Fly Camping in Katavi

By Gabriel Mushi - Guide, Chada Katavi

Some clients, who visit Chada Katavi, go fly-camping as well whereby rather than sleeping at the base camp, you go out in the bush and fly-camp in the chosen site. 

There are several spots depending on the season and time of the year. One of the spots is Chem Chem area which overlooks the Katisunga Plain, the biggest plain in the park.  Since my arrival, I have done several fly-camping in different spots and the one we did at Chem Chem area was fabulous.  We arrived at the spot at around 6:30 and near the spot we saw almost 400-600 Cape bull buffaloes grazing slowly while herding into the woodland and several elephants.  We saw a lot of birds as well and the sundowner was spectacular.

The sizable tents that we slept in allowed us to look at the sky and enjoy stars and the sky was very clear.  At the midnight we could hear lion roaring from a distance and two spotted hyena, chasing each other, went right into our camping area while making a lot of calls and startled everyone. 

Our waking up call was well covered by African morning doves with their “work harder” familiar wildlife sound and “booming” sound of a Southern ground hornbill.  After waking up we did a short walk in the plain and in the woodland to see who visited us during the night by examining the tracks and signs. 

It is a nice experience and still looking for more. 

A Hidden Paradise

by Frederick James Kissenga – Guide, Chada Katavi

First of all, I think perhaps there is some truth about the adage which says that the use of travelling from one region to another is to regulate the imagination by reality instead of thinking how things may be.

Now you have an opportunity to explore so many wonders of Katavi.  Let me say that Katavi is a true hidden paradise.  The best place, where there is wide variety, Katavi National Park offers endless wilderness, and that is the true quality of Africa.

It would be true to say that I have been to many places, and I have guided in other national parks, but Katavi is the only place where I am enjoying a true taste of wilderness.

Providing sanctuary for a significant range of species of flora and fauna, this is the land of the glistening, pure white star chestnut tree, the flat topped acacia trees which Africa is famous for, and the marula tree which yields a fruit used by wildlife for food and by man to make a liquer.

I have already seen the birding Big Five in Katavi, the huge Ground Hornbill, the Martial Eagle which is Africa’s biggest bird of prey, the splendidly coloured Saddle-billed Stork, the giant Lappet-faced Vulture, and even Pel’s Fishing owl, a rare sight indeed.

I would like to say that whoever feels like enjoying nature, Katavi is here for you.  I myself am looking forward to discovering a lot more.

A lizard fights for its life

by Frank Japhet, Nomad Scout – Chada Katavi

Last week when we were on our way to Paradise Plain, we saw a Lizard Buzzard perched on a tree branch, holding in its talons none other than its preferred special diet, a lizard.

We noticed that the lizard was still alive and was trying to bite the buzzard’s legs in order to save itself from certain death.

We stopped there for a few minutes to watch the fight, but in the end the Lizard Buzzard killed the lizard using its short, sharp, curved bill to chop the lizard’s head.

Although the Lizard Buzzard feeds mainly on lizards, they also may eat small snakes, frogs, rodents, small birds and even grasshoppers. 

The most interesting part of this sighting was to watch how the lizard faught back against the buzzard, even though it seemed obvious that it was a losing battle.

A master of venom

By Philip Pendaeli, Guide - Chada Katavi

No doubt that whenever you mention the name Black Mamba, in most people you may change the atmosphere of their mind.  The black mamba is an open woodland and savannah snake, mostly occurring from sea level up to 1600 metres and can grow up to 3 metres long.  It is Africa’s most venomous snake.

Black mambas have always had a bad reputation for being dangerous, attacking and killing within a few minutes.  I have witnessed myself that if you respect and do not molest a mamba, you will be okay with this snake.  It will attack in self defense if it is cornered and has no way out.

It happened one day having a bush lunch with clients under a line of palm trees.  I saw a snake in the distance coming towards us from behind and I waited til it got close enough to where we were sitting, then I asked my clients to gently turn around so they could see it.  “Oh my god, it’s scary!  More than two metres long!”  Quickly the snake disappeared in the bush.

The best way to be around snakes is to stay calm, don’t provoke it, respect it and you will be fine with this master of venom.