BOTSWANA - Savuti Camp, Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
Savuti Camp is situated in an isolated part of the Linyanti Concession along the Savute Channel in northern Botswana. The site of Savuti Camp is about 10 miles from the source of the Savute Channel. The 125 000 hectare private Linyanti Concession borders Chobe National Park to the west and is a wildlife-rich area, shared between just three small camps (DumaTau, Kings Pool and Savuti Camp), ensuring an atmosphere of remoteness and space.
The Savute Channel stopped flowing between 1980 and 2008: during this time it was an unusual and productive ribbon of grassland that served as a corridor and feeding ground for a wide variety of herbivores. Some may remember the extraordinary film produced by Dereck and Beverly Joubert on this epic natural event – "The Stolen River". Savute Camp then overlooked a dry riverbed and was famous for its woodpile hide in the dry channel – a great place to view elephant at close hand.
Then in 2008, the Savute Channel once more began to flow and became a deep, clear waterway, drawing back hippo, aquatic wildlife and wonderful varieties of waterbirds. It is not possible to say yet if the water flow will continue or begin to recede again - but while it lasts, Savuti Camp continues to provide astounding wildlife viewing and is a wonderful contrast to the Okavango Delta.
There are three main features of the Linyanti Concession:
- the Linyanti River
- the woodlands of the interior
- the Savute Channel
ACCOMMODATION:
Savuti Camp is a classic Wilderness Safaris camp, comprised of 7 large and very comfortable walk-in tented rooms, raised off the ground with large private en-suite facilities and a private deck facing the Savute Channel.
From the camp's thatched dining area, a plunge pool and large viewing area with fire pit extend outwards on raised wooden decks, providing a wonderful view up and down the Savute Channel.
ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE:
The Linyanti concession habitat ensures the densest dry season concentrations of elephant in Botswana! But the area also offers predator sightings in good numbers, as well as species like the endangered wild dog, cheetah and spotted hyaena. The roan and sable antelope and seasonal zebra congregations found in the area are always impressive.
Other plains game includes red lechwe, Burchell's zebra, blue wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, sable, eland, giraffe, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, warthog, black-backed jackal, hippo and Cape buffalo. Nocturnal species often seen are lesser bush baby, spring hare, aardwolf and aardvark, serval and large spotted genet.
Birding is outstanding here with high concentrations of eagles and raptors and owl species including the African Scops Owl. Also seen are Slaty Egret, Hartlaub's Babbler, African Skimmer, Allen's Gallinule and Wattled Crane.
The dry mopane woodlands are home to Racket-tailed Roller, Bradfield's Hornbill, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Bennett's Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater and Arnott's Chat. Guests will also see and be amused by the unusual Kori Bustard and Secretary Birds. Southern Carmine Bee-eaters in summer are a magnificent sight.
Explore the Savute Channel and its environs through day and night game drives, nature walks with a guide (on request), and several well-positioned hides for safe, up-close animal viewing.