Linyanti Wildlife Reserve

The Linyanti Reserve is a relatively inaccessible area with a small number of private camps that can only be reached by lightaircraft. This 250 000 acre reserve is bordered by the Linyanti River in the North and the Chobe National Park in the East. Northwards, across the river lies Namibia’s Caprivi Strip – the long wetlands of an otherwise arid country.

The Linyanti region is a wildlife haven with a particularly high concentration of elephants and predators, especially in the dry winter months. There are many varied habitats including marshes, floodplains, riparian forests, dry woodlands and the Savute Channel. The Channel consists mainly of open grassland which is full of game. Lesser parts of the Channel are almost desert like with scorching heat and sand. Another strikingly different terrain of Savute is the Gubatsa Hills – large dolomite outcrops formed some 900 million years ago by volcanic movement. These hills form an interesting feature - rising to a height of 90 metres out of an otherwise flat landscape.

In the north of the reserve the Linyanti River runs a smooth and gentle course until it hits a volcanic faultline which causes a dramatic 90 degree change in direction. On the southern banks of the river the marsh subsides into lagoons and steadily flowing rivers with riverine forests of sausage and jackalberry trees leading to open grasslands and dry inland wooded areas. The river attracts elephants, buffalo and zebra and the forest area attracts giraffe, impala, antelope and sable. The main predators are cheetah, leopard, hyena, wild dog and lion. The birdlife, although not overwhelming, is diverse.

Seasons:

Rain falls during the warm months of November to March creating high temperatures and humidity. May to October is dry and as the months progress water becomes scarce and the animals congregate in large numbers along the river. This is the time when the game is at its most prolific.