Extraordinary Africa>Tanzania>Mahale and Katavi>Chada Katavi
Katavi’s the sort of park that attracts rough and ready adventurers, and Chada is the perfect camp to fit with this intrepid spirit. It deliberately shirks away from the “hotel in the bush” style and remains true to the essence of a proper safari camp.
What’s Chada Katavi really like?
Tucked under the tamarind and acacia trees and looking out towards the Chada plains, Chada’s six tents are large and comfortable and seriously atmospheric- when we stayed we saw an elephant strolling past during our afternoon nap and morning coffee was delivered in monkey-proof boxes. Each tent has a wooden bed, chairs outside to enjoy your morning cuppa and a bathroom open to the skies which is connected to the tent by a reed-walled walkway. Bathrooms have traditional bucket showers and flushing eco-loos. Walking along the dusty pathways you reach the main dining area (though we ate a lot of our meals outside) and a cosy library where afternoon tea is served -if you have enough room to eat it! Most meals at Chada are eaten communally.
What can I do at Chada Katavi?
The main activities from Chada are day and night game drives, in 4×4 safari vehicles taking up to six guests at a time (private vehicles are available for an extra fee). You can also take part in a walking safari, which is an excellent way to burn off the delicious safari food, and also to notice some of the smaller details of the bush up close. For an additional fee you can also spend a night in Chada’s fly camp– this is an extraordinary adventure sleeping out in a gauze mosquito net cube, though not for the faint-hearted- our reviewer spent the entire night of her fly camp jumping at every distant hyena howl and elephant trumpet. Please let us know if you would like to do this as it needs to be pre-booked.
Giving back at Chada Katavi:
We could write an essay about the numerous ways in which the owners of Chada try to protect the wildlife and give back to the local community. Worthy of particular mention is their support for VIMA, educating children about the environment in the communities around Katavi.
Want to know more? We’ve stayed here, so just
EXTRAORDINARY AFRICA 