Katavi Safari

gKatavi is Tanzania's most remote national park and one of the best kept secrets on East Africa's safari circuit. Located in the west towards Lake Tanganyika, its great distance by appalling roads from Arusha and any other park has undoubtedly saved it from becoming a run-of-the-mill African safari destination. It only receives a handful of visitors each year; the only option is to fly in and there is only one camp.

Thousands of plains game roam freely in this untouched wilderness that truly belongs to the animals. It is said to have the highest concentration of buffalo in Africa and herds are 3000 strong. Elephant numbers are good as it has not been affected by poaching, and hundreds of monstrous crocodile and hippo cram the seasonal rivers.

Katavi is one of the few remaining game reserves in Africa where you can expect to meet more lions than people. Inexplicably, Katavi is also home to vast quantities of mice, especially around the edge of Chada flood plain.

A Katavi Safari is really off the beaten track and is perfect for the explorer who wants to get into the wilds of Africa. Accommodation is at Chada Camp, the sister camp to Greystoke Camp, in Mahale National Park; both are linked by plane on a Tanzania flying safari.