Linyanti or Selinda Reserves
Where even the animals go to get away from it all
The Linyanti Reserve stretches along the swampy fringe of the Linyanti River, a magnet for wildlife drawn to water in this otherwise dry northern region. Elephant herds by the hundreds gather during the dry season, and predators follow: leopards slink through the riverine woodlands, lion prides lounge in the shade, and spotted hyenas scout the floodplains. Game drives here are intimate and often action-packed, with guests and guides working together to track elusive species through acacia forests and open savanna.
Selinda, east of Linyanti, is a stunning mosaic of channels, palm islands, and seasonal floodplains—part of the greater Selinda Spillway system that connects the Okavango Delta to the Linyanti. It’s a place where photographic opportunities abound, and the guiding is some of the finest in Africa. The area is known for its healthy populations of African wild dogs, cheetahs, and rare antelope species like sable and roan. Boat safaris, walking excursions, and night drives round out a safari circuit as diverse as the landscape itself.
Because both reserves are private concessions, the experience here is flexible, personalized, and deeply immersive. Guests can enjoy off-road driving for better wildlife encounters, stop for sundowners whenever the light is perfect, or follow a lion’s call into the twilight. Accommodations range from luxurious tented suites with plunge pools to small expedition-style camps designed for total wilderness immersion. And with so few vehicles on the land, every wildlife sighting feels like your own.
In Linyanti and Selinda, the wild isn’t polished or choreographed—it’s alive and unfolding. This is where seasoned travelers come to feel Africa’s pulse without filter, to sit quietly as a herd of elephants passes by just meters away, or to wake in the night to the sound of lions calling across the floodplain. For those seeking safari at its most authentic and exhilarating, these reserves are pure magic.
