Botswana
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Linnea from California travelled to Zimbabwe and Botswana
Hi Michele, I wanted you to know that the trip was fabulous and has now replaced Peru as my favourite trip. You guys clearly know what you are doing. Several people even mentioned what a good variety of locations we were seeing. At Selinda, we loved the variety of topography. Saw so much, including two wild dog kills in one day. Lots of people never see one. Gruesome, but incredibly interesting. Loved the camp, the people, the food, the personal hospitality. At Shinde the landscape was wetter and interesting, the food was good and staff very nice. Camp Kalahari we saw some great birds and new animals especially at night and we enjoyed the meerkats. Drinks, dinner and sleeping on the pans was magical.
Botswana
Regions
The Linyanti region including the Kwando and Selinda reserves, and Chobe enclave
The Kwando and Linyanti river systems form the northern ‘dog-leg’ boundary of Botswana with Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. Aside from the small section (some 5 kms) of Chobe National Park which adjoins the Linyanti, the area is dominated by three huge private concession areas and the communal lands of the Chobe Enclave.
The Kwando Reserve (concession) stretches westwards from the Kwando River, a vast area of big game country. To the south of Kwando is the beautiful Selinda Reserve which covers an area of 1350 sq.kms and stretches between the Okavango Delta and the Kwando/Linyanti system, straddling the Selinda (or Magwegqana) Spillway.
The Linyanti concession lies to the south-east, also stretching north-east along the southern bank of the Linyanti River, and east along the upper reaches of the Savuti Channel. Beyond the little section of the Chobe National Park which adjoins the Linyanti River is the Chobe Enclave, sandwiched between the Linyanti in the west and Lake Liambezi to the north and east.
The river system habitats around the Kwando River, Selinda Spillway, Linyanti River and Savuti Channel are very similar to the Okavango, although nowhere near as large or navigable (only limited water based activities are available). Away from the river system, the habitat is an interesting contrast of open floodplains, thick salt bush and vast areas mopane woodland.
Of the four areas, there is no doubt that the Kwando and Selinda concessions offer the most ‘guaranteed’ game-viewing, especially for wild dog (perhaps the best place in Africa to see them in the wild). However, the whole region offers superb big-game viewing, and in the dry season when large herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra are reliant on the river systems, it is exceptional. Being private concessions, activities are varied and include night drives, off road driving, walks and limited water activities.
For more information about safaris in the Linyanti region please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari specialists.