Katavi national park
Katavi national park is a great tourist destination though not frequently visited, the park is found in the south western region of Tanzania east of Lake Tanganyika near Mpanda town in katavi region. Katavi national park stretches over an area of 4471 square kilometres and lies within a truncated arm of the rift valley at the altitude range of 825- 1618 meters above the sea level.
Katavi national park is the third largest national park in Tanzania, the park was created in 1974 purposely to conserve hundreds of animals from illegal hunting and poaching activities for bush meat.
What to see in katavi national park
Katavi national park is a source to a high biodiversity which are attractions and a reason to why many visitors come to the park, upon your visit to the park there is many things to see and these include
Wildlife
Katavi park is unmatched habitat for wildlife which thrive through the regions of the park, Katavi Park is a home to birds and mammals in a huge population which attract many tourists for a safari.
Animals
Katavi national park is a wildlife spectacle supporting a huge population of animals such as over 4,000 elephant individuals, over 1000 buffaloes and overrated population of hippopotamuses and crocodiles which are the main highlights of animals in the park. Other animals in the park include zebras, antelopes, impala, defassa waterbuck, and giraffe, wildebeest which is very rare, lion and occasional hyena and leopard. In katavi park are seen in high concentration at Lake Chada and katavi the two seasonal lakes flood plains which dry into and on the banks of Katuma River.
Birds
Katavi national park is one of the known birding spots in Tanzania, the park is a home to over 400 bird species which thrive in the different vegetation including swampy expanses. Birds habiting in the park include White-faced Whistling Duck, Egyptian Goose, Helmeted Guinea fowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, White-browed Coucal, Grey Crowned Crane , Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Purple-crested Turaco, Marabou, Yellow-billed Stork, Saddle-bill Stork, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Hammerkop, Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron, Cattle Egret, Goliath Heron, Little Egret, African Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis and many more
In the period of November to April katavi national park receives migratory bird species
Water bodies
Katavi national park is dotted with beautiful water bodies which create a dramatic scenery in the park, the park is encompassed with to seasonal lakes that is Lake Chada and lake Katavi and river katuma with drains through the park. These water bodies are the water sources feeding the park and its animals.
Things to do in katavi national park
Game drives
Katavi park offers amazing highlights which is the highlights of the park which offer you fantastic views of animals, the park is a home to many species of animals which live in a huge concentration. Animals in the park include buffaloes, giraffe, lion, defassa waterbuck, zebras, antelopes, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, wildebeests and many more. Game drive in the park takes you a drive in the park to areas like the shores of Lake Chada and katavi and on the banks of river katuma which are always crowded by a large concentration of animals most especially in dry season.
The best time to view animals in katavi park is in the dry season period most especially in the middle and end of the season, dry season is experienced in the months of June, July, august, September to October.
Bird watching
Katavi national park offers amazing bird watching experience to its visitors, the park is a home to over 400 bird species with a high concentration of water associated birds. Bird watching in the park s an opportunity for you to view a wide range of colourful bird’s species such as White-faced Whistling Duck, Egyptian Goose, Helmeted Guinea fowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, White-browed Coucal, Grey Crowned Crane , Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Purple-crested Turaco, Marabou, Yellow-billed Stork, Saddle-bill Stork, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Hammerkop, Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron, Cattle Egret, Goliath Heron, Little Egret, African Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis, African Darter and many more.
Bird watching in katavi park is done throughout the year but the best time to participate in activity is in the dry season, dry season is experienced in the period of June to October and the period is characterised with dry routes making pass through the park and watch birds. Another perfect period for bird watching is in the period of November to April when migratory bird species from Europe are present in the park.
Camping
Katavi national park is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurous tourists, the park offers various camping sites where tourists get to spend nights a midst scenic nature of katavi national park
Guided nature walks
Guided nature walks in Katavi national park are excellent experiences involving touring the park on foot, on this walk you get enjoy views of animals and birds. You also get to visit excellent wild viewing areas that is Lake Chada and Katavi and river katuma.
Where to stay in katavi national park
Katavi national park is a very isolate national park with no variety of accommodation facilities, available ones offer comfortable stay to visitor of the park. These include two seasonal luxury camps situated overlooking Lake chada including Palahala luxury safari camp, riverside camp katavi and one rest house at Sitalike and camping sites inside the park such as Palahala river camp, katavi wildlife camp, Chada katavi camp. Lodges in the park include Katuma bush lodge and Katavi Hippo garden lodge.
Best time to visit katavi national park for a safari
A tourist visiting Tanzania for a safari it is possible to visit katavi national park any time of the day and any day of the year, as humans we always want to travel for a safari in the most perfect time frame and have the best experience which always brings up the questions. When it is the best to travel to katavi national park for a safari experience, the best time to visit the park is in the dry season experienced in the month period of May to October. What makes dry season the perfect time is that in this period since the park is relatively dry and the floodwaters have retreated reducing katuma to a shallow muddy trickle the only water source for animals in the park. It is this spot where you get to spot a concentration of animals such as buffalos, elephants, giraffes and a pool of hippopotamuses as they come to drink water.
How to get to katavi national park
Katavi national park is located in the southern region of Tanzania in Mpanda district with the headquarters situated 40 kilometres south of the town Mpanda, the park can be reached using both road, railway and air transport means. By road the park is situated 1, 2356 kilometres from Dar es Salam, 550 kilometres from Mbeya and 390 kilometres from kigoma, getting to the park by road is a very tiresome task as it takes one full day and a half o driving to get to the park that is why it is best to use the other two options of railway and air means of transport. There is railway from Dar es Salaam via Tabora to Mpanda, from Mpanda you get a park means of transport or a rented car to the park’s headquarters. By air there is domestic chartered flights to the park landing at a dirt airstrip Ikuu, flights to the park are offered by airlines like Safari Air link and Mbali Mbali safari charter operated by Zantas Air Services.
