Katavi National Park

Spanning an impressive 4,471 square kilometers, Katavi National Park is situated approximately 40 kilometers from Mpanda town in southwest Tanzania, east of Lake Tanganyika. Nestled within a truncated arm of the Great Rift Valley, the park stretches to the shallow expanse of Lake Rukwa. Katavi is a true wilderness, seldom visited and renowned for its pristine natural state compared to other national parks in the country. The park's predominant vegetation is Miombo woodland, interspersed with Acacia trees near Lake Chada. The primary areas for game viewing in the park include the Katuma River and its associated floodplains, such as the seasonal Lakes Katavi and Chada.

During the rainy season, these lush, marshy lakes become a sanctuary for a myriad of water birds and support Tanzania's highest concentrations of hippos and crocodiles. In the dry season, as the floodwaters recede, the Katuma River becomes the sole source of drinking water for miles around, drawing in staggering concentrations of wildlife. An estimated 4,000 elephants may gather in the area, accompanied by herds of over 1,000 buffalo. The abundance of giraffes, zebras, impalas, and reedbucks provides ample prey for the numerous lion prides and spotted hyena clans whose territories overlap in the floodplains. Visitors can also spot elands and the rare sable and roan antelopes.