Katavi National Park Hero

ABOUT KATAVI NATIONAL PARK

Tanzania’s Last Great Wilderness

WELCOME

KATAVI NATIONAL PARK

Remote and raw, Katavi protects vast floodplains of the Katuma River, Lake Chada and Lake Katavi. As the dry season deepens, wildlife gathers in extraordinary numbers—massive buffalo herds, dense hippo pods, crocodiles along shrinking pools, and prides of lion staking the open plains. With few vehicles and big skies, Katavi feels like Africa from another time.

PARK

MANAGEMENT

Commanding Officer

COMMANDING

OFFICER

FIRST M. SURNAME

first.surname@tanzaniaparks.go.tz

PRINCIPAL CONSERVATION OFFICER (PCO)

PCO Conservation & Business

PCO - CONSERVATION &

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

FIRST M. SURNAME

first.surname@tanzaniaparks.go.tz

PCO Corporate Affairs

PCO - CORPORATE

AFFAIRS

FIRST M. SURNAME

first.surname@tanzaniaparks.go.tz

HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS

Department Head 1

SCO - HUMAN RESOURCE

FIRST M. SURNAME

first.surname@tanzaniaparks.go.tz

Department Head 2

COI - LAW ENFORCEMENT

FIRST M. SURNAME

first.surname@tanzaniaparks.go.tz

Department Head 3

COII - PROCUREMENT & SUPPLY

FIRST M. SURNAME

first.surname@tanzaniaparks.go.tz

Department Head 4

COI - INTERNAL AUDIT

FIRST M. SURNAME

first.surname@tanzaniaparks.go.tz

HISTORY

KATAVI NATIONAL PARK

History of Katavi

Katavi lies in western Tanzania and was gazetted as a national park in 1974. The park is named after a revered spirit, Katabi, whose tamarind tree is a local cultural site. The core landscape is a network of seasonal rivers, lakes and floodplains that explode with life as water recedes.

Isolation has preserved a rare sense of wilderness: immense herds, little traffic, and unbroken horizons. Conservation and community partnerships support anti-poaching, habitat protection, and responsible tourism that benefits the wider Rukwa and Mpanda area.

Why Visit Katavi National Park?

🐃 Spectacular Dry-Season Concentrations — buffalo, elephant and plains game flock to shrinking pools.

🦛 Hippos & Crocodiles — famous for crowded hippo pools and enormous crocs basking along the Katuma River.

🦁 Classic Predators — lion and hyena patrol the floodplains; wild, open-country encounters.

🚗 Low Visitor Numbers — intimate, off-the-beaten-path experiences in a truly wild setting.

CONSERVATION

GOALS

Our priorities include safeguarding migratory routes and floodplain water sources, strengthening ranger presence, working with surrounding communities, and promoting low-impact, high-value tourism that sustains Katavi’s ecology and cultural heritage.

Newsletter

Stay Connected to TANAPA Updates

Get highlights, announcements, and featured stories delivered to your inbox.