Chobe National Park
Lion country
About this destination
Savuti, in the southern reaches of Chobe National Park, is celebrated for its large lion population and the raw, dramatic predator-prey spectacles that play out across its open floodplain.
The Savuti Channel has one of the most extraordinary histories of any waterway in Africa. It ran, dried up, and ran again over the course of decades — movements linked not to rainfall but to seismic activity and tectonic shifts beneath the Kalahari. The channel flows again today, and wildlife has returned in force: massive elephant herds, lion prides large enough to bring down a full-grown elephant, and buffalo thousands strong.
This is a landscape of big drama. Savuti's lions are famous for hunting elephants — a behaviour rarely seen elsewhere in Africa — and the open savanna makes it one of the best places in the continent to watch predators in full pursuit. Leopard, cheetah, and wild dog are also present, along with spotted hyena and the full cast of antelope they hunt.
Unlike the lush waterways of the Delta, Savuti feels wilder and more exposed. It's the perfect counterpoint to a Okavango itinerary — different terrain, different encounters, the same overwhelming sense of being truly in the wild.
Why come here
Savuti's lion prides are among the largest in Africa, and the area's open terrain makes following and watching them unusually rewarding.
Savuti's lions are famous for hunting elephant calves and subadults — a remarkable and rarely observed behaviour driven by this area's extraordinary elephant density.
Leopard, cheetah, wild dog, and hyena all operate in Savuti. The open floodplain gives you panoramic views across predator-prey interactions in full.
Thousands of Cape buffalo move through Savuti seasonally, drawing predators into the open and creating the kind of wildlife spectacle that makes safari addictive.
In the field
When to visit
The dry season draws massive wildlife concentrations to the Savuti Channel and its surrounds. June through August offers the best lion activity and most dramatic sightings.
Ready to experience Savuti?
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