Wildlife

Wildlife features include large animal herds, particularly of Cape Buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and elephants, plus along the Katuma river, crocodiles and hippopotami which upon annual dry seasons results in mudholes that can be packed with hundreds of hippos. Carnivorous animals that roam this park are cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, and lions. Some sources claim a very high biodiversity in the park, although there are also reports of wildlife decline due to illegal hunting and poaching, presumably ‘bushmeat’ sustenance. Katavi has fewer human visitors and jeeps conducting game drives than other Tanzania parks.

Visitors

The number of visitors to the park on an annual basis is extremely low, in comparison to better known parks. As there are hardly any campsites and lodges, offering only a dozen available rooms, Katavi National Park still remains a hidden jewel among Tanzania’s Safari Parks.

Access to the park

Tanzania Horizon Safaris will assist you to arrive to Katavi National Park by plane. All flights will require landing on a dirt airstrip; the Ikuu airstrip (near the Ikuu Rangerpost) has minimal services. It is very approximately a three-hour flight from Katavi to Dar es Salaam and two-hours flight to Mwanza via a small, bush-compatible light aircraft. A flight to Arusha is similarly ~3 hours distant.

Access to Katavi via ground transportation: estimates vary widely; it is generally discussed not in hours but in days. The town of Mbeya is (550 km/340 miles) distant and is described as a “…tough but spectacular…” drive; The most direct route to Katavi from Dar es Salaam requires about 16+ hours. Arusha is similarly distant: 1000+km /13.5 hours.