Linyanti Region

Explore the Linyanti

woodlands and wetlands

An area of permanent water as well as seasonal floodplains, Linyanti is surrounded by vast tracts of open woodland and scored by lines of thick riverine forest; diverse habitats for a wide variety of animals. The area is home to healthy numbers of Botswana’s signature wildlife species – elephant, buffalo, lion and hippo – as well as large populations of antelope, giraffe and zebra. At its best in the dry season, game viewing in Linyanti takes the form of morning and afternoon game drives as well as boating safaris at lodges located near permanent water. Mokoro safaris (in a traditional dugout canoe) are offered at some camps when water levels are high enough and lodges in private reserves are able to offer guests guided nature walks and spot-lit night drives too, delivering  comprehensive wildlife experience.

LINYANTI BIG CATS

Lions are usually the most commonly seen big cat in the Linyanti region, hunting giraffe, buffalo and even hippopotamus in large prides. They are generally resident in the area, especially when the dry season brings increasing numbers of animals to Linyanti’s permanent water. But it is for the chance to see another big cat that many people visit Linyanti: it is especially good for leopard sightings, usually seen lurking in thick riverside vegetation. Cheetahs are occasionally seen on the more open floodplains and grasslands, often using termite mounds are vantage points to look for prey.

LINYANTI WILD DOGS

Home to around a third of Africa’s remaining wild dogs, Botswana is one of the best places to see this critically endangered carnivore and Linyanti is one of the hotspots. There are several packs in the region, often moving around their large territorial range while hunting antelope and zebra. But wild dogs also remain in one area when the alpha female is ‘denning’ – giving birth to a litter of puppies in safety of an underground den. Lodge guides are well experienced at finding these dens and can treat their guests to close-up views of these ‘painted wolves’ and – if they are lucky – their endearing puppies.

LINYANTI BIG GAME

There are healthy numbers of the heavyweights all through the year but it is during Linyanti’s dry season that its reputation for elephants and buffalo is most obvious. Drawn to the Linyanti’s permanent water, the great thirsty herds gather in increasing numbers at riverbanks and lagoons, rivalling the numbers seen at the Chobe River and Savuti. The Linyanti woodlands are also home to the more elusive sable and roan antelope while its open grasslands are studded with giraffe, zebra and wildebeest.

LINYANTI BIRDLIFE

Home to a mix of water and land habitats similar to those of the Okavango Delta, the Linyanti region is a top birding destination. Its floodplains are great places to see storks and cranes while a boat safari reveals the shyer wetland birds – lily-trotting jacanas and the exquisitely patterned pygmy goose. Linyanti has an especially good reputation for raptors – featuring unusually high concentrations of many types. Ask for a specialist guide for the wetland special – Pel’s fishing-owl, an enormous ginger-coloured owl that hunts fish and frogs at night. There is enough to see for the casual birder in Linyanti’s dry season but serious bird watchers will want to visit in the green season when summer migrants arrive.

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TOP EXPERIENCES

VARIOUS ACTIVITIES OFFERED IN THE LINYANTI

1. Go On A Game Drive

Game drives are conducted in open-sided 4×4 safari vehicles with tiered seats. Since you’re in a private reserve your guide is allowed to drive off road, getting you up close to Linyanti’s big game.

2. Cruise The River

Most riverside camps have small motorboats that easily manoeuvre amongst the bird-filled reed beds and get close to wildlife at the water’s edge. Others have larger barges for sunset cruises.

3. Drop A Line Overboard

Many Linyanti lodges have a small collection of rods and reels, and offer catch-and-release fishing when water levels allow. For more on where to reel in a tigerfish read our post on fishing in Botswana.

4. Go Bird Watching

Birding is spectacular all year round with Linyanti being recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) particularly for birds of prey like Dickinson’s kestrel and waterbirds.

5. Walk In The Wild

Set out on foot and feel a part of your wild surroundings as you learn about animal tracks, birds and plants. You’ll be in safe hands with your highly trained (and armed) guide.

6. Take A Night Drive

Once the sun has set your guide uses a spotlight to catch the glinting eyes of bush babies or pick out other nocturnal creatures such as porcupines, spring hares or a predators on the hunt.

7. Sit Back In a Mokoro

Lodges that offer water activities usually have canoes, a peaceful way to explore the waterways. For a true mokoro safari we recommend a few days at a lodge deep in the Okavango Delta.

8. Wildlife Hides

Kings Pool Camp has a submerged hide that puts you at eyelevel to the water of a pan & Savuti Camp’s hide is raised up on a platform and includes a bed for a night under the stars.

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Reviews

Karina was absolutely instrumental to our safari success.

Our experience with Safari Online was excellent. After becoming very frustrated trying to search for a safari destination on our own, we turned to Karina for help and she was a lifesaver. She responded to our requests promptly and gave us several options with links to each option; we ultimately chose Lukimbi. She then coordinated our flights to and from the property, arranged the drivers necessary to get us from the airport to the lodge and back again, and sent the appropriate paperwork to each of us to verify each step of the process. We had an amazing safari adventure at the lodge–the experience of a lifetime–and are so grateful for her help. We literally couldn’t have done it without her!

Chris
They kept us fully informed and updated throughout planning, travel, etc.

It was excellent all around. Everything worked out well. An experience of a lifetime! The game viewing rides were fun and very informative.

Karen
Perfect

We are six older but experienced travellers who usually do our own planning. Luck led us to Safari Online and Walter. His ideas proved spot on. Throughout our planning Safari Online have been helpful, always answering emailed questions, no matter how basic, straightaway. We’ve had probably our best ever holiday in years of travel, everything went smoothly. Pickups and transfers were on time. Staff in all the places we stayed were friendly and helpful. I can’t think of one adverse remark except maybe seeing a lion that wasn’t asleep, though I think if it could have been arranged Walter would have done so.

Jennifer
Excellent service and support for our Africa vacation

Working with Walter was a great experience. He listened to us and helped us build a vacation that exceeded all of our expectations. We really appreciated his professionalism and attention to detail.

Dan
Professional, patient, efficient and responsive. Met all our travel needs and requirements spot on

Communication was excellent – I asked A LOT of questions and did a ton of research myself and Walter was extremely patient with me and very responsive. he was straight forward and extremely professional.  Tour itself was excellent – an incredible experience and one never to be forgotten. Everything was spot on.

Neena
Above expectations

Excellent communications and service. We dealt with Sabrina and she is awesome. The safari tour was amazing, i can highly recommend going to Elephant Plains. Its a very special place run by awesome people.

Werner
A great tour operator that was a pleasure to deal with.

We used Safari Online to put together a mid-range Botswana trip for a group of four going to three different camps and then onto Vic Falls. We asked several operators to provide options (through this great safari bookings website) and Walter Kohrs from Safari Online was easily the most responsive and quickest to provide different but realistic options and at good prices. In the end it was a no brainer to go with Safari Online. Walter always responded to my queries quickly, with honest and valuable responses that were clear and made sense. From our perspective he tailored a good mix of places for both our budget and standard of facilities that suited us perfectly, with enough information and links to help us make our decisions. In the end each camp was different and had different aspects and strengths that made each unique. We loved it.

Shane