Katavi National Park

Katavi’s main attraction is the Katuma River and the flood plains surrounding the seasonal Katavi and Chada Lakes. During the rainy season spanning from November to May, the landscape becomes verdant and alive with swollen rivers, beautiful lakes, large swamps and lush grasslands. But it is the dry season from June to October when the floodwaters retreat and the lakes and swamps dry up that immense concentration of wildlife flock to Katuma River which by now is a mere trickle. The game concentration during the peak of the dry season is believed to rival those of Ngorongoro Crater.

Katavi is best known for its massive buffalo herds, which are some of the largest remaining in Africa. There are impressive hippo pools where vast numbers of hippos grunt and fight for space in the ever shrinking mud holes. Tunneling crocodiles that dig caves into the riverbank to shelter from the heat and hibernate during the dry season when food is scarce, with some caves sheltering upwards of a 100 reptiles.

For those willing to travel to this remote destination, Katavi National Park is a pristine wilderness that offers a glimpse of Africa in its purest form. You might consider pairing a visit to this park with an adventure in the equally magical Mahale Mountains National Park on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika.