Savuti, Linyanti & Selinda
Predator action on the stolen river

Best Savuti, Linyanti & Selinda Experiences

Watch the red Savuti sunsets as elephants stir up clouds of dust on the horizon
Chase after wild dog in the Linyanti, Botswana's prime refuge for these endangered carnivores
Spend your days canoeing the Selinda spillway and your nights sharing stories by the campfire
Explore the bush on foot, watching passing elephants from the shade of a jackalberry tree

The Savuti Marsh offers great game viewing in open grasslands kept green by water flowing in from the Savuti Channel. Trace the channel along a map to its source and you'll hit the Linyanti (including the Selinda and Kwando concessions), one of the most remote corners of Botswana where exclusivity and big game viewing go hand in hand.

It's only when you approach Savuti by air and spot a smattering of rocky hills poking out from the otherwise endless horizon that you'll realise how flat the rest of Botswana is.

In Savuti you'll find baobabs growing from rocks around one bend in the road and the vast, open grasslands of the marsh around the next. Days in Savuti are best spent by the marsh counting buffaloes and elephants in their hundreds against a backdrop of skeletal trees and the deep blue sky.

The Savuti channel links the marsh to the Linyanti, one of the least-visited and most remote safari locations in Botswana. In the Linyanti you can spend your days exploring a concession thirty times the size of Manhattan while sharing it with only a handful of people.

The Linyanti is a safari addict's dream. Home to the largest population of elephant bulls in the world and renowned for its predator sightings, it's also one of the best places in Botswana to find the African wild dog.

Unlike the national parks, the Linyanti is exclusive and the rules are flexible. Catch the glow of predators' eyes at night as you search the bush by spotlight, traverse the bush on foot with an experienced guide or follow fresh tracks off-road to wherever they stop in the bushes.

Talk to us and we'll help you decide whether a mobile safari or lodge in Savuti is the best fit for you and what time of year to go in search of wild dog in the Linyanti.

Combine with: The Okavango Delta for the ultimate contrast of dry and wet landscapes, a private mobile safari in the Moremi Game Reserve for hardcore game viewing or the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans to keep off the beaten track.

Special Wildlife to Spot

The endangered wild dog, a must-see for safari addicts

The beautifully coloured carmine bee eater, a seasonal visitor which nests in the riverbanks

Our favourite camps

Meerkat Rating

Best Value: Savuti Safari Lodge

Savuti, Linyanti & Selinda

Have brunch at eye level with the elephants, only a stone's throw away from a busy waterhole and the seasonal Savuti channel. This is one camp where you can skip the game drives and see just as much from the comfort of camp. Each chalet has floor to ceiling windows for drinking in the views and catching sight of as many of Chobe's 40 000 elephants as possible.

Family Friendly: Lagoon Camp

Savuti, Linyanti & Selinda

Friendly guides and staff create a relaxed atmosphere in big predator country at Lagoon Camp. The family tent enjoys its own corner of camp right next to the swimming pool - enabling the perfect ‘tire me out' combination of early morning game drives and swimming. Enjoy day and night game drives or cruise the Kwando River by boat. Younger families require private activities.

Iconic: Duma Tau

Savuti, Linyanti & Selinda

Duma Tau takes impressive to a whole new level. You'll find it perched on the edge of a lagoon between two well-worn elephant highways where lions, leopards and wild dogs abound. Aside from the big predators, there's plenty of plains game and a stunning diversity of habitats to keep you busy for days. Look out for the resident bush pig who'd found himself a girlfriend last time we visited!

Out of the Ordinary: Motswiri - Ride & Walk Botswana

Savuti, Linyanti & Selinda

Refreshingly different, Motswiri gets you moving - on foot, horseback (experienced riders only); canoe or traditional mokoro, whatever takes your fancy. Situated on the Selinda Spillway, changing water levels vary the environment, wildlife and the activity focus. The camp offers some of the best guided walks in the country led by highly-skilled, personable guides and the opportunity for a bush-camp sleep-out.

Most Romantic: Selinda Camp

Savuti, Linyanti & Selinda

Selinda Camp offers old school charm and understated luxury, perfect for a romantic escape. Incredible guiding, attention to detail and attentive service create a very special atmosphere, completed by the magnificent wildlife and stunning landscape. Selinda offers not only game drives but also guided walks and boating (when water levels permit).

Splurge: Zarafa Camp

Savuti, Linyanti & Selinda

Zarafa offers fantastic game viewing, exceptional service and creative cuisine in the exclusive Selinda concession. Beaten copper and polished wood dominate throughout, while private fireplaces, plunge pools and outdoor showers add serious comfort. Throw in try-before-you-buy Swarowski binoculars and a Canon DSLR with lens kit for every guest and you've got THE extraordinary safari experience.