When we first pushed into Katavi way back, no one had signed the park guestbook for a decade; camp was three bedrolls and a fire. We went feral in the freedom of being amongst such concentrations of beasts. Though we've upgraded since then, with comparative luxuries like showers and silverware - we stay faithful to how that felt, and our outpost still sits amongst the elephants, bellowing hippos and tamarind trees.
Large, airy, spacious and classic. Our six tents at Chada Katavi lie deep in the heart of Katavi National Park.
Visitors of all shapes and sizes join us in camp at Chada Katavi.
Set under large and shady Tamarind trees, the camp sits in the heart of the action.
The location of our classic expeditionary camp in Katavi hasn't changed in 20 years.
Walking the wide Chada plain
Crocodiles aestivate in deep caves dug in the river banks in Katavi National Park.
Elephants on a morning drive
An epic moment captured right in front of camp at Chada Katavi.
Katavi has a special kind of magic that means that we live alongside wildlife as we weren't even there.
Dining al fresco in Katavi National Park. With so much space, why not?
Birdwatching from the banks of the river
Giraffe along the river line.
Photo: Henrik Egede-Larsen
The big boys of the bush.
That heart-stopping feeling of being on foot with wildlife, on their turf.
At home in the wilderness.
Set out on foot in the late afternoon, pausing to watch life happening around you.
Shedding
Health & wellbeing
Beds for Meds
We hold dentist outreach clinics to the far-flung areas of western Tanzania where oral healthcare is hard to come by. Our dentist professionals visit schools outside Katavi National Park, as well as giving the Chada staff the once over. The professional team fly into Chada, use it as their base before spreading smiles across the remote areas of western Tanzania.
Life long learning & growth
Investing in education
Using Chada as our base and Nomad vehicles for transport, we facilitate specialist teacher training workshops in the village schools surrounding Katavi National Park. The training aims to equip teachers with skills and tools to better cope with the harsh teaching environments they deal with daily.
The training was conducted by an education organisation from Arusha, The Foundation for Tomorrow. We’re delighted to join the dots for them and give them access to the remote schools in western Tanzania.
Conservation & environment
Supporting conservation partners
Based in western Tanzania, the Landscape and Conservation Mentors Organisation (LCMO) supports communities around Katavi, running conservation, environment, and education projects.
We support the LCMO with intern programmes for conservation field work, fund seat on planes and beds in camp for them and we also invest in their village ambassador programmes.
Our camps bring a safari of extraordinary contrasts. Katavi is about remote, expeditionary safaris. Mahale takes you further off the map, to meet our chimpanzee cousins. Put simply, this is the pinnacle of life-changing safaris.
For peak seasons, between 9 and 12 months ahead is wise. This can vary depending on the places and camp you'd like to visit with some filling up earlier. The best camps and guides are worth planning for.
Tanzania is a year round destination, especially in Northern Tanzania. So your visit often depends on family schedules or particular wildlife experiences on the bucket list. We love January to March in Ngorongoro and southern Serengeti Plains when the air is clear, nice temperatures and the migration arrives in town for calving season. This is an extraordinary time to be there.
Firstly, you should only tip of you genuinely feel that the service you have received warrants it. Tips are never expected, but always appreciated. Tipping amounts very much depends on your experience but we tend to work with a range of 10-15 US dollars per guest per day. Equally, it's not unusual for a family or group to pitch in slightly below this as a group tip.
Yes absolutely, Tanzania has superb transport links from the mainland to Zanzibar as well as neighbouring islands too. Many travellers choose to spend some time in the wild on safari before heading to the coast for some R&R.
Sundowners are a wonderful part of safari life. At the end of your day in the bush, its time to kick back and celebrate the sightings, the adventures and time with your loved ones. All with something cold in hand!
Quiet, wild and wonderfully different. Enjoy your festive dinners under the stars with lion calls in the distance - what a gift for the family.
Early starts with golden light as the bush awakens, and a fresh cup of coffee by the morning camp fire. Either breakfast in camp or take a bush breakfast to go. Enjoy early morning game drives to observe wildlife before the day gets too hot. In the heat of the day, find a shady spot for a siesta go. After tea, its time for an afternoon foray and sundowners with a view. Evenings are quiet, firelit, and full of stars.
Yes we do have WI-FI at our camps - in the most remote locations the Wi-Fi can be limited to your tent or the main mess. We try to keep wi-fi in the tents so the mess and lounge area continue to be social and communal areas.