Overview
Savuti, also spelled Savute, is a renowned wildlife area situated in northern Botswana. It lies between the Okavango Delta to the west and Chobe National Park to the east. The region is known for its open savannah landscapes, erratic water channels, and high concentration of large mammals and predators. It forms part of the greater Chobe National Park system and covers a remote and diverse ecological zone.
Savuti Channel
The Savuti Channel is a unique natural feature that defines the region. It is an ancient watercourse stretching approximately 100 km from the Chobe River to the Mababe Depression. The channel has historically flowed and dried up at irregular intervals.
- It was dry from around 1880 to 1957, then flowed again until the early 1980s.
- The channel resumed flowing around 2008 and dried up again in later years.
- Its unpredictable flow is believed to be due to tectonic activity beneath the Kalahari.
When active, the channel feeds the Savuti Marsh, which becomes a magnet for wildlife.
Wildlife
Savuti is known for its strong predator populations, particularly:
- Lions (noted for elephant hunting behavior during dry months)
- Spotted hyenas (large clans present year-round)
- Leopards, jackals, and cheetahs (commonly sighted)
The Savuti zebra migration is a seasonal highlight. Each year, from November to April, thousands of zebras move between the Linyanti region and the Mababe Depression, passing through Savuti.
Elephants are abundant, especially during the dry season (May–October), when water becomes scarce and animals gather near permanent waterholes.
Birdlife
Savuti offers good birdwatching, particularly around the marsh and grasslands. Notable species include:
- Secretary birds
- Kori bustards
- Red-billed francolins
- Carmine bee-eaters (summer migrants)
- Abdim’s storks
- Fish eagles
- Quelea finches (especially in April)
Bird diversity is highest during the rainy season
Vegetation and Landscape
The vegetation in Savuti includes:
- Mopane woodland
- Camelthorn (Acacia erioloba)
- Silver Terminalia
- Scrub savanna
During the dry season, the landscape appears arid and dusty, while the rainy season brings green cover and new growth.
Geology
Savuti’s terrain features:
- Magwikhwe Sand Ridge – an ancient shoreline of a large, extinct inland lake.
- Mababe Depression – once part of this super-lake system.
- Avuti Marsh – a seasonal floodplain depending on the channel’s flow.
- Rocky Outcrops (inselbergs) – such as Gobabis Hill, offer good views.
- Savuti Channel – the main hydrological feature.
Geological evidence suggests that the region was once covered by a large inland lake, fed by the now-diverted Zambezi, Chobe, and Okavango rivers. Tectonic activity and climate change altered these systems, leading to today’s landscape.
Activities
Savuti is accessible for self-drives (with 4×4 vehicles) and guided safaris. Activities typically include:
- Day game drives
- Birdwatching
- Seasonal wildlife photography
- Bush camping (at designated campsites)
- Observation of animal behavior at natural and artificial waterholes
Note: Night drives and walking safaris are not permitted within Chobe National Park boundaries (including Savuti) due to park regulations.
When to Visit
- Rainy Season (November–April):
- Zebra migration
- Green landscapes and birdlife
- Higher humidity and occasional road inaccessibility due to mud
- Zebra migration
- Dry Season (May–October):
- Best wildlife concentration near water sources
- Dusty conditions and high temperatures (especially September–October)
- Best wildlife concentration near water sources
Location
- Savuti lies in northern Botswana, forming part of Chobe National Park.
- It is situated between the Okavango Delta and Linyanti Marshes, within the Kalahari Basin.
- The area is only accessible by a 4×4 vehicle or light aircraft.