The Savuti is situated in the South Western part of the Chobe National Park and covers approximately 5,000 square kilometers.  The features of Savute are almost desert-like with the heat of the sun, loose hot sand, elephants lining up to get to water supply and the wildlife sticking together in order to find shade. Your wildlife experience will be an experience you will not forget.

The Western edge of Savuti comprises the Magwikhwe sand ridge, which is approximately 100 km long and 20 m high.  This is the shoreline of a super-lake that once covered most of Northern Botswana.  It is hard to imagine that this harsh dry landscape was once submerged under an enormous inland sea.

The Savuti Marsh was once fed by the Linyanti River.  The Linyanti River is the deepest part of the Mobabe Depression and is the only part to have filled up with water in recent history.  The Savuti Marsh started drying up around 1888 and remained dry until 1957.  During this dry time, Camelthorn acacia trees established themselves in the channel.  Since 1957 the marsh filled up during unexpected floods and the trees were drowned.  However, the marsh has since dried up again and the dead trees became one of the most prominent features of the landscape.

Today, the Savuti is characterized with partly desert-like features with the scorching sun and hot sand, whilst the other part of Savuti is characterized by vast grass plains full of game which is very similar to the Serengeti in Tanzania.  Another part of the Savuti is characterized by the Gubatsa Hills which were formed millions of years ago during volcanic movement.  These hills rise to about 90 meters high out of a completely flat landscape.

Access:

Access into the Savuti is by road or by aircraft.  If driving, you will most definitely need a 4×4 vehicle as the roads can be very sandy in parts.  You will enter Savuti in the South from the Moremi Game Reserve, or in the North from the Northern part of the Chobe Game Reserve.  It is advisable to drive in a group of 2 or more vehicles.  Please note that there are no filling stations to fill up with petrol/gas along the way, so please make sure you have enough fuel with you.  There are also no shops in the Savuti area, so make sure you have enough food, water as well as spare parts for your vehicle, tools, a sufficient medical aid kit and mosquito repellent.

The park is open throughout the year, however, should we have a good rainy season, the park may be closed to visitors who are self driving.  Please call before hand in order to make sure that the park is open during the rainy season (November to April).

The Savuti Game Reserve has an airstrip and those who are staying in the lodges within the Savuti Game Reserve will fly into and out of Savuti in order to access the lodges.  One can also drive to the lodges in order to stay in the lodges.  Please note that pre-booking is essential.

Wildlife:

The Savuti has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife left on the African continent.  This area is often described as one of the best game viewing areas in Africa.  The game is present throughout the year and at certain times of the year the numbers of game can be staggering.

It is recommended to spend at least a minimum of 3 to 4 days in the Savuti Game Reserve.  Game that you are most likely to see during this time are giraffe, elephant, zebra, impala, tsessebe, roan, sable, wildebeest, kudu, buffalo, waterbuck, warthog, eland, and predators such as lion, hyena, jackal, bat-eared fox , cheetah and wild dog.

The Savuti area is known for its predators, especially the resident lions and spotted hyena.  The large concentrations of lion follow the annual zebra migration.  The Savuti is also famous for its large quantity of elephants that congregate around waterholes during sunset.

An interesting fact about the predators is that researchers have found that the lions can lose up to 20% of their kill to the hyenas.  The hyenas are hunters and opportunistic feeders who will annoy and threaten a pride of lions until they give up their meal.

Birdlife is also amazing with large secretary birds and kori bustards often seen around the Savuti Marsh.  A noisy morning wake up call is often given by the red billed francolins.  Summer migrants and water birds include Abdim’s Storks, Carmine bee eaters, fish eagles, quelea finches.  During April the quelea finches can contain tens of thousands in a flock.

Seasons:

The rainy season is between November to April, which is during our summer months.  The wildlife tends to move towards grassy areas during this time.  During November or December, thousands of Zebra migrate from the Linyanti in the North to the South of Savuti in order to graze in the grasslands of the Mobabe Depression.  During February they start heading North again.  During these summer months, the humidity and heat is very high.

The dry season is during the winter months, between May to October.  The water pans that filled up during the rainy season are now dry and the animals venture towards the 3 man-made waterholes.  The elephants are dominant at these watering holes.  During the months of September and October, the temperatures climb and the days can be extremely hot.  This makes for excellent game viewing as the predators are concentrated around the watering holes.

Unique features of the Savuti:

* Thousands of zebra migrating slowly across plains

* Rare and endangered wild dog may be sighted

 * Quelea finches gather in flocks of tens of thousands

* Hyenas are fascinating to watch as they have a complex social system

Accommodation:

There are private camps within the Savuti Game Reserve, as well as outside the reserve.  The camps/lodges offer accommodation on an all inclusive basis.

Examples of lodges within the Savuti:
Click on the lodge name for more info!

Savuti Safari Lodge

Savuti Elephant Camp

There are also public camping sites within the Savuti Game Reserve for the more adventurous traveler. All the public camp sites have ablution facilities and running water (not guaranteed though – please check before travelling).  It is advisable to pre-book whether you would prefer to stay in a lodge or in a camp site.

Campsite within the Savuti:

Savuti Camp site

Savuti Camp Site (situated approximately 172 km South West of the Sedudu Gate and overlooks the Savuti River Channel, which is currently dry and has been for many years)

*Please note that reservations for public camping sites must be made with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
Their contact details are as follows:

Maun office:

Tel:              (+267) 6861 265
Fax:             (+267) 6861 264

Gaborone office:
Tel:              (+267) 318 0774
Fax:             (+267) 318 0775

Notes:

*When camping, please make sure you burn all litter that can be burnt.
*Litter that cannot be burnt, please take with you and deposit at the Wildlife Camp upon your exit, if possible.
*When having made a fire, please bury the ashes.
*When driving in a national park, please drive only on the tracks.
*Do not go off road.

*No night drives are permitted within a national park.

*Please camp only at designated campsites.
*Consideration for other peoples as well as for the environment should be of paramount concern.