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Elephants en masse in the Savuti

This is elephant territory like no other. It is well known that you travel to Chobe National Park to experience elephants in their masses and it is here in the heart of the Savuti that these giant mammals congregate and frolic in the newly replenished channel and surrounding swamps.

Game drives at Camp Savuti often invite numerous close-encounters with elephants and offer endless photographic opportunities to guests with an eye for African beauty.

Recently, photographer Kevin MacLaughlin captured these 2 elephant bulls interacting at a mud wallow. Take a look:

Introducing Camp Savuti

The Savuti Marsh area constitutes the western stretch of the Chobe National Park, and is famed as one of the park’s primary ecosystems, reputed for the sporadically-flowing Savuti Channel.

In recognition of this unmissable safari destination, Camp Savuti has been added to other camps dotted in areas of Botswana’s finest splendour. This small, intimate camp accommodates 10 guests in canvas comfort, yet retains an air of luxury to reassure the lavish traveller. Meru tents are exclusively positioned on platforms that pour generous views over the mysterious Savuti landscape.

Openly spacious interiors encourage safari summers and warm evenings spent on private decks, admiring the glorious marshland winding intermittently before you. A comfortable lounge, bar and dining area await in the separately constructed guest area of this charming camp. This iconic marshland can not go unnoticed with raised guest areas providing those sprawling views of the Savuti Channel and the abounding activity that is attracted to its banks.

The rolling grasslands that are so acquainted with the Chobe’s dry season bring the grazing, ambling plains game. Kudu in elegance, impala in abundance and warthog in characteristic comedy intermingle below, as if only for viewing pleasure. Zebra and wildebeest bring their faithful companionship to the sweet grass of the Savuti, while the Chobe giants come in numbers matching their size, to remind those passing through on an ancient migration, that this is permanent elephant territory.

Watch the video of a Camp Savuti experience:

Hanging with the lions of the Savuti

Recently at Camp Savuti, wildlife photographer Kevin MacLaughlin captured this delightful series of pictures that would make any lion lover jealous. A pride of playful lion cubs gallivanted in the Savuti marshland, not a care in the world for the awed onlookers who were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

The Savuti is famous for abundant elephant populations, and lions; both of which have been documented extensively on the likes of National Geographic by heavyweight filmmakers, Dereck and Beverly Joubert. The tragic, yet spectacular truth about the lions of the Savuti is their specialised ability to hunt and kill elephants – a feat that required the co-operation of entire prides to take down these huge beasts.

When the Savuti Channel was bone-dry during a 30-year drought, lion prides were large and they spanned vast territories, dominating this region of Chobe and acquiring a reputation that still stands today. Since the reintroduction of the flowing Savuti Channel, the occurrences of elephant killings have declined and the prides of the Savuti are more segmented; however the most likely place in Africa to witness this natural spectacle is right here in Camp Savuti’s back yard.

The Story of the Savuti

There’s a history to the Savuti that tells of the reawakened river channel, once dry and dormant for a spell of nearly three decades, and the specialised lions that gorged themselves on elephant kills. This ecosystem adapted to the dryness of the empty Savuti River bed until 2008 when, as if by magic, the water began to flow. Lion prides as big as 30 individuals had adapted to working together to hunt the biggest prey of all; taking advantage of elephants’ poor night vision and using psychological intimidation techniques, then pouncing in unison and successfully bringing down mammal giants.

The Savuti was famous for this incredible lion activity and although it’s still likely to occur here more than anywhere else, the arrival of the water in the Savuti channel split these enormous prides and the ecosystem adapted once again. Now, the presence of permanent water means that the Savuti Marsh is a hive of activity during winter when other water sources dry up.

The return of the floodplains nourished the green growth of vegetation, inviting the plethora of wildlife the Chobe is so well known for. The Savuti Marshland enchants with skeletal remnants of the trees whose growth has been taunted by the erratic channel, depicting a landscape that epitomises this area of Botswana’s first National Park. The sweet grass in the Savuti area attracts grazers and browsers of every description, who in turn, attract their carnivorous counterparts; creating what we know as one of the world’s premier predator viewing areas.

Located in the Marsh, right on the Savuti Channel is a little piece of tented heaven. Camp Savuti has only five structured canvas tents, raised on wooden platforms, complete with ensuite bathrooms and showers that open up to the heavens. Guests can relax in simple stylish comfort in their canvas tents. Tents overlook the Savuti Channel and the wooden platforms at the entrance of the tents serve as a fantastic vantage point. And if that’s not enough, simply spend time in the quaint lounge area absorbing the latest wildlife novel with a gin and tonic in hand.

