Savuti & Linyanti Explorer
Explore Botswana's exclusive Linyanti and Savuti wilderness areas on a 7-day luxury safari. Track lion super-prides, witness dramatic predator-prey dynamics, and enjoy pristine private concessions far from the crowds.
Duration
7 Days
Price From
$5,800 pp
Country
Botswana
Difficulty
Easy
Linyanti Concession — 125,000 hectares of private wilderness
The Linyanti and Savuti regions represent some of the last truly wild places in Africa — vast, remote wilderness areas that most safari travellers never reach. This exclusive 7-day safari takes you deep into these legendary landscapes, where predator-prey dynamics play out on an epic scale. The journey begins in Kasane, gateway to northern Botswana, and ventures first into the Linyanti Concession — a 125,000-hectare private wilderness bordering the Linyanti River and Namibia's Caprivi Strip. This area supports one of Africa's largest populations of wild dogs, alongside large prides of lions, healthy leopard populations, and herds of sable and roan antelope that are rarely seen elsewhere. The Linyanti River itself attracts massive concentrations of elephants during the dry season, with herds of several hundred gathering at the water's edge. From Linyanti, continue south to the Savuti Channel in Chobe National Park, one of Africa's most intense predator environments. Savuti's lion super-prides are renowned for their ability to take down adult elephants — a behaviour documented in numerous wildlife films. The mysterious Savuti Channel, which has alternately flowed and dried up over the decades, adds an element of geological intrigue to the wildlife spectacle. Both destinations feature exclusive luxury camps with all-inclusive service, ensuring that the refinement of your accommodation matches the raw power of the wildlife encounters outside your tent.
What Makes This Safari Special
Linyanti Concession — 125,000 hectares of private wilderness
Wild dog pack tracking in one of Africa's strongholds
Savuti lion super-pride encounters
Massive dry-season elephant concentrations along the Linyanti River
Night drives and walking safaris in private concessions
Exclusive luxury camps with maximum 16 guests
Boat cruises on the Linyanti River
Your Journey, Day by Day
7 carefully curated days across Linyanti Concession, Savuti, Chobe
Day 1
Kasane to Linyanti Concession
Arrive at Kasane Airport and board a light-aircraft charter flight southwest to the Linyanti Concession. The scenic flight crosses the Chobe floodplains, offering aerial views of elephant herds and buffalo below. Land at a bush airstrip and transfer by open 4x4 to your luxury tented camp on the banks of the Linyanti River. Settle into your spacious tent with views across the river to Namibia. After lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive along the Linyanti riverfront, where dry-season elephant concentrations can number in the hundreds.
Day 2
Linyanti — Wild Dog Tracking & River Cruise
The Linyanti Concession is one of Africa's strongholds for the endangered African wild dog, and today's morning game drive focuses on tracking a resident pack. Your guide uses radio telemetry and local knowledge to locate these highly mobile predators, often finding them on a hunt or at a den site during denning season. The raw energy of a wild dog hunt is one of Africa's most thrilling wildlife spectacles. After brunch at camp, relax until the afternoon boat cruise on the Linyanti River, where hippos, crocodiles, and elephants share the waterway with an astonishing variety of waterbirds.
Day 3
Linyanti — Walking Safari & Night Drive
The private concession allows activities not permitted in national parks, including walking safaris and night drives. The morning walking safari with an armed guide explores the riverine forest, where tracks tell the story of the night's activities — leopard prints along the river bank, hyena tracks near a termite mound, and the massive footprints of elephants that passed through camp while you slept. After lunch, a game drive targets lion prides and leopards in the mopane woodland. After dinner, a night drive reveals the Linyanti's remarkable nocturnal wildlife, from African civets and genets to spring hares and bush babies.
Day 4
Charter Flight to Savuti
After a final morning game drive in the Linyanti Concession, board your charter flight to the legendary Savuti Channel area in Chobe National Park. The landscape here is dramatically different — drier, harsher, and dominated by the vast Savuti Marsh and the mysterious channel that intermittently flows. Your luxury camp overlooks the marsh, a prime location for watching predator-prey interactions. The afternoon game drive introduces you to Savuti's resident wildlife, including large herds of zebra, wildebeest, and the famous Savuti bull elephants.
Day 5
Savuti — Lion Super-Pride Territory
Savuti is synonymous with lions, and today's game drives explore the core territory of the Savuti lion super-pride. The morning drive tracks the pride along the marsh edge, where they often ambush buffalo herds coming to drink. Your guide shares insights into the unique behaviour of these Savuti lions, including their documented ability to hunt adult elephants during dry years — a phenomenon almost unheard of elsewhere in Africa. Visit the ancient San rock paintings at Savuti Hills during the heat of the day. The afternoon drive explores the Savuti Channel bed, watching for cheetahs, hyenas, and the many raptor species that thrive in this open landscape.
Day 6
Savuti — Full Day Wilderness Immersion
Your final full day in the bush. An extended morning game drive covers the full range of Savuti's habitats, from the open marsh to the mopane woodland and seasonal waterholes. Target any remaining wish-list species with your expert guide. Visit the historic Savuti airstrip area where large bull elephants congregate. After lunch, a walking safari in the concession area near the lodge offers a different perspective on the Savuti landscape. The farewell dinner is served under the stars at a specially prepared bush dinner site, celebrating an extraordinary week of wildlife encounters.
Day 7
Savuti to Kasane — Departure
Rise early for a final game drive on the Savuti Marsh as the sun illuminates the vast landscape. Return for breakfast and check out. Transfer by charter flight back to Kasane, enjoying aerial views of the Chobe floodplains and the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers. Arrive in Kasane with time for optional last-minute activities — a quick Chobe boat cruise or Victoria Falls day trip can be arranged (additional cost). Transfer to Kasane Airport for your onward flight, carrying memories of Africa's most exclusive wilderness areas.
End of itinerary — 7 days, 6 nights
What's Included
- Kasane Airport transfers
- All inter-camp light-aircraft charter flights
- 6 nights luxury tented camp accommodation
- All meals, premium beverages, and house wines
- Twice-daily game drives in open 4x4 vehicles
- Walking safaris, night drives, and boat cruises
- All park and concession fees
- Laundry service at each camp
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
What's Excluded
- International and regional flights to/from Kasane
- Botswana visa (if required)
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Gratuities for guides and camp staff
- Premium champagne and imported spirits
- Optional scenic helicopter flights
- Personal expenses
African DMC
Professional destination management company operating across 7 African countries with dedicated teams, contracted suppliers, and local expertise in each market.
Based in Arusha, Tanzania