​User Reviews – Katavi NP

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Eleanore Avery   –  
United States US
Visited: February 2012 Reviewed: Apr 19, 2017

Email Eleanore Avery  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

The review below is the personal opinion of Eleanore Avery and not that of SafariBookings.
Overall rating
2/5

Very remote in western part...I only stopped there on way to Mahale park. canals restrict viewing because you cannot cross canals. Lots of Hippos.

Sheikh. Ghulam Sarwar   –  
Tanzania TZ
Visited: July 2011 Reviewed: May 14, 2012

Email Sheikh. Ghulam Sarwar  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

The review below is the personal opinion of Sheikh. Ghulam Sarwar and not that of SafariBookings.
Overall rating
3/5

In my opinion, Katavi national park is not a very good park as other national park of Tanzania. Though it's very large area. Also it is very far from Dar es salaam. And the rods are not good to go there.

Lise Pedersen   –  
Denmark DK
Visited: January 2019 Reviewed: Feb 13, 2019

Email Lise Pedersen  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Overall rating
4/5

Long driving distances from game drive areas to camp! Flamingos and lions were very special here, but also a lot of fine birds.

Andre Gilden   –  
Netherlands NL
Visited: October 2014 Reviewed: May 2, 2015

50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Overall rating
4/5

Many buffalo in the park and lions which hunt on the buffalo. Nice marshes which provide water to the wildlife.

Bob Gunderson   –  
United States US
Visited: August 2011 Reviewed: Aug 1, 2012

65+ years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Katavi is a place to consider for experienced safari goers who want a wilderness experience.
Overall rating
4/5

Katavi National Park presents a bit of a mixed bag. It is remote and therefore expensive to get to. Its remoteness does provide a better safari/bush experience but its very remoteness means fewer roads which force the few vehicles and visitors on them. But, it is a world away from the traffic in the Ngorongoro Crater and therefore will provide a truer safari experience for those seeking it.

I have some difficulty recommending Katavi for a first time safari. It is better suited to a repeat visitor who might know more of what to expect from the safari experience. We were there in August and experienced lots of tsetse flies and reports of blazing heat later in the fall. However, I do not wish to imply that all was negative. In what was our third trip to Africa that included visits to nine parks we saw the largest herds of Cape Buffalo, more Hippos and more Crocodiles in Katavi than in any park we visited. We also we fortunate to see herds Roan Antelope, wonderful Lion prides and some fantastic birding.

Much of the safari experience is dependent on the quality of the accommodations and the expertise of the guides. Chada Katavi was a first-rate camp with excellent food, hospitality and accommodations. Even if the camp Elephants were not always cooperative it was a blast to see one about 75 yards away when in the shower.

The Nomad guides were first rate. They have enormous knowledge, are pleasant and go out of there way to make the safari experience as rich as possible. The ability to go on a short walking safari was a big plus. Nomad Tanzania and Chada Katavi get the highest possible recommendations.


peter the safari maniac Visited: February 2009 Reviewed: Apr 11, 2012

Overall rating
4/5

One word Remote! This is Tanzaias hardest to o to national park and yet offers the best number of wildlife. I did a 6 day journey with train road and frankly should have flown out. If you can fly in and out. Loads of animals you ll be freaked!stayed at chada camp but my friends Fox family owners of ruaha river lodge now have a camp here

nilsrinaldi Visited: November 2010 Reviewed: Jan 23, 2012

Overall rating
4/5

Also a remote park, Katavi was fantastic, with its small river along which wildlife was concentrating. Well-known for its hippos and crocs.

ShaiK Haneef   –  
India IN
Visited: June 2023 Reviewed: Mar 17, 2024

Email ShaiK Haneef  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Awesome
Overall rating
5/5

Amazing animals I was seen in park...sach a beautiful moment,,🤩🤩😍🥰

Owen Shaffer   –  
Kenya KE
Visited: August 2017 Reviewed: Dec 18, 2017

Email Owen Shaffer

One of my favorite safari locations
Overall rating
5/5

I stayed at Chada Katavi for seven nights in August of last year. I have to say that Katavi offers one of the highest levels of bush vibe in Africa.
The wildlife viewing was simply outstanding. I've never seen bigger pods of hippos nor more crocodiles as well as massive herds of buffalo and topi. There were lots of elephants and they often came into camp. I saw lions and leopards.

I went fly camping for two nights and on one night drive. Fly camping was particularly enjoyable. My night drive was simply awesome. One can go for hours without seeing another person.

Philippe Z.   –  
Norway NO
Visited: January 2011 Reviewed: Mar 16, 2017

Email Philippe Z.  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Overall rating
5/5

A great place, like Ruaha, with great wildlife viewing. Actualy fantastic lions viewing in some part of it (sorry i won t say exacly where) when I visited in october 2009. We also saw hyenas, elephants, lots of giraffes, large herds of buffalos, diferent species of antelopes, crocs, birdlife etc.

Average User Rating

  • 4.5/5
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star 12
  • 4 star 5
  • 3 star 1
  • 2 star 1
  • 1 star 0
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