The
Savute (also spelt Savuti) area is a prime game viewing destination
and covers almost 5,000 square km in the south west of the Chobe
National Park. The area offers great game viewing at certain times
of the year. The annual zebra migration is followed by large concentrations
of lion. Good sightings of cheetah and leopard are possible and
the endangered wild dog also occurs here. Savute, however is famous
for its large concentrations of elephants that congregate around
the waterholes at sunset. This makes for exceptional observation
of the interaction of Africa’s wildlife. Birdlife is also
great and a spectacular sight is the redbilled queleas that gather
in their thousands.
The Savute 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. The channel dried up in 1885 and started flowing
again in 1967 until the end of 1982. Since 1982, the channel has
been dry.
The dead Camelthorn (acacia erioloba) trees on the marsh have
became one of the most prominent features of the landscape and
are the result of drowning. This is closely related to the flooding
and drying up of the Savute Channel. The Magwikhwe sand ridge
is 100km long and 20 metres high and is situated on the western
edge of Savute. This ridge is the ancient shoreline of a super-lake
that covered much of northern Botswana. It is difficult to imagine
that this dry landscape was once covered by a huge lake. Watching
the sunset on the eastern part of the marsh is an experience remembered
by travellers for many years.
Best time to visit Savute will be dependant on your interests.
During the months of November and December thousands of zebras
migrate from the Linyanti in the north and move south through
Savute to the grasslands of the Mababe Depression. In early part
of the year the herds congregate once again before heading northwards
again. From May to October the seasonal water dry up and the wildlife
can be found around three artificial waterholes. September and
October offers excellent game viewing as predators are concentrated
around the waterholes but it can be extremely hot during this
time.
LODGES IN SAVUTE · SAFARIS
IN BOTSWANA
