Linyanti
Kings Pool Camp
Kings Pool Camp is located in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, a private reserve in the Linyanti area in which the source of the Savuti Channel is located, in the northern part of Botswana, on the western boundary of Chobe National Park. The camp is idyllically located overlooking the oxbow-shaped Kings Pool Lagoon and the Linyanti River to the north.
Kings Pool Camp is one of the most luxurious in Botswana. There are nine twin-bedded tented rooms under cool thatch, overlooking the hippo-filled lagoon in front of the camp. Each of the suites has its own large bedroom area, lounge, private plunge pool and en-suite bathroom, each with two showers, two hand basins and a separate flush toilet. There is an outdoor shower for those who prefer to be under the stars. The main lounge, bar and dining room are under thatch, and there is a swimming pool built into the deck. The main area is linked to the bedrooms by a raised walkway to allow animals to wander freely around the camp.
Activities include game drives in open 4×4 vehicles and night drives. Walking is offered as an optional activity on request, which requires a special guide. Highlights of this camp include the amazing view across the lagoon with sounds of the wildlife all around, as well as two game viewing hides. One hide is located at the western end of the camp, where guests can spend a siesta watching game come down to drink. The other is an underground hide, with the water at eye-level, offering an extraordinary experience with feet and trunks almost within touching distance while you are safely inside.
The Linyanti area has a large wildlife resource with a wide variety of species, but it is most noted for its very large elephant population, which can reach very high densities during the winter months.
Activities are focused on game drives. During periods of high water levels, water-borne activities may be possible but not guaranteed.
Facilities
Large tented suites each with spacious bedroom area, lounge, private plunge pool and en-suite bathroom with outdoor shower. The main area has a lounge, bar and dining room and swimming pool.
Local Wildlife
Large herds of elephants, swimming elephants, good chances of predators including wild dog, lion and leopard. Nearby is a carmine bee-eater colony - they are usually here in the summer months (October to March) but nest on ground from October to December.
Optional Activities
Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, boat safaris and fishing (catch and release) included on a shared basis.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Make sure you visit the sunken hide, dug into the ground to bring you to eye level with the water. Only from this unique perspective can you truly appreciate the size of the elephants and other passing wildlife.
If you have any questions regarding our Botswana tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
On behalf of my wife and myself, I would like to thank all at Reef and Rainforest for arranging so superbly yet another exceptional wildlife experience. As you are aware our ‘expeditions’ tend to be species led and this year’s brief was to observe and photograph the ‘Three Big Cats of Africa’ in a truly wild setting (i.e. no fences). Your recommended destination, Botswana, did not let us down, in fact the whole trip proved an outstanding success in all aspects.
We stayed in three camps (three nights in each) across the Okavango Delta and surrounding area, each provided a different environment which ensured our aims were met. Each camp was run to a very high standard, was extremely comfortable and provided excellent meals. The quality of guiding and tracking in all our camps was of the highest standard. As Botswana manages its natural resources so well all the camps were small (no more than 18 guests) ensuring a very intimate safari experience in pristine wild African habitat.
I am delighted to report our big cat objectives were realised. All observations were lengthy and offered excellent photographic opportunities. However, unexpectedly, the highlight of our spectacular trip turned out to be sightings of two separate packs of African Painted Dogs. We visited two dens, the first had a very healthy number of adult dogs, approximately fifteen and eighteen pups. The second had seven adult dogs and sixteen pups. At Lebala we had the privilege of spending a prolonged period of time following the pack of dogs as they hunted, an experience we will never forget.
When one also considers the significant mammal and bird species we observed, Botswana is truly a must visit destination for the wildlife enthusiast. Incidentally we also observed three serval and two African wild cats. We also thoroughly enjoyed our few days at Victoria Falls, possibly the most spectacular waterfall in the world, the hotel in Zimbabwe was excellent. Viewing the falls from the Zambian side and also the helicopter flight are both well worth doing.
This was our third consecutive trip with Reef and Rainforest, and I would be very surprised if there is not a fourth being planned very soon. Thank you all once again.