50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wild and remote - But illegal fishing has scared lions away
I just returned from Katavi National Park. I stayed there for 5 nights. I have been traveling around Africa's best wildlife viewing areas for over 10 years. Katavi was one of my dream parks to visit due to it's remoteness and wildness. There has been a lot of recent chatter about Katavi and even a new BBC special. I figured I needed to get there before the secret gets out.
Late in the dry season, this park has herds of buffalo 1000 to 2000 strong that you can see on the Chada Plain and the Katisunga Plain. There are also large herds of topi, waterbuck, and zebra. In the rivers (what's left in the dry season) are large pods of hippos and scores of huge crocs. Elephants are plentiful and I saw the most giraffes of any place I have been around Africa.
There are other antelope that are commonly seen such as impala and bushbuck. On the very remote Paradise Plain, I saw the most amount of reedbuck of any park that I have been to as well. Other antelope seen were Eland and Roan.
I was pleasantly surprised with 4 leopard sightings. One of which we had all to ourselves. The others there was just one other vehicle of guests from the camp we were staying at.
Birding was very good.
Katavi used to be a park where lions were frequently seen. The Chada pride had been the one pride seen often by the few visitors that visit this park. Things have changed though and it is worth noting. The pride males of the Chada pride have been chased off by new males. These new males are extremely shy. There has also been an increase in illegal fishing in the park and this has pushed lions into the more remote sections of the park. Over 5 nights we were very fortunate to have one sighting of 4 lions (2 lionesses and a younger male and female sibling pair). According to our guide, this had only been the 3rd lion sighting over the last 2+ weeks. For a month before that, there were no lion sightings.
The wildness of Katavi is what makes this park special, but when lions become wary of humans, they have a lot of places to go and wildlife to hunt far away from people.
That being said, I would definitetly recommend visiting Katavi. We had several days where we did not see another safari vehicle, especially when we traveled 40 kms into the very remote Paradise Plain.
Getting to Katavi is a commitment and not cheap. Bush flights into the park happen only twice a week. You can also fly to Mpanda located 2 hours north of the park on Air Tanzania. You would have to arrange transport into the park depending on which of the only three camps in the park offers that service.
Because lion sightings have become inconsistent, you should include a stay of at least 4 or 5 nights at Ruaha where lion sightings are much more consistent (3 days out of 4 on this trip).
I can only hope TANAPA continues their efforts towards reigning in the illegal fishing (villagers will walk 20 kms during the night to fish and actively scare lions away). Since Katavi is not one of the premier parks in the country, funding is always going to be a challenge. Had lion sightings continued to be consistent, this would surely be one of my favorite parks in Africa.
The companies with camps in Katavi should be more forthcoming about the lion situation in Katavi. According to my guide, the situation of illegal fishing has been increasing since 2022. If you are a first time safari goer, definitely include Ruaha on your itinerary. I recommend Nomad Tanzania for Ruaha. I recommend Nomad-Tanzania or Foxes Safari Camps in Katavi.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by Tom
The reason I give Tanzania 4 stars is the over-tourism occurring in the Serengeti and the Ngoronogoro Crater and Conservation Area. Tarangire is creeping up towards the realm of losing its quiet charm as well.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely unforgettable Safari experience with Lion King Adventures
Everything about our safari (5 nights / 6 days in Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti) planned, managed and executed by Lion King Adventures was simply perfect.
During the initial planning phase, they provided outstanding support in designing our safari. They offered complete flexibility to customize the itinerary according to our preferences while also providing valuable suggestions and advice that ultimately resulted in a perfect travel plan. Special thanks to Riziki, who assisted us throughout this phase.
Before the trip, everything was handled in a clear, simple and professional manner by the post-booking team, especially Nickson, who always communicated promptly and clearly, giving us great confidence in the excellent organization of the safari.
The safari itself was truly a dream experience.
All the accommodations were exceptional, and the people hosting us were incredibly friendly and welcoming. We always felt at home. The locations, which we already expected to be beautiful, exceeded our expectations by far. The food was also excellent, both at dinner in the lodges and during lunch breaks in the bush. Instead of the usual lunch boxes, we were always served delicious hot meals prepared by the lodges, which made the experience even more enjoyable.
The jeep was beautiful, comfortable and perfectly maintained. I was particularly impressed by its ability to absorb the bumps and roughness of the off-road tracks. The interior was spotless, very clean and all seats were equipped with comfortable cushions that made long game drives much more enjoyable. In addition, hand sanitizer, charging outlets and a refrigerator stocked with plenty of cold water and soft drinks were always available, making every journey extremely comfortable.
