Home to the largest herds of buffalo on the planet, Katavi National Park is a relatively untouched wilderness paradise, situated in the western part of Tanzania. The park boasts a wonderful array of habitats, ranging from flood plains of thick reeds and dense waterways that teem with hippo and crocodile to woodlands, open grasslands, forests and pristine seasonal lakes.

Katavi National Park is the third largest park in Tanzania. It is also by far one of the least visited in the country, making it a truly untouched wildlife paradise. Due to its location, it is quite hard to access it by road, so the easiest way in and out is with charter flights.

The park is primarily fed by the Katuma river which in the rainy season (April and May) transforms the park into a wetland. Lake Chada and Lake Katavi are both seasonal lakes which are situated within the park boundaries. In terms of vegetation the park hosts a varied mix of bush land, Miombo forests, riverine forests as well as grasslands.

For those lucky enough to visit Katavi, the dry season (June to October) is by far the best time to see animals. The Katuma River is one of the only sources of water in the dry season and is the lifeline for creatures both large and small when they congregate along the river to drink and bath. Then, when the last lakes and swamps are drying, up to a thousand hippos at times would huddle together for that last bit of water. Large crocodiles can be seen basking in the sun or in the remaining mud pools.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Katavi National Park is a very seasonal park and while it is still accessible in these months, the period between December to March is not considered to be the best time to visit Katavi. The months of April and May is the rainy season and due the remoteness of the park accessing it becomes tricky.  June to November is deemed the best time to visit Katavi. With its open grasslands and vast buffalo herds, the daily gauntlet to the water side is a spectacle that few will ever witness.