Palahala, Katavi, Luxury lodge, Safari, Tanzania

Katavi is the African bush of fifty years ago - wild, deserted and utterly beautiful. In the Park, Palahala tented camp is a gem, combining perfect position, extraordinary comfort and the pinnacle of service and guiding quality with warm hospitality.

Palahala overlooks a pool and rapids on a river in Katavi National Park, over an hour’s drive to the nearest camp and with more a feel of wilderness than almost any other lodge in Africa. Katavi is in the south-western region of Tanzania, just over the mountains from Lake Tanganyika and although buffalo mass in herds of thousands and hippo and crocodiles fill the rivers, hardly anyone makes the long journey to visit. The rewards for those who do are exceptional for this is Africa of fifty years ago and the game and park bear very little sign of human habituation.

Palahala combines this wilderness with the perfect blend of tented sophistication and delightfully surprising touches of bush luxury. Fitting in perfectly with its natural surroundings the camp consists of six spacious tents, well spread out along the river to one side of the enormous, custom-made mess tent and boma. Huge beds, writing desk, wardrobes, verandah seating and en suite bucket shower bathrooms are all the luxurious comforts one needs when hot water is always to hand and a bottle of perfectly chilled house wine is conveniently within reach.

Delicious breakfast buffets are presented in candle-warmed terracotta and accompanied with fruit, cereals and juice. Suppers served under the stars or in the mess are preceded by apertifs in the boma and accompanied by lion booms and hippo grumblings. The wilds and the wonderfully-run camp contrast and comliment each other so well that each is thrown into greater relief as a result - the principle of the luxury safari.

Katavi is so un-touched that there are only a few roads cut in the park and we have not before found one in which the country is so varied - permanent rivers and water holes, sand drifts, huge open plains, palm groves and forests. The real way to get to grips with things is on foot and Palahala is taking the lead in pioneering the walking safari. Not perhaps for the first time safari-goer (things work a little differently here and are always exciting as a result) the quality of guiding is second to none and the safari experience incredibly rewarding. Wild Africa awaits in Katavi and is perfectly tempered by Palahala and its wonderfully luxurious comforts.