The Savuti Channel and Landscape
The Enigmatic Savuti Channel
The Savuti Channel is one of Africa's most fascinating geological regions. The100 kilometer waterway connects the Linyanti River to the Mababe Depression, and it flows and dries up in unpredictable cycles that span decades, creating completely different ecosystems each time.
When David Livingstone passed through in the mid 18th century, the channel was flowing strong. It then went bone dry for almost 70 years before suddenly reflooding in 2008.
After another 18 year dry spell, it's flowing again today. Scientists still can't fully explain why this happens, as it's not tied to local rainfall or any predictable pattern.
A Landscape Shaped by Water and Time
The channel's irregular cycles create one of the most dramatic transformations you'll see anywhere in Africa. When flowing, Savuti Marsh becomes a lush wetland paradise, drawing massive herds of elephants, buffalo, and countless other grazers. The water brings life to vast stretches that were previously parched scrubland.
When dry, the landscape tells a different story entirely. Ghostly dead trees line the channel, these trees germinated during the dry years, only to drown when the waters returned. This is both haunting and beautiful, and provides incredible photography opportunities: whether you're capturing the stark beauty of drought or the abundance of a water-rich ecosystem.
The Mababe Depression itself was once part of the massive Makgadikgadi super-lake, and you can still see evidence of this ancient geological history in the terrain. Rocky outcrops like Gubatsa Hills offer fantastic vantage points to take in the sweeping landscape, and you'll find ancient San rock paintings that give glimpses into how past inhabitants experienced this ever-changing environment.
Include Savuti on these trips
The trips below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
Wildlife and Game Viewing
Wildlife in Savuti
Savuti delivers some of the most dramatic wildlife encounters in Africa. The region hosts over 120,000 elephants, that's 35% of the world's entire African elephant population, creating an almost guaranteed elephant experience. But it's the predator action that really sets Savuti apart. Lions here have developed the rare behavior of hunting elephants, something you'll witness nowhere else in Africa with such frequency.
The open grasslands and scattered waterholes create perfect conditions for tracking the big cats. Large lion prides patrol the area alongside spotted hyena clans and elusive leopards that emerge from rocky outcrops at dusk. We particularly love the intensity of the dry season when animals concentrate around limited water sources.
Migration Patterns and Seasonal Highlights
Savuti sits directly in the path of Africa's second largest zebra migration. Between November and April, thousands of zebra follow the rains through this landscape, creating spectacular opportunities for predator-prey interactions. The timing varies each year based on rainfall patterns, but when the herds arrive, the hunting action intensifies dramatically.
The unpredictable Savuti Channel adds another layer to the wildlife dynamics. When flowing, it transforms the entire ecosystem and wildlife movement patterns. When dry, animals must travel further for water, concentrating around permanent sources and creating those spectacular game viewing moments we all dream about.
Accommodation Options in Savuti
Savute Safari Lodge
The choice of where to base yourself in Savuti really comes down to what you prioritize: proximity to wildlife or elevated views with a bit more exclusivity.
Savute Safari Lodge sits right on the banks of the mysterious Savuti Channel, putting you front and center for elephant viewing. With 11 luxury chalets and one family unit accommodating a maximum of 24 guests, it's perfectly sized for an intimate experience. The lodge's viewing deck and sunken bench are cleverly designed for low-angle photography when elephants come to drink, and sometimes you'll have herds wandering right through the camp. Because it operates on 24 hour solar power, you'll have all the modern comforts while staying eco-conscious.
The trade-off? Being inside Chobe National Park means no off-road driving or night drives, but honestly, the flat, open landscape here makes this less of an issue than it would be elsewhere.
Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge
Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge takes a different approach entirely. Perched on the eastern slopes of the Ghoha Hills, its 11 canvas suites offer sweeping 200 degree views across the savannah to a natural waterhole below. The elevated position means spectacular sunrise views, and you'll often spot game from your suite. The lodge runs on solar power and offers both guided walks and game drives.
The main consideration here is that you're about 45 minutes from the main Savuti Marsh game viewing area, so early morning drives in the colder months (June-August) mean bundling up for a bumpy ride before dawn.
Alternative options worth considering
If neither of these quite fits your style, Camp Savuti offers a more traditional tented camp experience right in the heart of the marshes, while Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge provides 5 star comfort with a wildlife hide for incredibly close encounters.
For something completely different, the mobile tented safaris move with the seasons and game, setting up in exclusive wilderness sites with real beds and proper bathrooms. Our team can help you understand which accommodation option is right for you.
Savuti FAQs
-
What's the best way to include Savuti in my Botswana itinerary?
Most people visit Savuti as part of a broader Botswana safari, and we'd recommend allocating 3 nights here to really appreciate what makes this corner of Chobe National Park so special. The dramatic open landscapes and intense predator activity deserve more than a quick flyover.
For a regional focus on northern Botswana, plan for about 7 days total. This gives you enough time to experience Savuti alongside the Okavango Delta and Chobe Riverfront - 3 completely different ecosystems that showcase Botswana's incredible diversity. You'll go from Savuti's wild, dry terrain where lions hunt elephants, to gliding through papyrus channels in a mokoro canoe.
-
What is the best time to visit Savuti for game viewing?
The dry winter season from May to October offers the most comfortable conditions and concentrated wildlife viewing, with September and October providing the most intense game sightings around water sources.
-
How do I get to Savuti?
Most travelers fly into Maun or Kasane, then take a charter flight to Savuti Airstrip followed by a short game drive transfer to camp. Road travel takes 4 to 6 hours from major hubs and requires a 4x4 vehicle due to sandy tracks.
-
What wildlife can I expect to see in Savuti?
Savuti is renowned for exceptional predator viewing, including lion prides that are famous for hunting elephants, leopards, wild dogs, and spotted hyenas. Large herds of elephants, buffalo, zebra, and antelope species like roan and sable are also common.
-
How many nights should I spend in Savuti?
A minimum of 3 nights allows for extensive game drives and exploration of the diverse terrain. Savuti is often combined with other Botswana destinations like Moremi and Chobe Riverfront as part of a 7 day safari.
-
What makes Savuti unique for photography?
Savuti offers exceptional wildlife photography opportunities with dramatic predator-prey interactions, elephants in the channel, and abundant birdlife against open landscapes. Elevated tents and observation decks provide excellent vantage points for telephoto photography.
-
What is the Savuti Channel and why is it significant?
The Savuti Channel is famous for its unpredictable flow patterns, sometimes drying up for decades before flowing again. This dramatically influences wildlife movement and creates unique ecosystem dynamics that make Savuti particularly special for game viewing.
-
What are the temperature and weather conditions in Savuti?
The dry season June - October features hot days of 25 - 30°C with cool mornings and nights of 5 - 10°C, while the wet season November - March brings afternoon thunderstorms and temperatures of 30 - 35°C, along with muddy road conditions.
-
Can I do night drives in Savuti?
Night drives are permitted in private concessions near Savuti but not inside the main Chobe National Park boundaries. Most activities focus on morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 vehicles with exceptional predator viewing opportunities.
Include Savuti on these trips
The trips below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
3 reasons to book with Brilliant
1. Highest-rated safari company on Trustpilot
So you can book with confidence knowing you're in safe hands.
2. A fully bespoke service and expert impartial advice
Planning a trip to East Africa is complicated. Brilliant makes it easy. Our team have spent decades in the region so we can help you find the right trip - and we don't charge a fee.
3. Exclusive access at the best rates
We have exclusive access to the best value-for-money camps and lodges at rates you won't get anywhere else.
Melissa and team ready for safari
Ready to plan your African adventure?
Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.