Chobe Areas: Savuti

An utterly unique wildlife experience lies in the heart of the park. In stark contrast to the serene Chobe River is Savuti - raw and savage. Named after the enigmatic Savuti Channel that once fed a great marsh, tectonic activity has marooned Savuti from permanent waterways and the marsh has evolved into open grassland, flanked by mopane and acacia woodland and studded with tangled granite hills.

The dry season sees Savuti at its harshest: hot, arid and prone to fire. Artificial waterholes encourage many animals to remain in the area and they offer incredible game viewing as lions, elephant and hyenas jostle for position. Awaiting their turn are the other cats and antelope and hundreds of birds - the air is alive with queleas, sandgrouse and doves. It's a time of tension and survival as resources dwindle.

The rainy season transforms Savuti into a verdant wildlife Eden - thousands of zebra arrive from northern Chobe, herds of wildebeest and buffalo dot the grasslands. Many species time the onset of the rains with giving birth and an abundance of young impala and zebra means a high concentration of predators: lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog and hyena are commonly sighted.

The rains also herald the arrival of migratory birds: storks, eagles, waders and wildfowl. Many birds are attracted to the termite swarms that are triggered by the rains, making Savuti one of Botswana's top birding areas.

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