Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Botswana
A dream for safari lovers
Peak time
August to October
Best time to visit
June to October (dry season)
Known for
Its huge dry-season elephant concentrations
Also known for
Being a stronghold of the African wild dog; its remote wilderness
About the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
The Linyanti is a vast private wilderness that offers one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in Africa. This concession is situated on the southern bank of the Linyanti River, forming an unfenced corridor between the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. This strategic location, combined with its permanent water source, makes it a magnet for wildlife, especially during the height of the dry season.
The experience here is defined by solitude and exceptional game viewing. The Linyanti is world-famous for its massive dry-season concentrations of elephants, with thousands of these giants congregating along the river and at the waterholes. It is also renowned as a stronghold of the endangered African wild dog.
Did you know
The Linyanti River forms the border between Botswana and Namibia’s Zambezi Region (previously the Caprivi Strip)
A safari in the Linyanti is about getting away from it all. With only a handful of small, luxurious camps in this vast landscape, you will feel as though you have the wilderness to yourself. It is a place for the discerning traveller, offering expert guiding, spectacular predator action and a deep connection to a truly untouched corner of Botswana.
Get to know the Linyanti
The Linyanti is the epitome of an exclusive, private safari destination. As a private concession, your expert guide and tracker team can drive off-road to get you closer to the action. Thrilling night drives with spotlights are a standard part of the daily routine, offering a window into the secretive world of nocturnal predators.
The landscape is a beautiful mix of riverine forests along the Linyanti River, vast floodplains, and dry inland mopane and acacia woodlands. Game viewing is often focused along the river and around the permanent waterholes, which act as powerful magnets for wildlife in the dry season. The limited number of small, luxurious camps ensures that you will almost never share a sighting with another vehicle.
History
The history of the Linyanti is one of forward-thinking conservation. Its modern story began when the land was allocated as a private photographic safari concession. Unlike the national parks, the area was developed with a clear vision for low-impact, high-value tourism from the outset.
Pioneering safari companies leased the land and built small, exclusive camps with a strong focus on conservation and expert guiding. This model proved to be very successful, transforming the Linyanti into one of the most sought-after safari destinations in Africa. The revenue generated from tourism funds the conservation of this vast wilderness, including extensive anti-poaching patrols and research projects, particularly on elephants and wild dogs.
More unforgettable activities
Turtle egg laying and hatching
Traditional Bo-Kaap cooking experience
Tracking Africa’s most elusive species on foot
SkyBoma, Etosha
Rhino darting and chipping experience
Picnicking on islands in the Zambezi
Paddle with penguins
Live-aboard luxury Zambezi safari
Hiking Table Mountain with a botanist or forager
Voices of our guests
Linyanti Wildlife Reserve FAQs
It is most famous for two things: its massive dry-season elephant concentrations and for being one of the best places in Africa to see the endangered African wild dog.
While they are close, their character is different. The Okavango is a unique inland wetland defined by its intricate channels and mokoro safaris. The Linyanti is a more classic safari landscape defined by a major river system and vast inland woodlands, and is often considered to have a wilder, more remote feel.
Yes, it is located in a high-risk malaria zone. It is essential to consult your doctor about appropriate anti-malarial medication before you travel.
You can see four of the Big Five. The Linyanti has exceptional populations of lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo. However, rhinos are absent from this area.
It is a remote, fly-in-only destination. You will take a light aircraft flight from Maun or Kasane to a private airstrip inside the concession.
A stay of three nights is ideal. This provides enough time to explore this vast private wilderness and have an excellent chance of finding its famous predators, especially wild dogs.
Yes, it is an excellent choice for a first safari, especially for those seeking an exclusive and remote experience away from the crowds. The quality of guiding and the density of wildlife are superb.
Staying in a private concession like the Linyanti offers a more exclusive safari experience. You will see very few other vehicles, and your guide can drive off-road for special sightings and take you on night drives, activities not permitted in the national parks.
The camps in the Linyanti are generally small, luxurious and exclusive. They are designed to offer a high level of comfort and personal service in a very remote wilderness setting. Speak to your Travel Architect about which best suits your needs.
Yes, perfectly. It is very easy to combine with a stay in the Okavango Delta, the Makgadikgadi Pans or Chobe National Park via short light aircraft flights, creating a comprehensive and diverse Botswana itinerary.
