Key facts
| Area | 4,471 km² |
|---|---|
| Location and distance | Western Tanzania, around 1,016 km via Tabora |
| Getting there | around 20 hours overland from Dar es Salaam, alternatively by light aircraft |
| Park fee per person per day | 30 USD, children aged 5 to 15 years 10 USD, under 5 years free, plus 18% VAT. |
| Best months | June to October |
| Typical wildlife | Buffalo, elephants, hippos, lions, Nile crocodiles |
| Accommodation | Mbali Mbali Katavi Lodge, Katavi Wildlife Camp, Chada Katavi (Nomad Tanzania) |
Highlights and wildlife
Katavi National Park covers 4,471 square kilometres in western Tanzania. Open grassland, acacia savannah and seasonal river systems characterise the landscape. In the rainy season, vast plains turn into floodplains; in the dry season, they dry out again. Then buffalo, elephants and hippos move to the few remaining pools. Buffalo herds numbering several thousand animals are not uncommon in these months. Nile crocodiles also lie along the river courses. Because of the low number of visitors, you often won’t see another vehicle on game drives.
Lions benefit from the high number of prey animals and are sighted regularly. Leopards stay close to the river courses and in denser vegetation; hyenas tend to appear at the edges of the plains. Cheetahs also live in the park, but are found less often because of the vastness of the area. Zebras, wildebeest, eland, impalas and waterbuck are widespread throughout the park. More than 400 bird species have been recorded in Katavi, including many water birds and birds of prey.
Best time to visit
The dry season between June and October is best for a safari in Katavi. The tracks are then easily passable, and the animals concentrate at the remaining waterholes. The density of large game is particularly high in these months, and sightings are correspondingly frequent. The rainy season falls between November and May. Large parts of the park are then under water; many animals spread out across the vast area and are harder to find. Access is restricted. If you want to visit Katavi at the right time, plan your trip for the dry months.
| Month | Weather | Wildlife |
|---|---|---|
Dry, tracks easy to drive | ||
Rain, access restricted |
Fees and rules
The park fee for Katavi National Park is 30 USD per person per day. Children aged 5 to 15 pay 10 USD. Children under 5 have free entry. 18% VAT is added to the fee. The fee is calculated per day. Each day in the park counts separately. The total fees for your route depend on the length of your stay. The team in Arusha will give you the current figures and the itemised costs of your trip in their proposal.
Getting there and combinations
The location makes the journey to Katavi a long one: the overland route leads via Tabora and is around 1,016 kilometres long. A light aircraft takes you much faster directly to an airstrip in the park. This very remoteness defines the character of Katavi and keeps visitor numbers low. The park combines well with other remote areas. You can, for example, continue your route in Ruaha National Park or add Mahale Mountains National Park, where you observe chimpanzees in the rainforest.
