Mbali Mbali Katavi

an unusually remote safari location

Mbali Mbali Katavi is located in the Katavi area of western Tanzania.

This property is Mbali Mbali Katavi (previously known as Katuma Camp) is owned and operated by Mbali Mbali, a safari company which, very unusually, was founded in Kigoma on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

Mbali Mbali Camp is certainly the most substantial and arguably the most conventionally comfortable property in the remote Katavi National Park.

When it was first established here around 2008, it was called Katuma Camp, but was renamed to bring it into line with the other properties from the same stable.

The lodge is pleasantly situated a couple of kilometres north of the airstrip, vaguely overlooking the main floodplain. It comprises a substantial main building, raised up to try to make the most of the views and fronted by a swimming pool.

When Chada Camp is either too expensive or fully booked, it’s a straight shootout between this property and the nearby Katavi Wildlife Camp.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Mbali Mbali Katavi is in nine units, which take the form of tents under thatched roofs, each with an indoor bathroom and elevated verandah …

• Tent : x8
• Sable Suite : x1 : with two bedrooms

Activities

Mbali Mbali Katavi provides the following guided activities, not all of which are usually included in the price …

• Vehicle safari
• Walking safari
• Bush meals
• Night vehicle safari : may not be permitted

Katavi tends to feature in an extremely low proportion of trips to Tanzania. It tends to appeal mainly to very experienced safari travellers, who have a very generous budget and plenty of time. Almost everyone combines with the chimpanzee reserve of Mahale Mountains.

The usual stay duration is 3-4 nights, depending on the flight schedules.

Seasonality

The best time of year for safari in Katavi is generally considered to be the Jul-Oct dry season, when the animals converge on the floodplains.

Getting there

Despite its remoteness, Katavi National Park is relatively easy to access, with light aircraft schedules coming in from parks in the north and south of the country to the local Ikuu Airstrip, usually twice per week during the main safari seasons.

Your safari vehicle and guide is provided by the camp in which you are staying.

such an iconic and yet elusive safari location