The Camp

Location: Linyanti Reserve, Botswana
Number of Tents: 7

Savuti Camp is a small and intimate enclave in an isolated area, far removed from other visitors. The site of Savuti Camp is about 10 miles downstream from Zibadianja Lagoon—the source of the Savute Channel. The channel stopped flowing between 1980 and 2008, becoming a productive ribbon of grassland that served as a travel corridor and feeding ground for a wide variety of herbivores from the surrounding woodland. After nearly eight years, the channel has mysteriously receded yet again. The camp’s spacious walk-in tents are raised off the ground and face the channel, for a close-up view of the wildlife action. Each tent has its own bathroom with shower, hand basin and flush toilet. From the camp's thatched dining area, a plunge pool and large viewing area with fire pit extend outward on raised wooden decks, providing an excellent view of ongoing dramatic wildlife interactions.

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Facilities & Amenities

• En suite bathroom with shower
• Family Accommodation: 1 family unit, 2 en suite inter-leading bedrooms with private entrances connected by shared deck
• Shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion and insect repellent
• Room fan
• Tea/coffee in room
• 220v charging outlets in room
• Wi-Fi available
• In-room safe
• Central plunge pool
• Laundry included
• Local drinks included (house alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks)
• Credit cards accepted (Visa and MasterCard)
• No air conditioning, hair dryer, telephone or cellular coverage

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Wildlife Viewing & Activities

The Savute Channel has been in flux in recent years, creating an ever-shifting habitat for a wide range of wildlife — in 2015 the channel became dry once again after flowing for seven years. With two-thirds of the channel located in the concession camp guests have near-exclusive access to the abundant wildlife and natural changes occurring on a daily and seasonal basis. Explore the environs through day and night wildlife drives, canoeing on the channel (water level and elephant numbers permitting), and several well-positioned hides for safe, up-close animal viewing away from vehicles. Guided walks are seasonal and subject to the availability of a qualified walking guide. Wildlife concentrations are high, particularly in the winter dry season, and apart from abundant plains wildlife, guests may observe roan and sable antelope, southern giraffe and spectacular elephant. All the predators are found here—lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and endangered wild dog. In winter, this area is also excellent for aardvark and aardwolf.

The below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the Linyanti Reserve adjacent to the Chobe National Park. This area is well known for elephant herds, which are at their peak in the drier months of July to October, and it's a great location to track wild dogs and see lion. A variety of other mammals, birds and reptiles may be seen as well. Exact sightings will depend on weather trends and wildlife movements.

Climate

Conservation

Botswana has a well-developed network of protected areas, and these include concessions that allow hunting as well as photographic safaris. Wilderness Safaris, which operates Savuti Camp, has chosen not to hunt in the concessions in which the company operates, forfeiting approximately US$1.2 million per year in hunting quotas in preference for photographic safaris. Yet perhaps the most topical issue for Botswana at present is its very large elephant population and the possible impact on vegetation and other animal species. As a result, and in recognition of the fact that in the Selinda and Linyanti concessions, Savuti Camp operator Wilderness Safaris is responsible for one of the two highest-density elephant concentrations in the country, the company has facilitated and partially funded two MSc studies examining vegetation impact and is currently hosting a PhD and further MSc researcher examining additional elements of this puzzle.

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