Katavti, is about 35km southwest of Mpanda, is Tanzania’s third-largest national park and one of its most unspoiled wilderness areas. For travellers seeking an alternative to more popular destinations elsewhere in the country, it is high-adventure, rugged safari experience with Safari Solutions Limited.

Katavi’s predominant feature is its enormous flood plain, the vast, grassy expanses of which covermuch of the northern section of the park.

The park comes to life in the dry season, when the river and lakes dry up and huge herds of buffaloes, elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes and many more make their way to the remaining pools and streams. At these times it’s hard not to feel that you’ve reached the heart of africa, vast, uncountainable and pulsing to the primeval rhythms of the wild.

Tourist Attraction

• High habitat and species diversity with high concentrations of large mammals
• Extensive wetlands and important water catchments areas.
• Wilderness character: The Katavi-Rukwa-Lukwati protected area complex still retains a distinct wilderness character.
• Interesting vegetation mosaic ranging from wetlands and lakes to riverine vegetation and various types of woodlands and shrublands (e.g. the woodlands of the inselbergs of Kapimbye, Kapapa and Igongwe)
• Home to some endangered and unusual species: wild dog, chetaahs (mostly seen in Mbuga ya Duma) roan and sable antelopes (e.g. in the woods of Ilumbi), eland (often encountered at lake Katavi, Kaselami Mbuga, the northern Chada plain, Kataukasi and Kakonje Mbugas)
• Historical and cultural resources: The Karema-Inyonga-Tabora slave route passed through the protected area complex. Stone age and iron age sites, sites of 19th century towns, Wamweru Hills and Katabi tree (14 km from the airstrip)
• Scenic diversity with escarpments, rugged hills, flat alluvial plains, marshes, lakes and rivers. Scenic spots are: hot springs, waterfalls Ndido, Chorangwa, Lukima, Iloba, and beautiful views from the top of the escarpment down into the Rukwa valley (e.g. the view of the steep Mlele escarpment close to Mpunga Mbuga).
• Large herds of animals at Magogo Pools, Lake Katavi, Ilyandi sandridge, Katisunga Mbuga and Kasima Springs, Lake Chada.
• Katuma valley, Paradise springs in dry season
• Hippo schools at Ikuu springs, Ikuu bridge and Sitalike. Crocodiles are found in large numbers in the Katuma riverbed and at the Ikuu bridge in caves as well as in Kapapa River, Rungwa River and Ndido falls.

Accomodation

Katuma Bush lodge

Katuma Bush Lodge has been designed to blend in with its surroundings to avoid distraction from the beauty of Katavi. The Lodge underwent a full refurbishment in 2011 but retains an African simplicity and is an idyllic base for exploring the spectacular wildlife of this remote and wild Park.

The brand new Mess area consists of a comfortable guest lounge, a spacious dining facility and spectacular viewing and swimming pool deck. The central fireplace on the main deck creates a warm and inviting ambience allowing our guests to arrive as strangers but leave as friends.

Meals are freshly flavoured, aromatic and accompanied with tropical fruits and juices. On the last evening of your stay, a barbecue will be served under the shade of tamarind trees, so you can reflect on the unforgettable experiences you’ve had at Katavi while watching the sun setting over the plains.

Katavi Wilderness Camp

Katavi wildlife camp is very exclusive and located in the best game area at Ikuu on the bank of the Katuma river opening out on to the biggest plain – Katisunga which is the middle of the 3 main plains that forms Katavi making both lake  katavi and lake Chada accessible from the camp.

Katavei Wildlife Camp has 8 guest tents with King size beds, including 5 double beds abd 3 twins set on platform under woven Plam Thatch.