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Linyanti & Selinda
Destinations/Botswana/Linyanti & Selinda

Linyanti & Selinda

Botswana's secret wilderness corridor — wild dog stronghold, canoeing the Selinda Spillway, and zero crowds.

Overview

About Linyanti & Selinda

The Linyanti and Selinda concessions form a private wilderness corridor of approximately 3,200 square kilometres along the Linyanti River in northern Botswana, connecting the Okavango Delta to Chobe National Park. This area is Botswana's best-kept secret — offering wildlife densities comparable to Chobe and the Okavango without the brand recognition that drives visitor numbers to those better-known destinations. The Linyanti River and the seasonal Savuti Channel provide the water that makes this ecosystem so productive. During the dry season, the Linyanti Marsh and Zibadianja Lagoon become magnets for elephant herds numbering in the thousands, alongside buffalo, hippo, and a full complement of predators. The area is a stronghold for African wild dog — the Linyanti packs are among the most habituated and frequently observed in Botswana — and lion prides here are large and active, benefiting from the abundance of prey concentrated along the waterways. The Selinda Spillway, a natural waterway connecting the Okavango Delta to the Linyanti system, has experienced periods of flow and drought that mirror the Savuti Channel's enigmatic behaviour. When flowing, the spillway creates a remarkable canoe safari route through pristine wilderness. Camps in the Linyanti-Selinda area operate on private concessions, meaning off-road driving, walking safaris, night drives, and boating are all available. The combination of water-based and land-based activities, exceptional predator sightings, and very low visitor densities makes Linyanti-Selinda one of the most rewarding safari areas in Southern Africa for experienced travellers seeking genuine wilderness immersion.

Best Time to Visit

When to Go

June to October for dry season wildlife concentrations along the Linyanti River. The wild dog denning season (June-September) is the best time for pack sightings. Green season (November-March) offers excellent birding and lower rates.

Wildlife

What You'll See

Large elephant herds, lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog (major stronghold), buffalo, hippo, crocodile, sable antelope, roan antelope, wild cat, civet, 400+ bird species including Pel's fishing owl and African skimmer.

Getting There

Your Journey Begins

Light aircraft from Maun (approximately 45 minutes) or Kasane (approximately 30 minutes) to private concession airstrips. No road access to most camps. The area is typically combined with the Okavango Delta or Chobe in a multi-camp itinerary.

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