Safari to Linyanti Selinda

gorgeous open plains dotted with pretty palm tree islands

At around 456 square kilometres, the Linyanti Selinda Concession is a superb and substantial private safari area.

This private concession is restricted to just three small camps, which are amongst the finest in the country.

Selinda is an utterly pristine wilderness, free from all signs of humanity other than these small-scale safari operations and where you are free to explore unhindered by the strict regulations and often chronic vehicle traffic of the national parks.

The sweet spots are those areas to the northeast which benefit from the flood during May-Aug.

The concession is also traversed by the Selinda Spillway, an ephemeral channel which occasionally connects the Linyanti and Okavango delta areas. When this flows this concession becomes exceptionally attractive.

The area is best renowned for its uniquely beautiful open plains, dotted with stands of hardwood forests and palm tree ‘islands’.

Predator sightings here can be very strong, notably lions, but also leopards and hyenas. Wild dog sightings tend to be more transient than in the two adjacent concession areas.

When it comes to trip durations in Botswana, most visitors combine 2, 3 or 4 lodges by light aircraft over 6-12 nights, one of which will usually be here in Linyanti Waterfront, often in combination with further nights at the Victoria Falls and/or down in the Cape.

Of the three camps here, two are extremely high-end, amongst the most polished in Africa and with price tags to match. The third camp is a deliberately simpler and more reasonably priced option.

Seasonality

Linyanti Selinda can be visited year round.

The drying out of the seasonal waterholes in the vast hinterland during Mar-May causes good numbers of animals to migrate towards the Kwando and Linyanti rivers. The wildlife viewing therefore tends to be very strong throughout this period.

During May-Jun temperatures can drop towards freezing during the night, but this has little adverse effect on safari, the days are gorgeous and there are virtually no insects around.

During the May-Oct dry season the wildlife viewing in this area can be really intense and particularly photogenic. This dry season period is the most popular time for safari, when the weather is reliably good.

During Oct-Nov the temperatures and humidities can become uncomfortably high in advance of the rains.

During the Nov-May green season the landscapes are verdant and beautiful, the animals are well-fed and there’s lots of babies around, providing a great contrast to the harshness of the dry season. It is also important to note that there are substantial savings to be made on lodge prices during green season, so it really can be a smart time to travel.

Getting there

Access to Linyanti Selinda is usually by light aircraft from Kasane, Maun and other camp airstrips.

extremely luxurious and elegant lodges