Burigi-Chato National Park

Burigi-Chato National Park is one of Tanzania’s newest and biggest protected areas, gazetted in 2019 from the former Burigi and Chato game reserves. Spanning roughly 4,707 km² in the far west near Lake Victoria, it remains one of the least-visited parks in the country — a genuine frontier for adventurous travellers.

The park takes its name from Lake Burigi and the Chato wetlands, a chain of lakes and marshes that threads through rolling miombo woodland and open savannah. Water is everywhere in the wet season, drawing wildlife and making the park a magnet for birds.

Because it is still young and lightly developed, Burigi-Chato offers a raw, uncrowded safari experience. Elephants move through the woodland, antelope graze the plains around the lakes, and hippos and crocodiles haunt the shallows. Birders are especially rewarded, with waterbirds, raptors and woodland species in abundance.

If you want to travel beyond the classic Northern Circuit and see a park that few visitors ever reach, Burigi-Chato is a rewarding choice — best explored as part of a wider western Tanzania itinerary.

Burigi-Chato sits on the undulating plateau of western Tanzania, not far from the shores of Lake Victoria. Its defining feature is a network of lakes, rivers and papyrus swamps, of which Lake Burigi is the largest, set among broad stretches of miombo and acacia woodland.

The terrain is gentle, with grassy plains, low hills and seasonal wetlands that flood during the rains and shrink in the dry season. This mixture of land and water creates a patchwork of habitats that supports a surprisingly wide range of species.

Because the park straddles the edge of the Lake Victoria basin, it also acts as a corridor for wildlife moving between the lake’s shores and the interior woodlands.

Burigi-Chato is a park of antelope, elephant and freshwater life rather than dense predator concentrations. It rewards travellers who enjoy quieter, more exploratory safaris.

Look for:

• Elephant — woodland herds moving between water and forage.
• Roan & sable antelope — handsome western species of the miombo belt.
• Sitatunga — a shy swamp antelope often found near the papyrus.
• Hippo and crocodile — common in the lakes and channels.
• Buffalo, zebra, topi and bushbuck — across the plains and woodland.
• Over 300 recorded birds — waterfowl, herons, kingfishers, eagles and more.

The lakes and wetlands make Burigi-Chato one of western Tanzania’s best birdwatching destinations. Papyrus swamps shelter specialist species such as the papyrus gonolek and white-winged warbler, while the open water attracts fish eagles, cormorants, herons and kingfishers.

Woodland edges add hornbills, barbets, rollers, bee-eaters and a colourful array of weavers and sunbirds. Bring binoculars — the rewards here come from patient observation.

Gazetted in 2019, Burigi-Chato is still developing its infrastructure and building its reputation. Its creation extended Tanzania’s protected area network into a region previously covered only by reserves, helping secure wildlife corridors towards Lake Victoria.

Tourism remains low, which keeps the ecological footprint small but also limits revenue. Visiting the park directly supports its growth as a conservation area and the communities who share the surrounding land.

The dry season from June to October is generally the best time to visit. Vegetation thins, wildlife concentrates near water and tracks are easier to navigate. Birding, however, is excellent in the greener months when resident and migrant species are most active.

November to May brings rain and lush scenery. Access can be limited in the heaviest downpours, so travel at this time suits flexible, well-equipped itineraries.