​Getting There – Katavi NP

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Tanzania.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Depending on your itinerary, your entry point to Tanzania will either be Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about 50km/31mi from Arusha, or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and make ongoing arrangements, including the charter flight to the park's airstrip.

Katavi National Park is most easily and normally visited on an all-inclusive 3- or 4-night fly-in package from Arusha. These packages usually start on a Monday or a Thursday, when scheduled charter flights from Arusha can also pick up clients at Lake Manyara National Park or Serengeti National Park.

Coming from southern Tanzania, the only scheduled flight to Katavi (also on Monday and Thursday) is the Safari Air Link service from Ruaha National Park.

All flights to Katavi continue to Mahale Mountains National Park, and the two are often visited together as a 7-night package.

Air Tanzania operates scheduled flights to Mpanda, a small town situated 36km/23mi north of the village of Sitalike on the northern park boundary. Local operators offer day safaris into Katavi from Sitalike.

Katavi Safaris

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), and what tickets would cost.

Domestic Flights

Charter flights between parks are usually booked by tour operators as part of the tour package. Scheduled flights to Katavi can be booked with Safari Air Link.

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements

Please check our Getting There – Tanzania page to learn more about passport, visa, COVID-19 and other entry requirements.

Want To Visit Katavi NP?

Katavi Safaris