When the buffaloes come for coffee at Camp Linyanti

One of the highlights of a morning game drive (aside from the epic wildlife encounters and watching the bush come alive) is the coffee break. Just as the morning is warming up and your tummy starts to grumble, your well-prepped guide pulls up to a nice, scenic spot in the bush and pulls out the flasks and muffins.

This is your chance to explore the area with your binoculars, take in the silence, and photograph those birds you keep speeding passed. It’s been a while since your pre-dawn coffee ‘n rusk and these mid-morning snacks are very welcome, but you can never quite foresee the presence of Africa’s most fierce bovids at your coffee spot!

At Camp Linyanti, guests were unexpectedly visited by a group of buffalo, on their morning tea break. This region of the Chobe National Park is renowned for its abundance of big game, ungulate migrations, and huge herds of buffalo.

You never can predict what is going to happen in the bush, and you should always be prepared, especially when it comes to these large, horned herbivores, but what happens most often is this: a moment spent witnessing Africa’s wild animals in their natural habitat. Just some of Africa’s Big 5 passing by…

Leopard antics at Mapula Lodge

Leopards are some of the most sought after cats in the world. These spotted beauties are far more elusive than lions and are seen in much fewer habitats, but in fact, leopards are the most prolific of the cat species. Living and hunting alone, leopards stay well hidden, so when you see the swish of a white-tipped tail or hear its rasping growl, get those cameras ready.

At Mapula Lodge in the remote north-western corner of the Okavango Delta, a mother leopard and her grown cub were spotted hanging out in a tree with what was left of an impala kill. Usually, leopards are solitary animals and do not share their food, but the exception arises with the relationship between a mother and her cubs, who will often remain together until the cubs are 18months old.

Female leopards are exceptionally good mothers (raising their cubs alone) and will protect and provide for their young for the first year of their lives – leopards are capable of making their first kill at about 11 months old. In this video you can see the fearsome interaction between leopard and hyena, which is a common occurrence in the wild. Leopard cubs suffer a high mortality rate because of lions and hyenas, and once they are grown, leopards are in constant battle with hyenas for food.

Mapula Lodge is in a prime, private location on the border of the Moremi Game Reserve and exclusive sightings like this are some of the most special safari memories, even for the most veteran traveller!

Take a look:

Video: A cheeky baby honey badger at Camp Linyanti

Most of us have had a laugh at the famous YouTube hit about the fearless honey badger. This fairly small creature has one of the biggest attitudes of all animals, nevermind its size. Its immune system is so strong that it can fight the effects of the deadliest snake venom, and it escapes capture with a very unique ‘turning’ tactic. The honey badger’s tough skin is loose around its shoulders, enabling it to turn 360° in its skin and turn on its own predators. The story goes that these small carnivores target the groin of large animals that threaten it, and as a result, it does not have many predators!

These are fascinating creatures, and as its name suggests, its diet consists largely of bee larvae and honey, but it also makes a tasty meal of mice, scorpions, spiders, lizards, and snakes. Have a look at this baby honey badger giving the cameraman attitude at Camp Linyanti in Botswana. Filmed by Kevin MacLaughlin.

Not as cute has he looks!

Discover Camp Linyanti

When you’ve been to the top-rated safari hotspots and fallen in love with Africa hook, line, and sinker, you begin to search for the hidden gems. The locations that are more remote, more raw, and more wild are found in Botswana’s swampland paradise just north-west of Chobe. Read what 2 bloggers had to say about Camp Linyanti in the remote and untamed Linyanti marshlands:

Chobe is fondly referred to as the ‘Land of Giants’ because of its abundance of elephant herds, which is one the highest concentrations of game in Africa. It has a diverse habitat comprising savannah, grasslands and the lush floodplains and marsh areas that form part of the Chobe River. Drive down any road in the Chobe region and you’re bound to spot elephants grazing on the grass embankments.

During November, zebras foal in the Savuti and migrate to Linyanti between February and April. Witnessing a wildlife migration is always a highlight of any safari and this is a major attraction in the area. The Linyanti is a remote, off-the-beaten track wetland oasis ideal for wildlife enthusiasts wanting a remote safari experience. The Linyanti is fed by the flooded Chobe and Kwando rivers and is nestled in the north-west corner of the Chobe National Park.

In conjunction with offering the standard game drives, Camp Linyanti also offers daily boating activities on a fully-kitted boat ideal for navigating the unexplored channels teeming with hippo and crocodile.

