Botswana

Linyanti

Home to the mysterious Savuti Channel, the untouched and untamed Linyanti Wildlife Reserve is Botswana’s premium safari destination you might never have heard of.


Wilderness Botswana Linyanti Barge
Wilderness Botswana Linyanti Wildlife Vulture

The majestic Linyanti

Elephants, elephants, and more elephants – the Linyanti is known for hosting the world’s largest megaherds, traversing ancient corridors through the reserve on their migratory mission. This productive area attracts a high density of predators, including a healthy population of endangered African wild dog.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Linyanti at a glance

Hundreds of miles from so-called civilisation, the Linyanti is a pristine wilderness area. Expansive grasslands, floodplains and mopane woodlands make this place where the Linyanti River meets the Savuti Channel one of Botswana’s most diverse habitats and a haven for wildlife.

Key Facts

Linyanti key facts

The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve includes around two-thirds of the Savuti Channel, sometimes called ‘the stolen river’. This important, life-giving water source has flowed and dried up unpredictably for over a hundred years, and while it has been flowing since 2008, after a dry spell of nearly 30 years, it’s anyone’s guess when another tectonic shift might cause it to dry.

GEOGRAPHIC SIZE

1,250km²

BIRD SPECIES

+/- 400

MAMMAL SPECIES

+/- 100

BEST TIME TO VISIT

All year round

WILDERNESS CAMPS

5

Habitats

Wildlife

Weather

THINGS TO DO

Linyanti experiences

Game drives offer a thrilling experience on a safari in the Linyanti, which serves up incredible sightings, especially of elephants. Have your binoculars handy, as birding is outstanding. Ground yourself with a walk in the reserve; count the toes in a leopard track left in the sand, breathe in the scent of wild sage, or taste wild fruits under the expert supervision of our amazing guides.
Wilderness Experiences Boating Family Fun

Boat safari

View wildlife from the water on a thrilling boat safari, past hippos, sunbathing crocodiles and a dazzling array of birds.
Boat Safari

Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda

African fish eagle at sunset

Birding

Birding with a knowledgeable Wilderness guide is spectacular across all our regions, with 930 different species for twitchers to tick.
Birding

Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Stargazing

Lie on a blanket, behold the beauty of your surrounds, and contemplate space and your place in it when you go stargazing.
Stargazing

Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

Helicopter safari

Soar above the lush and wildlife-rich Linyanti and Okavango Delta on a breath-taking helicopter safari.
Helicopter Safari

Botswana

Wilderness Experiences Star Bed

Star Beds

Sleep out under the African night sky with our Star Bed experience. Nothing is quite as thrilling or as romantic on safari.
Star Beds

Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe

Wilderness Experiences Conservation Tree Planting

Conservation experiences

Rewild. Protect. Conserve. Wilderness combines unforgettable wildlife encounters with positive impact experiences.
Conservation Experience

Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Wilderness Experiences Fishing catch and release

Fishing

Cast your line into Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe’s iconic rivers, for exceptional catch-and-release fishing on safari.
Fishing

Botswana, Zambia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe

Wilderness Experiences Botswana Barge Linyanti

Barge

Explore Botswana by barge, the best way to bird-watch and enjoy a picnic on the magnificent Linyanti River.
Barge

Botswana

Guided walking safaris

Slow down and pay attention to the smaller details of the safari experience on a walking safari with our professional guides.
Guided Walking Safaris

Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia

Wilderness Experiences Private Safari Remote Areas

Private safari

Create treasured memories with family and friends on an exclusive private safari across Africa’s most iconic destinations.
Private Safari

Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia

TRAVEL WITH US

Journey with Wilderness

Browse through our tailor-made Linyanti journeys that will take you on an adventure of a lifetime. Completely customisable, we can cater to your every need. Find inspiration or get in touch with our dedicated team of Travel Designers.

Family

Wilderness Journeys Southern Africa Safari
A Southern Africa Safari
An unbeatable combination of exceptional wildlife encounters and awe-inspiring natural phenomena. Carefully curated. Quintessentially Wilderness.
12 nights
4 camps
From USD 32400 per person
Explore Journey

Solo

Wilderness Journeys Rivers & Deltas
Rivers & Deltas
Unrivalled water-based game viewing and exceptional activities on land. The setting? The iconic Zambezi River and Okavango River Delta.
9 nights
3 camps
From USD 14300 per person
Explore Journey

Solo

Bucket List Botswana
Eight days. Three camps. Countless once-in-a-lifetime memories. From tranquil mokoro rides through the magnificent Okavango Delta to thrilling game drives in Africa’s most productive wildlife areas.
7 nights
3 camps
From USD 12120 per person
Explore Journey

MAP

Explore camps in the Linyanti

We love what we do and are proud of our achievements, but it is good to be acknowledged by others. Below are a few of the awards we have received either for outstanding tourism services or for our contribution to conservation or community in Africa.

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Camps (5)

FAQ

General

JOURNAL

Linyanti featured stories

Delight in our collection of stories, award-winning photographs and conservation updates from the people and wildlife of the Linyanti.
The Journal

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve camp newsletters – February 2025

The February rains brought relief from the high temperatures and transformed the concession into a g...

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Camp Manager

14.03.2025

Wilderness Linyanti Tented Camp Botswana Aerial View

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve camps news – January 2025

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Camp Manager

19.02.2025

Wilderness Savuti Hippos in Lagoon

Wilderness Savuti newsletter – November 2024

Temperatures at Wilderness Savuti were very comfortable for most of the month, though there were day...

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Sasha Wright

17.12.2024

The male lion is the king of the Wilderness

Let’s plan your next journey

Ready?

When we say we’re there every step of the way, we mean it, literally. From planning the perfect circuit, to private inter-camp transfers on Wilderness Air, and easing you through Customs. We’re with you on the ground, at your side, 24-7, from start to finish. Ready to take the road less travelled? Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey.