Katavi National Park: Discover the untouched wildness

KATAVI: KATAVI National Park, is found on the western part of Tanzania, it was formerly a game reserve; the park was established in 1974. It was originally 1,823 square kilometres in 1997 and was extended to 4,471km2.

The park is located 40km south of Mpanda town, being Tanzania’s third largest national park, after Ruaha and Serengeti.

Climate

Park’s climate is classified as tropical.

The average temperature is 24.6 °C. In a year, the average rainfall is 1139mm. Precipitation is the lowest in June, with an average of 0 mm. With an average of 231 mm, the most precipitation falls in December. At an average temperature of 26.2 °C, October is the hottest month of the year. July has the lowest average temperature of the year. It is 22.7 °C.

How to get there

By air: Several companies like Zantas air, Safari Air Link (SAL) arrange charter flight from Dar es Salam, Mwanza or Arusha cities to either Mpanda Airport which is located in Mpanda Town or to Sitalike and Ikuu Airstrips inside the park. Usually, every Monday and Thursday.

Coastal Aviation Charted flight within the park Ikuu airstrips. By road: From either Dar es Salaam via Mbeya (1,513Km), Dar es Salaam via Tabora (1,392km), Arusha via Tabora (1,015.7km) or Mwanza via Tabora-Inyonga (741 km). By rail: It is also possible to reach Mpanda by train from Dar es Salaam via Tabora then catch a public transport to Sitalike, where game drives can be arranged.

Tourism Activities

The park is endowed with various tourism activities that visitors can do during their visit. The activities include nature walking safaris (short walking safaris (SWS)), long walking safaris (LWS), picnicking, filming, camping, birding, bush meals, night game drive, hiking and game viewing.

Game viewing

This activity is conducted from 06:30 – 18:30 HRS, no additional fee for this activity. Four-wheel (4X4) drive vehicles are recommended. Long walking safari (Chorangwa Hiking Trail) Long walking safari (Chorangwa Hiking Trail) It takes more than five hours walking, more than 10kms long. Short walking safari (Sitalike Walking Trail) Short walking safari (Sitalike Walking Trail) that range from 1-9kms Long, it takes more than three hours.

Birding

Katavi offers an outstanding diversity of birdlife, it has more than 450 species of birds, ranging from turkey sized group hornbill to the tiny sun birds.

Camping

Special campsites: Places that are identified as potential with maximum exclusivity for visitors to stay for a night, usually these places don’t have facilities; ensure everything inn should be taken out. Pre booking through park contacts is required.

Public campsites: These are places with all important facilities available like Toilets, Bathrooms, Kitchen, Dining and water. Flying camping: A very prominent mode of special camping where visitors maximise privacy, adventurous and unique experience offered as moving safari, by stop and move.

Bush meals

Bush meals exemplify the available places where visitors can take their food while doing game viewing or after walking safaris.

Filming

Taking recording picture for business purposes, or any official use, Filming fee: 250 US dollars charged per person/day and covers conservation, camping and filming fees. Applicable to all visitors.

Night game drive

Night game drive the activity conducted during the night, using open vehicle and special spotlights to observe nocturnal or active during animals during night’ and their behaviour. It gives an opportunity to see the range of animals which are generally unseen during the day.

Picnicking

They are best places for outing or excursion in which participants carry food with them and share a meal in the open air.

Hiking

Walking through trails to a waterfall. It is being practiced in Katavi National Park, 17 Kms walking Trails to an elevated point where it will be easy to view Waterfalls. It includes Chorangwa, Lukima and Ndido waterfalls within the parks.