Visiting Kigosi National Park

Western Tanzania Tours and Safaris

KIGOSI NATIONAL PARK
Kigosi was established as a national park in 2019. It is 8265 km2 in area and is part of the Moyowosi/Malagarasi wetlands complex which is the largest in East Africa
In fact, it is the part of the vast shallow basin drained by 7 slow-moving rivers, the Malagarasi, Moyowosi, Nikonga, Ugalla, Kigosi, and Gombe . that wind sinuous pats through an immense and complicated network of swamps, lain lakes, and woodlands. These rivers eventually join up to the Malagarasi River which empties into Lake Tanganyika at Ilagala. The whole system is more than 92,000sq.Km.in the area which makes it larger than the whole of Portugal! It has been estimated that it supplies almost 30% of lake Tanganyika`s freshwater.
The whole area has been designated a wetland of international importance(Ramses site)
Kigosi National park is at the northeast of the complex where shallow undulating Miombo woodlands are drained by the Nikonga River as it joins the complexities of the Moyowosi Wetlands.
This is all challenging terrain and has ensured that large parts have hardly ever been visited or explored, and being Africa is endowed with an extravagant quantity and quality of wildlife. It is home to Africa`s largest population of that rare and somewhat sinister stork, the shoebill, as tall and elegant watt led crane. There are huge flocks of pygmy geese (probably Africa`s largest). The Moyowosi wetlands also have Africa`s largest population of cape clawless otters. Big game abounds Lion, Leopard, buffalo, crocodile, topi, zebra, sable, roan, eland, bushbuck, oribi, common and Bohor reedbuck, hyena, hippo, and Defacer waterbuck.
The terrain is fascinating. Miombo woodlands fringe grassy flood plains dotted with palm trees that surrounding huge lakes and swamps many of which carry floating palm and papyrus islands. The water is gin clear. Many of the lions prides here have learned to chase buffalo into shallow swamps and to kill them by drowning before dragging them out to dismember and eat.