Bordered to the west by the Selinda Wildlife Reserve, to the east by Chobe National Park, and to the north by the Linyanti River, Linyanti Swamp system and Namibia, is the remote and inaccessible private safari concession NG15, aka, the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve.

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve gets its name from the Linyanti River which forms its northern boundary.  The river divides the lush Caprivi Strip and Linyanti Swamp system of Namibia with the waterways, lagoons, floodplains, forests and grasslands of the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve in Botswana.  The reserve is 275,000 acres of private wildlife concession unfenced with its neighbors allowing game to roam freely, and home to only four small safari camps accessible only by light aircraft offering visitors a private un-crowded and game rich safari experience.  For clarification – the Linyanti River begins its life on the central plateau of Angola where it is called the Kwando River (also spelled Cuando), then its name changes to the Linyanti River where it hits a fault line and turns northeast, then the name changes again to the Chobe River before it flows into the Zambezi River and tumbles over Victoria Falls.

Game viewing in the reserve is focused along the banks of the Linyanti River, the Savuti Channel, and the forests and grasslands of the interior.  The Linyanti River is characterized by hippo and croc filled pools and lagoons, marshes with aquatic sitatunga and red lechwe antelope and abundant birdlife, and massive herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra during the dry season with predators constantly keeping watch.  Birdlife along the river is tremendous especially during the Green Season when the summer migrants are in the area.  Open floodplains along the river attract antelopes, predators and large baboon troops.  Beyond the floodplains there is a band of riverine forest home to kudu and leopard, and inland are huge dry mopane forests and grasslands with abundant giraffe and antelope populations.  Running through the middle of the reserve is the famous Savuti Channel (spelled ‘Savuti’ outside the Chobe National Park, and ‘Savute’ inside the national park).

The Savuti Channel starts in the Linyanti Swamps, meanders through the reserve, and ends at the Savute Marsh in the middle of Chobe National Park.  Throughout its history the channel has fluctuated from a flowing river to a dry ribbon of lush grassland.  For the last 28 years the channel has been dry; but now the channel is once again flowing with water and elephants are happily frolicking, cats are swimming, wild dogs are chasing kudu through the channel, and lion and hyena are battling over kills in the shallow water.  Game viewing is spectacular and this is one of the best places in Africa to see the African wild dog and cheetah.
 

Game Viewing – at its best in the dry season May through October

The reserve is famous for its enormous herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra along the Linyanti River and Savuti Channel during the dry season.  Estimates put the number of elephants in the area during this time at around 50,000; it is not uncommon to see over 1,000 per day while on safari.  Thousands of zebra spend the winter around the Linyanti Swamp system before heading south to the Savuti in November in expectation of summer rains and good grazing.  During the Green Season, water is readily available throughout the area, animals are much more spread-out so the density of game viewing is not nearly as good as during the dry season.

Predator viewing is exceptional – The main predators are lion, cheetah, wild dog, hyena and leopard.

Hippos, crocs, fish and water birds are abundant in the waterways and lagoons.

There are high concentrations of giraffe, baboon, vervet monkey and warthog.

Antelope species include:  Wildebeest, impala, kudu, waterbuck, red lechwe, sable, roan, eland, and the aquatic sitatunga.

Birding is phenomenal especially during the Green Season.  Species include:  kori bustard, carmine bee-eater, wattled crane, slaty egret, woodland kingfisher, African skimmer, and a host of summer migrants.

Night drives provide the opportunity to see nocturnal animals such as bushbaby, spring hare, aardwolf, serval, genet, porcupine and pangolin.

Activities include: off-road game drives morning, afternoon and night; walking safaris; canoeing, boating and fishing depending on water levels.

Green Season: November-April:  rain falls during the warm months of November to March with high temperatures and humidity. Game spreads out as water is readily available inland.  Exceptional birding.

Dry Season: May - October: sunshine evaporates the inland waterholes and water becomes scarce forcing animals to congregate in huge numbers along the Linyanti River and Savuti Channel. Game is at its most dense and easily visible. October is the hottest month.  The prolific and diverse wildlife and scenery form a wonderful contrast to the Okavango Delta creating a nice compliment to a Botswana itinerary.

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve camps

DumaTau

Kings Pool Camp

Savuti Camp

Linyanti Tented Camp