night temperatures are around 21°C/70°F. Thunderstorms in the afternoon are probable – and it will rain almost every day – but rarely all day long.
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