Overview–botswana

Linyanti Concession

The Linyanti Concession, located in northern Botswana, is a private wildlife reserve that spans approximately 1,250 square kilometers. It is bordered by the Okavango Delta to the south and west and Chobe National Park to the east. This area is characterized by diverse habitats including floodplains, woodlands, and riverine forests, which contribute to its rich biodiversity.

Best Time to Visit

The optimal time for wildlife viewing in the Linyanti Concession is during the dry season (May to October), when animals are drawn to water sources. This period offers excellent opportunities for game drives and other activities such as night drives and walking safaris. Conversely, the wet season (November to March) brings lush landscapes and attracts migratory birds along with herds of zebra.

Activities Available

Visitors can engage in various activities while exploring the Linyanti Concession. These include game drives—both day and night—walking safaris, boat trips on the rivers and lagoons, fishing activities, and wildlife hides for observing animals at close range. Off-road driving is permitted in this exclusive reserve, allowing for better sightings of wildlife.

Accommodations

The Linyanti Concession features several luxury lodges operated by Wilderness Safaris. These lodges offer all-inclusive packages that encompass accommodation, meals, guided tours, and other amenities designed for an immersive safari experience.

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

Nov

Dec

Rates

From: $500 to $3500 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: May to October (Best general wildlife viewing)

High Season

From: July to October (Higher rates apply but not busy)

Size

From: 1,210km² / 467mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Linyanti Concession is part of a big ecosystem, and most large safari animals are resident or migrate through. The park lies on an elephant migration route, and in the Dry season, elephant numbers are phenomenal. Lion, cheetah and the endangered wild dog all occur in good numbers. The water-loving red lechwe is abundant, and less common antelope species include roan and sable antelope.

Wildlife Highlights

During the wet months, from November to April, the area is home to the calving and migration of zebra. Night drives are part of the daily program in Linyanti, and some of the species that might be spotted after dark are the springhare, which favors the Kalahari sands, lesser bush baby, aardwolf, serval, large spotted genet, and maybe even the elusive pangolin.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Linyanti has seasonal wildlife viewing. The dry months, from May to October, are the best time to see large concentrations of animals. The Wet season months, from November to April, are special for the zebra migration.

General Wheather

The climate in Linyanti Concession is warm to hot. However, mornings can get very chilly in the Dry season, so pack some warm clothing for early-morning game drives and boat trips. The climate can be broken into two major seasons: the Wet and the Dry.

Dry Season –April to October

The coolest months are June and July, although temperatures start to rise in August, and peak in October. April sees the last of the Wet season’s rain.

April & May – It is mostly dry and sunny from the beginning of the Dry season. The vegetation remains lush. Daytime temperatures climb to 30°C/86°F, so it is hot in the middle of the day.
June, July & August – These months don’t see much rain at all. Conditions are cooling down, with afternoon temperatures reaching 26°C/79°F on average. Early mornings have a high chill factor at about 7°C/45°F.
September & October – These months mark the completion of the Dry season. Until the rains break, it gets hotter and hotter. An afternoon average of 34°C/93°F makes October extremely hot, although it’s pleasant at night and in the morning.

Wet Season –November to March

The first rains provide great relief. The pattern is afternoon storms, but it rarely rains all day. It remains hot until the end of the season, with afternoon temperatures of about 31°C/88°F. Morning is a pleasant time.

November & December – It only rains now and then, and it mostly comes as a relief. Usually, it is hot and mostly sunny. Early mornings are the best time of day, with average temperatures of around 19°C/66°F.
January & February – There are showers most afternoons (lasting a few hours) in these months, which are the wettest point of the season. Heavy thunderstorms are common.
March – It still rains every couple of days, but it mostly comes in the form of a thunderstorm, though overall rainfall is dwindling. Mornings are slightly cooler at 18°C/64°F.

Prons

Four of the Big Five are easily spotted (rhino is absent)
Home to the zebra migration from November to April
Off-road driving is permitted, which facilitates quality sightings
Game drives, night drives, boat trips, and walking safaris are available
Wildlife hides and fishing activities
Exclusive private reserve with great food and stunning lodges
Excellent guiding

Cons

Only expensive, all-inclusive packages are available

How To Get There

The only way to visit Linyanti Concession is by charter plane. Wilderness Safaris, which runs the camps in the reserve, includes flights in its package. You can fly from either Maun or Kasane (or other camps in Botswana).

There are no scheduled flights to anywhere close to Linyanti.

Maun Airport (MUB) or Kasane Airport (BBK) are the entry points into the country for most visitors on their way to Linyanti, although this is dependent on their itinerary.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Maun Airport (MUB) or Kasane Airport (BBK), and what tickets would cost.