Finally, our guide Mkwanda was the true highlight of our safari. Thanks to him, we were able to see all of the Big Five, as well as countless other animals and breathtaking landscapes. From the very beginning, he made us feel comfortable and at ease. We particularly appreciated his approach: highly professional, yet friendly, polite and approachable. He was not only an outstanding guide but also an excellent driver, always able to position the vehicle in exactly the right place for the best wildlife sightings. He was also a great planner, giving us flexibility in organizing our days while providing clear and well-reasoned guidance whenever needed. Thanks to his careful planning, we always reached the lodges before sunset, allowing us time to relax and fully enjoy these beautiful places after a full day of game drives.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Mkwanda and the entire Lion King Adventures team to anyone planning a safari in Northern Tanzania. It was truly one of the best travel experiences of my life.
5/5 – absolutely unforgettable.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Organized, knowledgeable, reliable and respectful of our needs and concerns.
The entire trip exceeded our expectations. The schedule was a good blend of Safari days and cultural activities. Our guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and easy to communicate with. The proximity to the animals was amazing and the pictures we were able to get were awesome. We got the “Big 5” and plenty of other unique animals. The Tanzania Choice Safari company managed all the logistics without a hiccup and delivered a trip of a lifetime.
Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari Adventure
Our trip was so much better than anticipated. Sameer was so knowledgeable about reserves, animals, villages, culture, and any other questions we threw at him.
We planned our trip around migration and were excited to see as many animals as we did! Elephants, giraffes, zebras, cheetah, lions leopard, and so many more. Sameer knew just where to take us.
Highly recommend.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Worth it
The tour was a memory that will last a lifetime. I’m happy with my experience and I highly recommend them Gilbert and Peter were fun and motivational. The feeling of making it to the peak was unlike any other. 10 out of 10.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unbeatable Kenya Safari Experience with Top Trips!
My friend and I from Belgium recently booked an 11-day safari through Top Trips Tours and Travel, and it exceeded our expectations in every way. The itinerary took us through seven incredible parks—Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Aberdare, Amboseli, Tsavo West, and Tsavo East. It was easily the most memorable trip we’ve ever taken, offering incredible service and comfort for a very reasonable price.
We had a private Toyota Land Cruiser to ourselves for the entire journey. The setup was fantastic: extremely comfortable, fast Wi-Fi, plenty of power outlets to keep our devices charged, and even an onboard fridge stocked with drinks throughout the trip. One great feature we didn't expect was that the car came equipped with six small pairs of binoculars for passengers. If we had known that earlier, we wouldn't have spent money buying our own before leaving—so save your cash and use theirs!
A huge part of what made this trip so special was our guide, Patrick. As a Kenyan local, his fluency in the language saved us a ton of time skipping long entry queues at the park gates. He has years of experience driving these routes, knows every track by heart, and has a deep understanding of the local wildlife. Thanks to his quick radio communication with other guides, he always knew where the animals were and managed to get us to key sightings before the crowds arrived.
Given the rough terrain across seven national parks, we did run into a couple of minor vehicle hiccups—three flat tires and a quick stop to fix the brakes. While we lost a small amount of game-drive time waiting on maintenance, Patrick handled everything smoothly and professionally to keep us safe.
Despite those small delays, the overall experience was exceptional. If you want a well-organized, high-value, and authentic safari in Kenya, Top Trips Tours and Travel is the way to go!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An exceptional safari thanks to the guides, despite a mechanical issue.
We had a fantastic experience and a safari we will never forget!
A huge thank you to Dikson, who was excellent throughout the trip. He knew exactly where to find the animals, took us to the best spots, and drove us safely and professionally for the entire safari.
Martin, our French-speaking guide, was also wonderful: very friendly, passionate, and always available to answer our questions. He introduced us to the local culture and a few words of the local language, and shared a wealth of knowledge about the animals and their environment.
Dikson and Martin make a great team and played a huge part in making this experience exceptional. Thanks to them, we are leaving with memories that will last a lifetime.
The only slight downside was the 4x4 vehicle; it was showing its age and unfortunately suffered a mechanical issue during the safari. This cost us about half a day in the Serengeti while the situation was being resolved—which was a bit frustrating given the precious time spent in the park. A newer or more reliable vehicle would really make the experience perfect.
Despite this hiccup, we have wonderful memories of the safari—and especially of the guidance provided by Dikson and Martin. We warmly thank them for their professionalism, kindness, and everything they shared with us.
(automatic translation from French)
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well organized and experienced their
Their services are good,
Customer care, indeed they are paramount as their name,
There is no time to waste on their side,
The customers needs are their wishes.
It's really safe to travel with them
CA
The most amazing, adventurous trip ever !
This was the most amazing trip from beginning to end. The coordinators organizing the travel package were so helpful and approachable. Our tour guide Evance was simply the best, kind, very knowledgeable, and tailored the trip to our wanted experience, would recommend him as a guide to all. Overall, 11/10 experience and a trip of a lifetime ! Very thankful to Ozon for arranging it to perfection.