Katavi National Park is pure wilderness. Few parks anywhere in Africa offer such a tantalizing combination of breathtaking wildlife viewing, a remote setting and low visitor numbers. Four of the Big Five are present, with lion, buffalo and elephant all being very common. Leopard sightings are more hit-and-miss. The waterways of Katavi host impressive concentrations of hippo, crocodile and aquatic birds.
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Best Time To Go
- July to October
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High Season
- July to October (Katavi is rarely crowded)
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Size
- 4,471km² / 1,726mi²
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Altitude
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825-1,618m /2,707-5,308ft
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Pros & Cons
- Good general wildlife viewing in the Dry season
- Hippo pods converge in spectacular numbers in the Dry season
- Unusual antelope species such as sable and roan
- Very exclusive and doesn't get crowded
- Difficult to get to and accommodation options are limited
- Animals are scattered during the Wet season
- Most camps close for part or all of November to May
Wildlife
There might not be the widest variety of wildlife on the average game drive, but sightings tend to be spectacular, and you’ll mostly have them to yourself. Lion and elephant are common, and you can also expect to see thousand-strong herds of buffalo. Even more remarkable are the park’s hippos, which are forced to gather together in their hundreds in small pools as the rivers dry up, leading to regular fights between the highly territorial males.
More about Katavi's wildlifeScenery
The habitat is mainly and in the east of the park. After the rains, the dusty typical of the Dry season are transformed into lush marshes and shallow lakes.
Activities
The main activity in the park is . These generally focus on the floodplains and watercourses, which tend to support the most wildlife and be free of the tsetse flies that haunt more densely wooded areas. Night drives and are also available.
Weather & Climate
Katavi is a hot place. The average daytime temperature is 31°C/88°F, but peak temperatures are much higher. Evenings are generally mild with temperatures around 18°C/64°F. It is mostly dry from May to October (the Dry season), but afternoon showers can be expected in the Wet season (November to April) when the humidity tends to be really high.
More about the weather and climateBest Time To Visit
It’s best to visit Katavi from July to October, which is during the middle and end of the Dry season. At this time, animals gather on the floodplains to get a drink and the thin vegetation won’t shield them from your view. During the Wet season and at the beginning of the Dry season, from November to May, many game-drive tracks are impassable. Most camps close for part or all of the months of November to May.
More about the best time to visit