Katuma River
Dense hippo and crocodile pools in the dry season.
Katavi National Park
True wilderness in the far west
- Best time
- June – October
- Recommended stay
- 3 days
- Nearest airport
- Ikuu / Ritch Airstrip
- Main attraction
- Remote safari & huge buffalo herds
About Katavi
Katavi is Tanzania's third-largest park and one of its least visited. In the dry season the Katuma River shrinks to pools where hundreds of hippos and crocodiles crowd together and thousands of buffalo come to drink.
Most visitors fly in and combine Katavi with the chimpanzees of Mahale.
- Size
- ≈ 4,470 km²
- Access
- Charter flight
What makes it special
Katisunga plain
A huge open floodplain with buffalo, lions and giraffes.
Lake Chada
A seasonal lake with waterbirds.
What you can see and do
- Buffalo
- Hippo
- Nile crocodile
- Lion
- Elephant
- Giraffe
- Roan antelope
- Topi
Game drives
Walking safaris
Fly-in safaris
When to go
June – October
- January: Rainy / low season
- February: Rainy / low season
- March: Rainy / low season
- April: Rainy / low season
- May: Rainy / low season
- June: Best
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Rainy / low season
- Best
- Good
- Rainy / low season
Recommended stay: 3 days
Getting there
By scheduled or charter light aircraft, often combined with Mahale or Ruaha.
Nearest airports & airstrips
- Ikuu / Ritch AirstripInside the park
Entry and conservation fees
| Fee | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation fee — adult non-resident | On request | Rate on request (+18% VAT) |
| Vehicle entry fee | On request | Rate on request |
Park fees are included in SASU Tours packages. Current official rates are confirmed in your quotation.
Park and conservation fees are set by TANAPA, NCAA and the Zanzibar authorities and can change. Figures shown are indicative; your quotation always uses the current official rates.
Katavi in pictures
Tours & safaris
Packages that visit Katavi
Wildlife Safaris
Western Wilderness: Katavi & Mahale Chimps
Arusha · Katavi · Mahale
- Chimp trekking
- Fly-in safari
- Lake Tanganyika
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