KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Katavi National Park is a Tanzanian national
park created in 1974 and is located in Katavi
Region, Tanzania. It is a very remote park that is less frequently
visited than other Tanzanian national parks. The park is approximately 4,471
square kilometers (1,726 sq mi) in area, which makes it the
third largest national park in Tanzania. The park encompasses
the Katuma River and the
seasonal Lake Katavi and Lake Chada floodplains.
Wildlife
Wildlife features
include large animal herds, particularly of Cape
Buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes,
and elephants, plus along the Katuma river, crocodiles and hippopotami which
upon annual dry seasons results in mudholes that
can be packed with hundreds of hippos. Carnivorous animals that roam this
park are cheetahs, wild
dogs, hyenas, leopards,
and lions. It offers un-spoilt wildlife viewing in the country’s third-largest national park, in a remote location far off the beaten track. The national park is Africa at its most wild unadulterated bush settings, spectacular views, and rich wildlife.
The
wilderness of Katavi National Park, located in the western area of Tanzania, is
one of the most untouched areas in the entire country.
Katavi’s
dramatic scenery is as varied as it is pristine. Flood plains of thick reeds
and dense waterways are home to a huge population of hippo and varied birdlife.
In the woodlands to the west, forest canopies shroud herds of buffaloes and
elephants. Seasonal lakes fill with dirty coloured water after the rains and
animals from all corners of the park descend in them to drink. The park is also
home to the rare roan and sable antelope species, and it is a must-see for the
visitors intending to explore the wilds of the continent.
Isolated,
untrammeled and seldom visited, Katavi is a true wilderness, providing the few
intrepid souls who make it there with a thrilling taste of Africa as if it must
have been a century ago.
Tanzania’s
third largest national park; it lies in the remote area southwest of the
country, within a truncated arm of the Rift Valley that terminates in the
shallow, brooding expanse of Lake Rukwa.
The
bulk of Katavi supports a hypnotically featureless cover of tangled
brachystegia woodland, home to substantial but elusive populations of the
localised eland, sable and roan antelopes. Nevertheless the main focus for game
viewing within the park is the Katuma River and associated floodplains such as
the seasonal Lakes Katavi and Chada. During the rainy season, these lush,
marshy lakes are a haven for myriad water birds, and they also support
Tanzania’s densest concentrations of hippos and crocodiles.
It
is during the dry season, when the floodwaters retreat, that Katavi truly comes
into life. The Katuma, reduced to a shallow muddy trickle, forms the only
source of drinking water for miles around, and the flanking floodplains support
game concentrations that defy belief. An estimated 4,000 elephants might
converge on the area, together with several herds of 1,000-plus buffalo, while
an abundance of giraffes, zebras, impalas and reedbucks provide easy pickings for
the numerous lion prides and spotted hyena clans whose territories converge on
the floodplains.
Katavi’s
most singular wildlife spectacle is provided by its hippos. Towards the end of
the dry season, up to 200 individuals might flop together in any riverine pool
of sufficient depth. And as more hippos gather in one place, so does male
rivalry heat up bloody territorial fights are an everyday incident, with the
vanquished male forced to lurk hapless on the open plains until it gathers
sufficient confidence to mount another challenge.
Location
Southwest
Tanzania, east of Lake Tanganyika. The headquarters at Sitalike lie 40km (25
miles) south of Mpanda town.
Access to the Park
Getting to Katavi for visitors will likely be arranged by
the hosting camp, with one of the available charter
flight services being the Mbali Mbali Shared Charter (operated by
Zantas Air Services) or Safari Air Link. Alternatively, Auric Air operates
scheduled flights into Katavi National Park. All flights will require landing
on a dirt airstrip; the Ikuu airstrip (near the Ikuu Rangerpost) has minimal
services. It is very approximately a three-hour flight from Katavi to Dar
es Salaam and two-hours flight to Mwanza via a
small, bush-compatible light aircraft. A flight to Arusha is similarly ~3 hours
distant.
Access to Katavi via ground transportation: estimates
vary widely; it is generally discussed not in hours but in days. The town of
Mbeya is (550 km/340 miles) distant and is described as a "...tough
but spectacular..." drive; Google Maps indicates that Mbeya is
838 km from Dar es Salaam, making the total distance approximately
1,400 km (870 mi) and requiring 20+ hours. The most direct route to
Dar es Salaam as per Google Maps is approx. 1250 km (~800 miles) and
requiring 16+ hours. Arusha is similarly distant: 1000+km /13.5 hours. The
percentage of transit on unpaved surfaces is unknown, but parts of all of these
routes will definitely be on dirt roads. Since all of the above times from
Google Maps assume an average transit speed of 80 km (50 mph), all
these indicated travel times should be considered to be optimistic.
What to do
Walking,
driving and camping safaris. Near Lake Katavi, visit the tamarind tree
inhabited by the spirit of the legendary hunter Katabi (for whom the park is
named) – Offerings are still left here by locals seeking the spirit’s blessing.
Accommodation
Two seasonal luxury tented camps overlooking Lake Chada. A Resthouse at Sitalike and campsites inside the park. Basic but clean hotels at Mpanda.
Two seasonal luxury tented camps overlooking Lake Chada. A Resthouse at Sitalike and campsites inside the park. Basic but clean hotels at Mpanda.
By Albogasto C. Mgata
albogasto.mgata@gmail.com
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