LINYANTI & KWANDO
In the furthest corner of the Chobe National Park and north of the Okavango Delta lies Linyanti, Kwando and Selinda, some of the finest private reserves in Botswana. Secluded and uncrowded, this short strip of swampy river frontage is reminiscent of the Okavango's permanent waterways with lagoons, reed beds, riverine forests and mopane woodlands.
The Linyanti Swamp covers an area of almost 1,250km², which fills the area between the Kwando and Linyanti rivers.
Kwando is another huge private reserve covering 2,300km². Most of its western side is dense mopane forest, but along the Kwando River stretches a band of lush riverine forest, interspersed with open plains. Kwando is a wild reserve and attracts lots of big game. The Selinda Spillway is where you want to go if you are looking for luxurious and private safaris, or a horse riding safari. Camp location is very important in this area as the thick bush can make spotting animals more difficult. However, this area of Botswana offers more remote and quieter safaris than are possible in the busier national parks.
Wildlife
Night drives and off-road driving are also allowed which makes finding predators easier, particularly wild dogs. The wildlife is plentiful, especially in the dry winter months when great concentrations of elephant, buffalo and zebra congregate along the rivers, with giraffe, impala, the rare roan antelope being seen in the forests and an increasing number of wild dogs, which this area is known for. The bird life is diverse too. Water birds, including pelican, are common while you are likely to hear, if not see, Pel's fishing owl.
Activities
Both land and water based activities are offered in Linyanti and Kwando, meaning you can go on game drives including night drives, boat cruises, mokoro rides and walking safaris. One advantage Linyanti and Kwando has over the Okavango Delta is that it maintains good water levels year round, which means it is possible to do boat cruises in the dry season too. Not all camps offer both land and water activities, it depends on where they are located. Some offer only water activities and others offer only land activities, which is important to know if it comes to your camp choice.
Seasons
The summer months, between October and March are technically the rainy season, but as Botswana is a desert country, this doesn't mean that there will be a lot of rain or monsoons. Usually there will be an afternoon thunderstorm, followed by clear skies. Confusingly, even though summer is the rainy season, it is actually dry season on the ground. This is when the water levels in the Linyanti and Kwando swamps will be at their lowest.
The winter months, between April and September, are the dry season, but this is when the water levels will be at their highest. The reason for this is that Linyanti and Kwando regions, much like the Okavango Delta, receive most of their water from Angola. It rains in Angola in summer and then it takes a few months for all the water to reach Botswana.
In terms of temperatures, summer can be very hot, sometimes exceeding 40 degree Celsius. Winter temperatures are more bearable, averaging the mid-20's. Night time in winter can become very cold though and you should bring a jacket.
The Linyanti Swamp covers an area of almost 1,250km², which fills the area between the Kwando and Linyanti rivers.
Kwando is another huge private reserve covering 2,300km². Most of its western side is dense mopane forest, but along the Kwando River stretches a band of lush riverine forest, interspersed with open plains. Kwando is a wild reserve and attracts lots of big game. The Selinda Spillway is where you want to go if you are looking for luxurious and private safaris, or a horse riding safari. Camp location is very important in this area as the thick bush can make spotting animals more difficult. However, this area of Botswana offers more remote and quieter safaris than are possible in the busier national parks.
Wildlife
Night drives and off-road driving are also allowed which makes finding predators easier, particularly wild dogs. The wildlife is plentiful, especially in the dry winter months when great concentrations of elephant, buffalo and zebra congregate along the rivers, with giraffe, impala, the rare roan antelope being seen in the forests and an increasing number of wild dogs, which this area is known for. The bird life is diverse too. Water birds, including pelican, are common while you are likely to hear, if not see, Pel's fishing owl.
Activities
Both land and water based activities are offered in Linyanti and Kwando, meaning you can go on game drives including night drives, boat cruises, mokoro rides and walking safaris. One advantage Linyanti and Kwando has over the Okavango Delta is that it maintains good water levels year round, which means it is possible to do boat cruises in the dry season too. Not all camps offer both land and water activities, it depends on where they are located. Some offer only water activities and others offer only land activities, which is important to know if it comes to your camp choice.
Seasons
The summer months, between October and March are technically the rainy season, but as Botswana is a desert country, this doesn't mean that there will be a lot of rain or monsoons. Usually there will be an afternoon thunderstorm, followed by clear skies. Confusingly, even though summer is the rainy season, it is actually dry season on the ground. This is when the water levels in the Linyanti and Kwando swamps will be at their lowest.
The winter months, between April and September, are the dry season, but this is when the water levels will be at their highest. The reason for this is that Linyanti and Kwando regions, much like the Okavango Delta, receive most of their water from Angola. It rains in Angola in summer and then it takes a few months for all the water to reach Botswana.
In terms of temperatures, summer can be very hot, sometimes exceeding 40 degree Celsius. Winter temperatures are more bearable, averaging the mid-20's. Night time in winter can become very cold though and you should bring a jacket.
where to stay...
From our visits to Linyanti and Kwando, we have first-hand knowledge of the lodges and below you can find the ones we most commonly use. Those lodges include mainly our favourites sorted from low-key to deluxe, which are usually smaller lodges with very personalised service. Open, close, then open each tab again to display the images fully.
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Camp Linyanti
lagoon Camp
Lebala Camp
linyanti Expeditions
Linyanti Bush Camp
Savuti Camp
KIng's Pool
DUma Tau
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linyanti & Kwando itineraries
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