Mbali Mbali Katavi

Set in the centre of Katavi National Park, Mbali Mbali Katavi Lodge overlooks the Katisunga plains in western Tanzania's Rukwa region. Ten safari tents occupy this remote sector of the park; six are configured as doubles with one king bed, two as twins with two single beds, and two as family units sleeping three. Each tent carries a writing desk, en-suite shower, and private verandah or deck. Mosquito nets drape over beds; pure cotton linen is standard. Herds cross the immediate terrain throughout the day.

The lodge operates a communal dining room and bar with a library corner. Solar batteries charge devices; mobile connectivity extends to most areas of the property. The camp closes from 1 March through 31 May each year. Three meals—dinner, breakfast, and lunch or packed lunch—are included in the stay, with three complimentary beverages per meal while dining on site: water, soft drinks, and beer. Laundry service is provided.

Game drives in four-wheel-drive vehicles focus on the woodland tracts bordering seasonal lakes where concentrations of large mammals gather. Morning and late-afternoon departures run daily; full-day drives are available. Night drives track nocturnal species after dark. Pelicans assemble in flotillas on the lakes during the wet months. Wildlife in Katavi habituates slowly to vehicles; encounters tend to be close. The park receives fewer visitors than Tanzania's northern circuit reserves.