Savuti Marsh
The relic of an ancient lake.
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The Savuti Channel is an erratic waterway in the western part of Chobe National Park in northern Botswana, feeding the Savuti Marsh. The area is among the most dynamic in the park for wildlife, with broad grasslands, dead trees along the channel and scenery quite unlike the Chobe riverfront. The marsh is the relic of a large inland lake whose water supply was cut long ago by plate tectonics. Today the channel feeds it, drying up for long periods and then flowing again because of tectonic activity in the area. In January 2010 its water reached the marsh for the first time since 1982, and this variable flow has left hundreds of dead trees along its banks. In the dry season you may see elephants, wildebeest, zebras, kudu and impala, and the region is known for its annual migration of zebras and the predators that follow them, including prides of lions and hyenas. In the rains the birdlife is rich, with 450 species recorded. Huge baobabs and acacias stand out on the plain, with elephant families moving beneath them. The marsh is 158 km in a straight line from Kasane and 113 km from Moremi Game Reserve, linked by a hard sandy track. The area lies about 50 km north of Mababe Gate. You need a 4x4 and experience of driving in sand, or an organised trip. Malaria is present, so see your doctor. Book your campsite early, and stay in your vehicle near wildlife.
The relic of an ancient lake.
With predators following.
A trace of the changing water.
Western Chobe National Park, northern Botswana
No, it dries for long periods and returns, as it reached the marsh again in 2010.
No, it needs a 4x4 and experience of sand.