_Savuti

Situated about mid-way between the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta, Savuti is a harsh, arid landscape, only watered by the annual rains.  These rains are the lifeblood of the Savute Marsh, which then plays host to herds of zebra, as they migrate from the north.

Stretching from the waterways of the Linyanti all the way to Savute Marsh, the winding waterways of the Savuti Channel pumped life into the western section of Chobe National Park for many thousands of generations.    But this fickle and unpredictable channel has a fascinating history of flooding and drying up independently of good rainy seasons and flood levels elsewhere - a mystery that has intrigued geologists and other researchers for many years.

When David Livingstone discovered the Savute Channel in 1851 it was flowing.   Thirty years later the channel had disappeared and the Savute Marsh had dried out, remaining this way for almost 80 years.    It flowed again in the late 1950s, continuing until the early 1980s when it again receded, gaining the channel its reputation as ‘the river which flows in both directions.’

In 2009, after another extended hiatus, the channel began flowing again and by January 2010 had spilled into the Savute Marsh for the first time in three decades.   Only to dry up again a few years later!

Savute has long been spoken of  in awe by safari enthusiasts due to its wild reputation, and fierce concentration of predators.

Savuti accommodation

Highlights of Savuti include:

Photo: Dana Allen

Predators

Made particularly famous by Derek and Beverley Joubert's film, "Eternal Enemies", the predators of Savuti are legendary.

The lion prides are fierce and large, and have been known to attack and bring down adult elephants at some times of year.   These lions' battles with hyena packs have been well documented by the Jouberts, and you can sense the dangerous atmosphere on any safari in Savuti.

Leopards find shelter in the Gubatsa Hills, while the marsh is perfect for cheetahs and frequent sightings are made here of both of these beautiful cats. 

The Gubatsa Hills

These hills are a highlight in Botswana as, during a road safari, it is often a shock to the system to see some kind of mountain in the country!

Besides their resident leopards, they are also home to some ancient San Bushman paintings, and these can be viewed on a short climb up some of the rocks.

The Savuti Marsh

Game drives in the Savuti region often focus around the marsh, which is the main feature of the area.

This landscape is the perfect hunting territory for cheetah, and after the rains, is home to enormous zebra herds, which are drawn by the nutritious grasses as they make their way down south from the northern rivers.