The Original Katavi Camp
Katavi National Park, in the far west of Tanzania, is somewhere that, even today, few people have been lucky enough to visit. Perhaps because of this, it feels untouched almost like traveling back in time; Chada Katavi sits in the midst of this truly wild place.
Fri, Jul 5, 2013
Unexpected Visitor!
This little beauty is a Green Night Adder I found outside my office! It was the first time for me to see this specimen so was really exciting. They have a relatively small and scattered distribution in central, east and west africa, so to see one is a real bonus! Snakes are wonderful to photograph, especially slower sluggish ones like this and guests in camp enjoyed the photo shoot!
Fri, Jul 5, 2013
Back in Camp after the Rains
Chada Katavi is back up and running after the rainy season. Rivers are still flowing strongly, however the vegetation already seems to be wilting, the dry season is underway. The camp has undergone several small changes, bringing on a fresh feel, as a semi-permanent camp should! The panaromic views from the new library deck tends to lure people in, with elephant and buffalo often speckling the canvas. Standby for some pics of an unexpected visitor to my office!
Tue, Dec 18, 2012
What Goes Bump in the Night? AFRICAN CIVET!
The bandit has been caught...well that is on the night camera at least. The African Civet is mainly a nocturnal animal and generally solitary. The African Civet is one of the secret seven that can be hard to see and even photograph. It seems as though we have a resident one here that has been caught not only on camera but guests have been treated to sightings while having dinner and on the pathway to their tents.
Till Next Time Justin Stevens & Jacky Collett-Stevens
Fri, Nov 30, 2012
The Life Line Flows Again!
Another dry season has come and gone. The Katuma river, which starts outside the north end of the park, and feeds both Lake Katavi, and all the way down to Lake Chada, is the life line of the park. The river has started to flow again. The energy of the park has changed, a sense of relief for all! Happy hippos and baby impalas are everywhere.
Till Next Time Justin Stevens & Jacky Collett-Stevens
Sat, Nov 24, 2012
What Goes Bump In The Night? ... Take 3!
Whether it is big or small with the night camera up and ready for action nothing can escape it. Even if the night is a rare quiet one there is always something going bump in the night. Our big friendly giants are famous for moving through with loud thrashing of trees together with grumbles that leave guests wondering what they are hearing. Then there is the nights where our friends try and sneak through camp unnoticed...except for being caught on the night camera!
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Stay tune to see "What Goes Bump In the Night" here at Chada Katavi.
Till Next Time Justin Stevens & Jacky Collett-Stevens
Thu, Nov 15, 2012
Tree Climbing Lions of Katavi
With Tanzania national parks like the Serengeti and Lake Manyara being known for a rare chance to see a tree climbing lion you can add katavi to the list. There are theory’s surrounding why lions climb trees, some say it is to get away from the heat of the ground and catch a nice breeze while others say it is the lions way of getting away from those tsetse flies. Whatever the reason is lions are climbing trees here in Katavi. We had seen six in one tree near the start of the season and were not sure if it was a once off event, but since then there has been more sights including our guide Paulo Siololo who came across this lioness who was posing and feeling very comfortable (almost like a leopard) up in a tree.
Thanks to Chada Katavi guide Paulo Siololo for these great pictures!
Till next time Justin & Jacky
Wed, Nov 7, 2012
What Goes Bump in the Night?....Take 2!
As we continue to try and catch those who go bump in the night around camp, we always get excited when we check the camera and there are pictures ready to down load. This time we caught 1 of our 5 resident bush bucks. They work as our local alarm system as they move around camp in the evenings and alert us every time a predator comes through camp.
Stay tuned for more of "What Goes Bump in the Night" around Chada.
Till Next Time Justin & Jacky
Tue, Nov 6, 2012
Nothing too Big or too Much For a Lions Meal
The lions of Katavi have been eating no stop. Between the Chada pride and the Katisunga Pride of lions they have been feasting. In 4 nights the Chada pride took down 3 buffalo!
While the dry conditions have been hard on the hippos the prides have been getting there fill of hippo meat as well. Sometimes it has been an unlucky hippo who lost the battle against another hippo or the lions taking advantage of a hippo with no water for safety.
Even an elephant passing on from natural causes only last two days for the lions.
Well there is one thing for sure here in Katavi and that is there is plenty of food for our growing lions
Special Thanks to the Chada Katavi guides Samwel Turoto & Paulo Siololo for the pictures
Till Next Time Justin & Jacky
Wed, Oct 31, 2012
“Chip-cherrrrrrrrrr” Summer is Here!
Sun, Oct 28, 2012
What Goes Bump In The Night?.... Take 1
There is always those unidentified noises in camp, from the rustling in the leaves to something running past a tent along with those indescribable sounds that keeps one wondering what it was . Well we have decided to have some fun here in camp and with an infra red camera we have decided to try and catch “what goes bump in the night” around Chada Katavi. We will be placing the camera in numerous positions throughout camp trying to catch all those tiny or giant night movers.
Up first is the one and only, most famous night mover the spotted hyaena.
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Stay tuned for the next "what goes bump in night" @ Chada Katavi.
Till next time Justin & Jacky
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