Katavi National Park

Details

Details of Katavi National Park

Less well travelled than Tanzania's more iconic parks, Katavi National Park is a truly wild experience for those wanting to get off the beaten track.

Katavi is home to the Katuma River and the floodplains that it spawns each wet season, but it is in the dry season that the best game viewing experiences can be had as thousands of elephants, buffalo, zebras, and giraffe gather around the rapidly drying streams in search of water.

The predators – from the park's huge number of crocodiles to leopards & lions – have a field day during the dry season, and it's a fantastic opportunity to see the predator prey dynamic in action.

The park's huge numbers of hippopotamus are also a spectacle to behold in the dry season, as territorial males engage in bloody fights to decide who dominates the rapidly dwindling pools.

Short Overview

The Katavi National Park offers the few visitors who make it there a taste of true wilderness with large wildlife herds such as buffaloes, elephants and hippos. Some of the attractions of Katavi National Park are Lake Katavi, the Katuma River and the Lake Chada floodplains.

Size: 4,471 km²

Location: Southwestern Tanzania

Best Time: The dry season. May to October

To Do: Walking, driving, and camping safaris

Known For: Tanzania's densest hippopotamus and crocodile population

Let us plan your dream
African trip!

In this post you can find out the best places to travel in Africa by month. Where to Travel in Africa in January January is an absolutely fantastic time of year to be visiting Africa, with many of our destinations being absolutely beautiful. Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda all boast some...
The Maasai Boma villages of northern Tanzania are popular tourist attractions. While the idea of visiting one of these settlements may appear intriguing, there is an alternative that allows you to immerse yourself in the essence of Africa while respecting the local communities and supporting sustainable tourism. In this post...
In recent years, the allure of Maasai culture has attracted a lot of tourism to Boma settlements, leading to an increase in visitors seeking to experience firsthand the unique traditions and lifestyle of the Maasai people. However, we see that for a lot of travelers, this is not the experience...
Are you planning a trip to Tanzania and wondering about the yellow fever vaccination requirements? You'll be glad to know that the majority of travelers do not require the yellow fever vaccine for their journey to this breathtaking destination. Tanzania is considered a low-risk country for yellow fever, making it...
The ultimate guide to packing for an African safari adventure! Are you ready to embark on an African safari? It is an exhilarating experience filled with breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and captivating cultures. However, to properly enjoy the experience, you need to be prepared. What you pack will make all...