Katavi National Park is one of Tanzania’s most remote and least-visited wilderness areas, tucked away in the far southwest of the country and known for wildlife concentrations that rival the busier northern parks without the crowds. During the dry season, shrinking pools along the Katuma River and in the Katisunga floodplain draw huge numbers of hippo and crocodile, along with elephant, buffalo and predators.

The park’s isolation has kept it largely undeveloped, and its seasonal rivers and open floodplains create dramatic gatherings of wildlife as water becomes scarce elsewhere in the landscape. Sightings here can feel markedly different from more visited parks, with game drives often covering long distances without encountering other vehicles.

Katavi is reached by scheduled flight or a long overland journey into western Tanzania, and its remoteness makes it best suited to travellers who have visited Tanzania before and are seeking a genuinely off-the-beaten-path safari experience.