Views at this camp are awe-inspiring. Dotted in the distance is Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and vistas of the Linyanti lagoon stretch on for miles into the horizon. Here you will find high concentration of elephant, zebra, giraffe, antelope and a variety of mammals.

Camp Linyanti comprises five elevated, ensuite rondavel-style tents – the perfect balance between comfortable and luxury. In true safari style, there are outdoor showers, wooden platforms and plenty of game viewing areas.

Secluded and off the tourist path, Camp Linyati is just you, the views and the wildlife. What more could you want?

By Carolynne Higgins (read the full article here: Top 5 Places for an Authentic Botswana Safari)

In this fairy-tale part of the Chobe National Park, families can be accommodated in true camping style. Separate tents, amongst the trees, provide tranquil viewpoints from which to sit back and absorb the activity that unfolds as if you weren’t there at all.

A famed location for elephants is the Linyanti region of Chobe. The river – another permanent water source quenching the thirst of an overabundance of wildlife in winter – is the lifeblood of this uncrowded reserve. Namibia’s Caprivi Strip (recently renamed Zambezi Region) is visible on the far horizon, with little but the great lumbering forms of elephants to interrupt it. A tented paradise cosies up on the Linyanti lagoon, a secluded destination for only 10 people at a time.

The 5 uniquely rounded canvas tents have private decks and open-air ensuite showers, while one exceptional little piece of heaven is reserved for honeymooners. All the surrounding water means that the camp is located in a wildlife hotspot, while game drives are often by boat; however, Camp Linyanti has recently opened never before seen game drive routes, exploring even more of this hidden joy.

By Chloe Cooper (read the full article here: Discover Botswana’s Hidden Secrets)

Watch this short video summarising the Camp Linyanti experience.

Camp Linyanti: a destination of dreams

Chobe National Park’s Linyanti Marsh region is one of the country’s most phenomenal game viewing locations. It is an untamed wilderness adjacent to the Linyanti River where riverine woodlands and lagoons surround the saturated areas close to the water, creating characteristic marshland, where the likelihood of spotting rarities, such as the red lechwe and sitatunga antelope, will sugarcoat your safari. The Linyanti swamp is favoured by predators whose prowess guarantees their dominance in the area. The presence of lions, leopards and wild dogs amplify the offer making this unexplored, remote region of Botswana the perfect place for Camp Linyanti.

Copyright Kevin MacLaughlin

Copyright Kevin MacLaughlin

The floodplains of this swamp land seep through the area approaching Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, adding to the ingenuity of this particular camp’s position. Unruly, unspoilt, and undiscovered, Camp Linyanti nestles discreetly within the waterways and lagoons of the Linyanti floodplains and commands the pictorial representation of wilderness. Five elevated canvas rondavels stand defenceless before breath-taking views, eliciting a sense of marvel in the onlooker. Riverine forests and huge trees surround this intimate camp, which provides for its guests open-air showers and private balconies, which capture Botswana’s glory as it stretches toward the Caprivi Strip.

An abundance of animals congregate here; whether it is in the rich greenery born of the rains, or the golden grasslands that become of the land once the sun has scorched the surface. Botswana is reputed for some of the best wildlife sightings in Africa, and Linyanti surely takes that title for Botswana; little else need be mentioned on this destination. Where Kalahari giants roam in a higher concentration than anywhere else in the world, and Africa’s rarest predators follow the ancient migration routes of the most popular prey; the prolific region of the north-western Chobe is a destination of dreams.

Images by Kevin MacLaughlin.

Watch the video, narrated by Kevin MacLaughlin: Camp Linyanti – An Undiscovered Gem

Copyright Kevin MacLaughlin

Copyright Kevin MacLaughlin

Copyright Kevin MacLaughlin

Lioness and cubs with a giraffe kill at Mapula

The lions of the Okavango Delta have been documented many times with special focus tuning to their unbelievable strength and learned ability to hunt in water. In Dereck and Beverly Joubert’s film for National Geographic – The Last Lions – a lone mother lioness has to learn to take down buffalo alone. It is an incredible act of strength and endurance as she continues to fail, until she learns to hunt these huge, horned bovids in the water.

Here, at Mapula Lodge – a quiet and undiscovered piece of Delta luxury – a similar scene played out for guests on game drive. This mother lioness and her 2 cubs were seen with a freshly killed giraffe. Watch the power as she drags the enormous carcass into the grass and her young babies learn about feasting like a lion. The lion activity in the Okavango Delta is exceptional. This is nature at its best.