KATAVI NATIONAL PARK

The Park offers incredible game viewing and remains virtually unvisited by travelers due to its remoteness. This undeveloped 1,545 square miles (4,000 km) park is located between the towns of Mpanda and Sumbawanga on the main road running through western Tanzania from north to south. Lake Katavi and its extensive floodplains are in the north of the park, which is about 2,950 (900m) above the sea level. To the southeast is Lake Chada which is connected with Lake Katavi by the Katuma River and swampland. Miombo woodland dominate most of the dry areas except for acacia woodlands near Lake Chada. Wildlife includes hippo, crocs, elephant, zebra, lion, leopard, eland, puku, roan antelope, Herds of thousand buffalos are seen and over 400 species of birds have been recorded. The long rains are March to May and the best time to visit is July to November. Flying by air Scheduled charter or private charter flights is the only easy way to go to the park and it is available twice a week from Arusha airport and guests often picked up from other airstrip on the northern circuit.