Katavi

Welcome To Katavi

As Tanzania’s third-largest national park, Katavi spans a remarkable 4,471 square kilometers in the western region, near the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The park’s name is steeped in local legend, inspired by the ‘Wabende’ spirit ‘Katabi,’ believed to dwell in a tamarind tree near Lake Katavi, a testament to his legacy as a famed hunter.

Initially established as a protected area in 1911 under German rule and later named Rukwa Game Reserve in 1932 during British governance, Katavi’s journey to becoming a national park is a storied one. It officially gained national park status in 1998, covering an expansive area that had grown from its initial 1,823 square kilometers in 1974 to its current size.

The optimal time to visit Katavi National Park is during the dry season from June to October, where wildlife congregates around vital water sources like the River Katuma, offering spectacular photo opportunities. The rainy season brings a flourish of migratory birds, adding to the park’s diverse avian life.

Katavi is a treasure trove of natural attractions, with rivers, lakes, and a variety of landscapes that include the Katuma River, Lake Katavi, and Lake Chada. It is renowned for its vast herds of cape buffalo and a rich array of wildlife including zebras, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, lions, leopards, and wildebeest.

Bird enthusiasts will be delighted to discover over 400 species residing in Katavi, such as Crested Barbets, small bee-eaters, black cuckoo-shrikes, and red-billed hornbills. The park’s topography is characterized by extensive grasslands, Miombo woodlands, and scattered acacia trees, creating a mosaic of habitats.