LINYANTI RESERVE, BOTSWANA
In depth guide to the seasons, animals, birds & wildlife habitats of the African safari region of Linyanti swamps in Botswana.
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request a private safari tour of the
Linyanti in Botswana, click here >>> |
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The
Linyanti River (which
is later named the Chobe River), forms a natural
border between Namibia and Botswana. The river's
course is smooth and gentle until it hits a
volcanic fault line which causes a dramatic
90-degree change of course from south-east to
north-east. Inside the right-angle corner created
at this juncture, a swamp has formed (on the
Namibian side), similar in appearance to the
Okavango Delta, with papyrus lined waterways
leading to towering riverine forests of giant
ebony and marula trees.
On
the southern banks of the Linyanti River (in
Botswana), is the private Linyanti Wildlife
Reserve. Here the marsh subsides into lagoons
and steadily flowing rivers with riverine
forests of jackalberry and sausage trees leading
to open grasslands, and dry inland wooded
areas.
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| ANIMALS
& BIRDS
The Linyanti Reserve is
highly populated with animals particularly in
the dry winter months when elephants concentrate
in enormous numbers at the rivers and waterholes.
Thousands of zebra spend the winter in the Linyanti
before heading south to the Savuti in November
in expectation of summer rains and good grazing.
The particularly beautiful sable and roan antelopes
are found here and red lechwe and the aquatic
sitatunga antelope inhabit the wetlands.
The
main predators are lion, leopard, cheetah, wild
dog and hyena. A smaller carnivore and efficient
predator sometimes seen, is the serval. This
feline catches rodents and birds by silently
pouncing on them and has a creditable 50% success
rate. Bat-eared foxes are the cutest of the
small carnivores and prey on insects, scorpions,
mice and small birds.
Birdlife
is abundant here and particularly vocal with
a magnificent dawn chorus. Daytime noises include
incessantly grunting hippos and trumpeting elephants,
while the night brings roaring lions and laughing
hyenas.
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| SEASONS
Rainy
season: Rain falls during the warm months of
November to March creating high temperatures
and humidity. Mosquitoes breed well in these
conditions.
Dry
season: May to October is dry and as the months
progress and surface water becomes scarce, animals
congregate in huge numbers along the river.
Game is at its most dense and easily visible.
October is the hottest month.
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| LINYANTI
SPECIALITIES
· The Narina Trogon (bird)
is a rarity
· Amazing dawn choruses
· Aquatic sitatunga
antelopes have specially adapted hooves for
marshlands and can submerge if frightened
· Magnificent-horned
sable antelope
· Elephants and zebras
in vast numbers
· Bat-eared foxes
· Wild dogs on the move
· Luxury in the bush
at one of the top class camps and lodges in
the Linyanti
FACTS
Linyanti
Wildlife Reserve covers and area of 275 000
acres (111 288 hectares)
It is a private reserve so night drives and
off road driving is offered
This is a malarial area
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Follow the links below to Botswana's premier wildlife regions
and game reserves
PRIVATE
SAFARI LODGES WE RECOMMEND IN THE CHOBE REGION |
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