Katavi National Park - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )

Katavi National Park: Africa Natural Tours

AFRICA NATURAL TOURS (The best tour company in Tanzania)

Specialized in: Mountain climbing, Wildlife safaris, Cultural tourism and Beach holidays

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Katavi National Park

Size: 4 471 km²

Established: 1951

Tanzania’s third largest national park lies well off the beaten track and awards intrepid traveller with an untouched wilderness experience. Located in the western part of the country Katavi National Park is far away from the Northern Safari Circuit and hence escapes the mainstream tourism. With few permanent structures or few visitors Katavi presents an authentic wilderness experience centred on the Katuma River and the surrounding floodplains. In full flood seasonal lakes such as Katavi and Chanda are populated with flocks of water birds. Katavi also has some of the highest concentrations of hippopotamus and crocodile.

The dry season is best for game viewing as the animals huddle around the remaining puddles of the Katuma River. The concentrations of elephant, buffalo and various antelope are a natural spectacle of note. The dramatic highlight of Katavi’s annual cycle can be seen towards the end of the dry season when the park’s entire hippo populations battles for space is the few remaining mud pools. Territorial fights among the bulls are impressive and radiate a sense of desperation.

The elevated areas of the park are vegetated by miombo woodlands. Close to Lake Katavi the spirit of the hunter Katabi lives in a tamarind tree, where locals still leave offerings. The hunter is also the name giver of the park.

Wildlife

Big game is abundant in this remote wilderness. Elephants and buffalos occur in large numbers. Impala, zebra and topi are popular prey for a number of predators including lion, leopard, hyena, cheetah and wild dog. Antelopes are numerous and diverse in the park. Visitors can see sable antelope, kudu, hartebeest, eland, waterbuck, duiker, bushbuck and even the rare roan antelope. The rivers are infested with crocodiles and the pools are packed with hippopotamuses.

Activities

Due to the remoteness of the park many visitor fly in and enjoy safaris in an environment that has hardly any traces of tourism or the modern world. Game drives are particularly rewarding in the dry season, when the game concentrates in spectacular numbers around the remaining water sources. Walking safaris provide an educational experience that becomes incredibly exciting when big game is encountered on foot. Camping safaris allow guests to completely immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells of the bush – an experience that might well be life changing.

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