Katavi consists of flood plains that are linked by the meandering Katuma River. The 4,471km² of remote and untamed wildlife make Katavi the third-largest wilderness area dedicated to conservation. This is home for thousands of Cape buffalo, zebras, elephants, hippos, various antelopes, crocodiles, lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and jackals. There are also endangered wild dogs, as well as some of the smaller cat family members like golden and white cats, servals, caracals, and civets. Katavi has its fair share of small animals like armored pangolins, nocturnal bush babies, mongooses, hyrax, and a diverse number of snakes, lizards, and frogs.