The park spreads over a surface of 4471 square kilometres (1726 square miles) and is the third-largest national park in Tanzania. The park includes the Katuma River and the seasonal floodplains Lake Katavi and Lake Chada.

There is a lot of wildlife to be found here, like buffalo, zebras, giraffes and elephants. In addition, you can spot crocodiles and hippos in and along the Katuma-river, where mud pools are formed in the yearly dry seasons. There are also cheetah’s, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards and lions. You will come across fewer visitors and jeeps in Katavi than in other Tanzanian Parks.