National Parks

Savute in Botswana

Situated towards the south of Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park, Savuti is at once a wildlife hotspot and a geological mystery.

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Everything you need to know about Savute

Situated towards the south of Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park, Savuti is at once a wildlife hotspot and a geological mystery. The fabled Savute Channel has a history of drying up for absolutely no reason and then raging back into flood just as inexplicably. In fact, it’s this mystery that gave the region its name – ‘Savute’ means ‘something that cannot be explained’. Today geologists postulate that its emergence and disappearance may have something to do with complicated tectonic movements beneath the Kalahari Desert, but even so, the channel and its fickle ways remains a source of great intrigue.

About the region

What type of wildlife will we see?

The region’s biggest draw card is the annual zebra migration that takes place between November and December, and then again around April. This is followed closely by some serious tooth-and-claw action as lions, cheetah and leopard follow in their wake. The area is also known for the large herds of elephant that congregate around watering holes and impressive packs of wild dogs as well. As for bird life, birders can look forward to an impressive variety of endemic species that include Abdim’s Storks, Carmine Bee-eaters, Fish Eagles and Red-billed Queleas.

The region is an avid adventurer’s dream. View ancient San rock art in person, get up close and personal with lions and elephants, and see arguably the greatest zebra migration as it unfolds across the arid savanna.

Top tip: Look out for the Gubatsa Hills. These 90-meter-tall hills that rise majestically out of an otherwise flat landscape and are said to have been formed millions of years ago during volcanic movement.

When to visit

The best time to visit the Savute region is between November and December, or April and May when the vast herds of zebra migrate from the Linyanti in the north, moving south to the lush grasslands that lie beyond.