Chada, Lodge, Luxury, Katavi, Tanzania, Safari, Walking

Katavi National Park is one of the greatest wildlife experiences on the planet. Miles from anywhere, there are very few visitors and game behaves rather differently than in more frequented locales. Wonderfully diverse and un-touched, the pinnacle of African safaris can be found at Chada.

The first camp in over a million wild acres, Chada’s guy ropes were first hammered in over ten years ago. Since then the camp has evolved into a rather civilised base from which to expore this amazing and mysterious lost land.

Only six guest tents are hidden amongst the Acacia and Tamarind groves on a spit of land lying along the edge of the Chada grasslands. Campaign-style luxury awaits in the shape of hand-made wooden furniture, woven rugs and crisp white Eqyptian cotton. Bathrooms are traditional safari design in wood and porcelain and the tents are very spacious and airy - private verandahs, soft cushions and a real luxury of space between everything ensures privacy and personal enjoyment of this wild land. In the centre, the mess tent is very comfortable and the bar tent and library are at guests’ disposal - lamplight glitters on the silver and glassware and leather creaks a hospitable welcome.

Katavi is one of the last great African wildernesses with hugely varied terrain and the game here behaves rather differently to more frequented parks. It is widely recognised by safari aficionados as one of the pinnacles of African adventure and, whereas the Serengeti saw more than 200,000 visitors in 2005, only 160 intrepid adventurers made it to Katavi.

Here the last great herds of Buffalo, up to several thousand head, mass on the plains and the rivers groan with hippo and crocodile. Everywhere are animals grazing, fighting, hunting and bellowing in this incredibly wild country seemingly unaffected by any knowledge of man. Fly camping or game walking are the best ways to get around this country where there are the minimum of roads and everywhere the endemic, architectural Star Chestnut stands out white aginst the verdant backdrop.

Back at Chada in the evening, guests watch elephant strolling past with other animals, heading for the river - there is a telescope just by the camp fire - and with binoculars at the ready and sundowner in hand, one feels like a true pioneer, carrying memories to last a lifetime.