Katavi National Park is probably the least visited of Tanzania's reserves but that is because of the remote location and expense of getting there, not because of the wildlife it contains - it is one of the best parks for variety of species and shear huge numbers of animals.The park which was originally gazetted in 1974 was extended in 1997 to the south-east making it Tanzania's third largest national park. Another large area on the other side has been gazetted as the Rukwa Game Reserve.
Katavi is in the Western Rift Valley which culminates in the Lake Rukwa basin on the east side of the park. Most of the park is brachystegia woodland and the Katuma and Kapapa rivers flow through it to become the Kavu River. All the rivers are seasonal so large floodplains surround them. There are several lakes and swamp areas that fill in the rainy season.
This park can only really be accessed in the dry season but does stay open through the early (short) rains in November through to the new year and the camps usually close by mid February, opening again in early June. Three large floodplains draw in large groups of animals mainly between August and November. In the rainy season the animals disperse making it harder to see them and the insects including mosquitos abound at this time! Coupled with the humidity Katavi is not a great exeperience during the rains. In the dry season it offers some of the best game viewing in Africa.
Elephants live here in huge numbers (about 4000 in the park), there are large groups of zebra, giraffe, hartebeest, impala and other antelope and impressive herds of buffalo, sometimes numbering thousands. Several prides of lion follow their prey around and hyaenas are common. Leopard are plentiful but as with everywhere, difficult to see. The woodland areas are quieter but home to more unsual species such as sable and roan antelope. One of the most spectacular dry season sights is that of hundreds of hippos jostling for space in the shrinking pools of water. The waterways also have many crocodiles and masses of birdlife including large flocks of waders and storks.
