Katavi's Plain of Amazement

By Emmanuel Moshi, Guide - Chada Katavi

This is Katisunga Plain which is 425 sq km. This extra-ordinary plain looks like the endless plains of the Serengeti. The difference is that the Serengeti plain occurred as a  result of the volcanic eruptions which cooled and created a hard pan which does not allow tree roots to attach. But in Katisunga the area is surrounded by the black cotton soils that hold a lot of water in the wet season, which causes the roots of the trees to rot and not grow. However, the edges of the plain are surrounded by a long chain of borrassus palms.

The area has been a key point for finding different game. The area serves many animals such as topis, which depend on the termite mounds to advertise their territory and scanning.

It also has massive herds of buffaloes that can range from 100-4000 in the same area, always being accompanied by the Katisunga North pride of 12 lions with 6 cubs. Again, it’s a good place to see hippos mudding themselves with their tails in a water hole. Zebras and giraffes supplement their diet by grazing on short grass in the plain for some of the season. 

Picture of Katisunga Plain by Peter Brack