Botswana’s Private Game Reserves

Private reserves in Botswana are privately owned or managed areas found within or bordering the country’s national parks. They offer a more exclusive and intimate safari experience, and guests can enjoy activities not permitted in national parks. The private reserves in the Okavango Delta and Linyanti regions are predominantly wetland areas. Even though certain places within them have less access to water throughout the majority of the year, they are still very lush due to the seasonal channels that run through them, coupled with the rains in the summer months.

On a typical day in north-western Botswana, you would drive between floodplains, marshes, open plains (dry), and more. Due to the nutrient-rich soil and vast amount of water at the flora’s disposal, you will come across deep Okavango channels that are accompanied by dense woodland, and immensely bushy and green areas surrounding them.

The fact that these areas are rich in flora means that the herbivorous animals are plentiful here. This is not only because all the flora provides so much food – it also provides cover and ‘hiding places’ for certain animals while breeding or trying to evade predators. Throughout the year, you’ll find animals such as huge herds of elephants and buffalo, along with a large variety of plains game including zebra, giraffe, various antelope species, and more.

As a consequence of such high ‘prey–game’ numbers, this is a prime predator viewing area too, with lion and leopard in abundance. There are also good chances of finding the more ‘specialist sightings’ such as cheetah and wild dog should you visit places such as the Kwara Concession or the Linyanti.

There are several benefits to staying within a private reserve in Botswana. These include:

1. Private reserves are allowed to offer almost any activity they wish to their guests. Night drives are a major attraction, along with mokoro rides, boating safaris, fishing, and guided walking safaris.
2. The reserves can offer off-road driving, unlike other areas where you are not permitted to leave the roads and tracks. This ensures that you can follow game wherever it goes and get up close to the best sightings.
3. A private reserve is exclusive, so there are very few vehicles around each sighting. Although they are found elsewhere in Africa, no other country has such large private reserves that rival Botswana’s.

Among these private reserves are some excellent camps, but our pick of the bunch for this experience are Savuti Camp and Zarafa Camp in the Linyanti, and Little Vumbura in the Okavango.