Botswana Linyanti Safari Camps

DumaTau Camp is known for its massive elephant concentrations and outstanding wildlife numbers. Located close to the source of the Savute Channel in the vast Linyanti concession in northern Botswana, it's located where waterways lure a plethora of life to drink particularly in the dry winter months.

DumaTau is a ten-room luxury tented camp under a shady grove of mangosteen trees. The camp is raised off the ground to overlook a large hippo-filled lagoon. The tents are spacious, under thatch with canvas walls and with private bathrooms and outside showers. Guests can enjoy the night sounds of Africa from the comfort of their rooms, and shower under the stars. There is a dining room, pub, lounge and a swimming pool.

The region has all the habitat diversity to make it a haven for wildlife. Apart from the elephants, general wildlife viewing is excellent year round including impala, wildebeest, red lechwe, Burchell's zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, and warthog. Predator sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena are good. Day and night game drives are the highlight of the area. Short nature walks can be taken along the Linyanti River and Savute Channel, while the camp's boat takes visitors along the waters of the Linyanti to see hippos and waterfowl. There are also a number of platforms and hides from which to view and photograph animals and birds.

Kings Pool Camp is located in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, a vast private concession in the northern part of Botswana on the western boundary of Chobe National Park. The accommodations here are luxurious, the wildlife spectacular.

Nine well-appointed tents of canvas and thatch each have a large bedroom area, lounge, private plunge pool and private bathroom with an additional outdoor shower. Raised walkways allow animals to wander freely through the camp to and from the water. The lounge, dining room and pub areas are on expansive raised decks and there is a pool and an open-air 'kgotla' for dining under the stars.

The Linyanti area has a large wildlife resource with a wide variety of species, but it is most noted for its very large elephant population, which can reach enormous densities during the dry winter months. Other game is abundant, such as impala, lechwe, kudu, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and bushbuck, and their predators: lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena. Rarer species such as sable and roan antelope emerge from the woodlands during the dry season. Activities include day and night game drives and walks, while boat cruises along the Linyanti River offer spectacular viewing. The reed and papyrus swamps are ideal for numerous and diverse species of birds and a magnet for game in the dry winter months. There are two hides, one of them with eye-level water to watch the animals in the water.

Savuti Camp

Savuti Camp lies on the Savute Channel, a famous waterway in a thrilling state of flux. For a quarter of a century, the channel was dry, creating wide-open grassland, home to varieties of wildlife and a legendary predator's enclave. In 2008, the waters returned, and Savuti Camp now has front-row seats to view the abundant game that has congregated and adapted to the change. The deep and clear waterway harbors hippo and myriad of water birds. The plains game and a plethora of predators are taking advantage of the new source of water — the channel has become a refuge, an obstacle, a magnificent food source, a navigational aid and a playground. It’s impossible to say if the waters persist but right now there is a world-class drama (and comedy!) played out each day and night.

Savuti Camp is an intimate and beautiful with seven large tents that are raised off the ground and face onto the Savute Channel's grasslands. All tents have private bathrooms. From the camp's thatched dining area and pub, a plunge pool and large viewing area with fire pit extend outwards on raised wooden decks towards the channel.

Explore the channel through day and night game drives, nature walks with a guide and several well-positioned hides for safe, up-close animal viewing. Game concentrations here are high, and apart from abundant plains game, species such as roan and sable antelope, southern giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and wild dog may also be encountered. In winter, this area can also be excellent for the sought-after aardvark and aardwolf.

Selinda Camp

Selinda Camp is built on a shady island overlooking the waters of the dramatic Selinda Spillway, an ephemeral waterway which is the focal point in a vast private concession in northern Botswana. With its large, game-rich floodplains Selinda offers a unique wildlife experience.

Selinda's nine spacious luxury tents are erected under cool thatch canopies, with all units having exceptional views across palm-studded floodplains. Each tent has a private bathroom. The bathroom is uniquely "open air" with lots of natural light, yet is screened and virtually insect-proof. The tents are spacious and beautifully appointed with furniture and features that have been collected from around Africa. Four-poster beds with mosquito nets and overhead fans are standard. The main area comprises a series of expansive decks that invite soaking up the spectacular views and wildlife that are a visual constant of the camp. Guests can also enjoy a small plunge pool and the traditional campfire.

The Selinda experience is characterized by its game-rich floodplains which are host to a variety of bird life with more than 300 species, antelope, zebra, cheetah, wild dog, lion and dry season elephant concentrations. Nocturnal species could include serval, porcupine, springhare and possibly leopard. Daily activities revolve around morning, afternoon and night game drives with experienced, professional guides in custom-built 4x4 Land Cruisers. Short walks from camp accompanied by a guide are encouraged to get to know some of the Selinda's smaller creatures.

Zarafa Camp

Zarafa Camp, near the Zibadianja Lagoon and the source of the Savute Channel, is one of the best game viewing areas anywhere. All of the Chobe wildlife is present at Zarafa with a varied bird and mammal community.

Overlooking the Zibadianja Lagoon, the camp evokes a sense of old-style safari with its four large, luxuriously appointed double or twin tents. At a maximum of eight guests, the emphasis here is on individual hospitality and privacy. Each generous tent and veranda is positioned under cool and shady trees to emphasize the spectacular view and comprises a spacious bedroom and a private bathroom as well as an outdoor shower. The main area evokes the traditional safari ambiance of the turn of the last century. The lounge and dining areas are under canvas or shaded by giant trees, all overlooking the expansive view and the wildlife that passes by. The camp is perfect for those who favor a more intimate personal experience or those who prefer the entire camp for their own exclusive use.

Activities at Zarafa are flexible to suit guests' particular interests and include morning, afternoon and night game drives in custom-built 4x4 Land Cruisers. Short guided nature walks from camp are encouraged, to introduce guests to some of Africa's less prominent wildlife. Abundant plains game can be found here including lechwe, kudu, buffalo, zebra and giraffe. It is also a predator-rich reserve including cheetah, wild dog, lion, and leopard. Other highlights are the massive herds of elephant and a wide variety of birds.