The history and past of the Burigi-Chato National Park may be found in the 1970s, when it was given the title of National Game Reserve. Burigi Chato, which was declared a national park in 2019, is Tanzania’s fourth-largest park with a total area of 4,707 square kilometers. Burigi Chato is a vast area of wild land that stretches from Lake Victoria in the east to the Rwandan border in the west. It is home to freshwater lakes, long hills, rocky crags along escarpments, deeply set valleys lined with forest, open plains, swamps, rivers, flood plains, and hundreds of square kilometers of medium-and tall-grass wooded savanna, mostly Combretum and Terminalia known as Miombo.
One of the main draws of this national park is Lake Burigi, the third-largest lake in the nation. It is a long lake with numerous islands, inlets, and bays scattered throughout. Some of them are swampy, and they are home to the unique sitatunga antelope and, presumably, the extremely rare shoebill stork.
All of the lakes are situated along winding valleys that are mostly vegetated with trees and a few palm trees. They offer peaceful and lovely locations for camping and modest cottages, as well as fantastic boating and waterborne game viewing opportunities. This place exudes the feeling of a wild, uninhabited place that would take a lifetime to fully explore and discover all of its secrets. It is a must-visit as part of the Tanzania Safari Tour because of its diversity and richness of wildlife, which includes rare bird species as well as carnivores and herbivores.
Burigi-Chato National Park Location
This national park, which is near the borders of Lake Victoria and Rwanda, is encircled by the magnificent waters of the Kagera River and Lake Burigi. All year long, Burigi Chato National Park locations are busy with visitors eager to take in the breathtaking beauty of the region.
Climate and weather
There are two rainfall peaks in this region of East Africa. One occurs in November/December, the other in March/April, and from June to September, there is dry weather. It is a lovely temperature, with mild nights and warm days. Since the weather is dry from June to October, wildlife will be progressively more concentrated around the lakes and the numerous freshwater springs spread across the park. The start of the green season coincides with the first rains in October, but most locations are accessible due to the mountainous terrain and stony soils, and wildlife is dispersed across various tiny plains and green, forested valleys.
How to get there from Burigi Chato National Park
You can fly to Chato airport from Mwanza or the Kagera region (Bukoba) to reach the national park. You can take a taxi from there to Burigi National Park; the trip will take about 5 hours. The park is also accessible by a number of public and private transportation options.
Wildlife at Burigi-Chato National Park
Elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, waterbuck, eland, warthog, roan, topi, impala, sable, and many other smaller species are among the numerous wildlife species that are becoming more numerous throughout the park. Oribi is also typically encountered. The species that lives in swamps, the sitatunga, is less common. On game drives, one can see the big cats: lion, leopard, and cheetah. In the lakes and rivers, there are also a lot of crocodiles and hippos.
What to expect in Burigi Chato National Park
When visiting Burigi Chato National Park, visitors can expect seeing a wide variety of natural scenery and stunning mountainous terrain. Additionally, you can view a wide range of animals, protected biological systems, and stunning lakes.
What to do in Burigi Chato National Park
There are different activities to do in Burigi Chato National Park. Some of them are:
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Game Drive
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Walking safari
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Canoeing in Lake Burigi
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Camping safari
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Photographic Safari
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Honeymoon Safari
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Birding safari
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Nature hiking
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Cultural safari
Planning a safari tour to Tanzania’s Burigi-Chato National Park?
A wildlife safari/trip to Africa is an experience unlike any other, and Tanzania is a well-known location for learning about the savanna’s mysteries. To organize, plan and arrange unforgettable safari trip to Burigi-Chato National Park, get in touch with us.
