Remote and wild, Katavi is a true pristine wilderness, providing adventurous travelers who head there a taste of 'old' Africa as it must have been before European expansion into Africa. Its Tanzania's third largest national park and is situated in the southwest of the country within the Rift Valley. The focal point is Lake Rukwa and the Katuma River which host an extremely high density of hippos that congregate in the waters. Great herds of buffalo and huge elephant populations roam the land and good predator activity and rewarding birding make this a park worth getting to. Its far away from the crowds of the northern circuit (Serengeti & Ngorongoro) and has a few boutique camps and lodges offering an authentic African wilderness experience.