Savuti Camp is situated in the Linyanti Reserve along the Savuti Channel in northern Botswana. The camp is built about 17 kilometres "downstream" from the source of the Savuti. The channel stopped flowing in 1980 and what was a Hippo-filled river, is now wide, open grasslands.
Savuti Camp is a comfortable camp providing accommodation in 7 large walk-in tented rooms with en-suite facilities. Five of the bathrooms are within the tents and two tents have bathrooms with wonderful open fronts facing onto the Savuti Channel.
Each room is raised off the ground on wooden decks. The camp has a thatched dining area, pub and plunge pool, all on raised wooden decks. There is a waterhole close to camp and this attracts large numbers of animals that guests can view from the camp.
Activities include game drives in open 4x4 Land Rovers, hides, night drives and walks with an armed guard. Game in the area includes all of Botswana's big game, and is one of the best areas in the country to see predators.
There are also good concentrations of plains game in the area.
NG 15 - The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve offers one of Africa's most exhilarating wildlife experiences. The area covers 125,000 hectares (about 275,000 acres) of prime wildlife country situated between the Okavango and Chobe regions. Yet, there are only 26 rooms in 3 small camps that are allowed to access the game drive areas of this reserve. To put this into perspective, the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve is just about double the size of the Sabi Sands Reserve in South Africa. The Sabi Sand Reserve successfully houses over a thousand beds in world famous lodges like Singita, Londolozi, Mala Mala, Sabi Sabi and many others. Space and privacy are what sets this reserve aside - as well as its brilliant wildlife concentrations.
Elephants are one of the reserves prime attractions - especially in our winter months when they are forced to congregate along the waterways and around the waterholes of the area when the rainfall filled depressions and pans of the interior dry up. At times the reserve must have several thousand elephants roaming around. Red Lechwe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala, Waterbuck, Sable, Roan, Eland, Giraffe, Baboon, Monkey, Warthog, Crocodile and Buffalo are some of the other animals to be found here. Then there are the predators ~ Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dog and Hyena ~ and the nocturnal animals ~ Bushbabies, Spring Hare, Aardwolf, Serval, Genet, Pangolin ~ and the smaller predators. Birding is great here ~ from the Okavango "specials", such as Slaty Egret, Whiterumped Babblers and Wattled Cranes, to the bushveld species.
Game concentrations here are high, especially in our winter months. Besides your normal plains game, the area has good concentrations of Roan, Sable and Giraffe. All the predators occur in the area - Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Wild Dog. We have already identified 40 different Lion along the channel around the camp. The Chobe/Linyanti area is renowned for its dense Elephant population and for some of the best Elephant viewing anywhere in Africa in the winter months. As the waterhole in front of the camp is the only supply of water for a large area in the dry winter months, one of the highlights for Savuti Camp is the fantastic wildlife viewing directly from the camp. Hides at other waterholes are also a special feature.
OCATION
- Within Linyanti concession
- Along Savuti Channel, 17kms from its source
- North Botswana
- Borders Chobe National Park to the east
- Within private reserve, in an isolated area
PRICING
January - end June - shoulder rates
July - end October - highest prices
November - end December - shoulder rates
ACCOMMODATION
Number of tents:
7 ¾ twin bedded tents
1 guides tent in guest area, en-suite, not on wooden decks and decor more rustic.
This camp can accommodate 8 FIT guests with tour leader or 10 in a group
Tent details:
- All tents with en-suite facilities - 2 with open bathrooms (tents no 1 & 2), with great views. Other three tents en-suite facilities incorporated in the tent as well as outside showers
- Tents on decks
- Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
- Fans
CAMP DESCRIPTION
Communal Area:
- Dining room and pub under thatch
- Extended deck for star lit dinners next to the fire
- Evening fire side
- Plunge pool overlooking water hole
- Curio shop
GAME VIEWING
Elephant, Lion, Zebra, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Warthog, Lechwe, Hippo, Leopard, Cheetah, Impala, Waterbuck, African Wild Cat and Wild Dog.
ACTIVITIES
Type - 100% Land activities
Game Drives:
- Drives in 2 x 10 seater vehicles
- 5 water holes nearby, some with hides
- Superb night drives
Walking Safaris:
- game walks & game viewing at hides
Water Activities:
- It is possible to use boats at DumaTau on request only, provided the group has booked out the entire camp
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
All times are a guide only. Times can and do change depending on local conditions.
summer/winter
05h00/06h00 - Wake up call. Light continental breakfast consisting of cereals, tea/coffee/juices and pastries to be served in the dining area.
05h30/06h30 - Depart on morning activity, returning to camp at approximately 10h00.
10h00/11h00 - Brunch wil be served, this will consist of a selection of breakfast and lunch dishes. From now until afternoon tea, guests are at leisure.
16h00/15h00 - Afternoon tea is served - this consists of a selection of sweet and savoury snacks.
16h30/15h30 - Depart on afternoon game viewing activity - drinks and snacks will be served for sundowners during the course of the activity.
19h30/19h00 - Return to camp after dark so guests have a night drive (but could be later if there are good game sitings).
20h00/19h30 - Pre-dinner drinks and snacks are served at the pub.
20h30/20h00 - Three course dinner - generally speaking the starter and desert is served, whilst the main course is buffet style.
21h30/21h00 - Coffee and liqueurs will be served at the camp fire.
ELECTRICITY & WATER
- Camp has a 220v generator. Electricity is run in the kitchen and main areas when guests are not in camp. When guests return from daily activities, generators generally switched off (for peace in camp).
- 12v battery power (charged by the generator) is used for lighting and fans in each guest tent 24hrs a day. Hairdryers etc cannot work here.
- Video battery can be charged by the generator when guests on game drives. Hence bring spare battery and charging unit.
- Solar heated water for showers etc.
DRINKS POLICY
All local drinks beers, wines and mineral water are included in the nightly tariff, with the exception of premium wines & champagne, and premium liqueurs & spirits.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Laundry is done on a daily basis and inclusive in the nightly tariff with the exception of 'smalls' ie underwear, which are not washed due to local customs.
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Curios and or imported drinks will be billed to the guest and settled on check out. Payment can be effected by cash (US$), travellers' cheques or the following credit cards: Visa or MasterCard.
FLYING TIMES
to/from Maun 45 minutes
to/from Kasane 45 minutes
Kasane to Victoria Falls 20 minutes but allow additional time for customs and immigration
AIR STRIP DETAILS
Chobe 1 Airstrip is located 25 minutes' drive from camp, 1000m long, compacted calcrete.
Max aircraft weight: 2300kg. Unlicensed for heavier aircraft such as King Airs, however, King Airs can utilise Kings Pool air strip.
Driving time from Kings Pool to Savuti Camp is approximately 1hr 15 minutes.
Air strip co-ordinates: S18.31.99, E023.39.27
