Savute and Savuti: the inland side of Chobe
Savute and Savuti are two spellings of the same place, and you will meet both. It lies inside the national park, far from the Riverfront near Kasane, and it feels like a different park. The area is linked above all with lions, cheetahs and hyenas. Water, not roads, shapes what you see.
The Savuti Channel runs from the Linyanti system into the Savuti Marsh and on towards the Mababe Depression. It has dried up and refilled more than once, so nobody can promise a flowing channel or a full marsh in a given year. Why it changes is still debated. If you want a quick day out, a Chobe safari on the Riverfront is the easier choice. Savuti rewards a longer stay.
The Savuti Marsh and the channel
A landscape that changes with the water.
A channel that comes and goes
The channel is the water link between Linyanti and the marsh. When water flows, the marsh and the channel look very different from a dry year. You cannot choose which version you get, so go for the animals and treat the water as a bonus.
Predators
Savuti is known for lions, cheetahs and hyenas. As everywhere in the park, a sighting is never guaranteed, and a guide who knows the area helps.
Elephants and the open plain
Elephants cross the open plain here too, in long lines, and the baobabs and the plain give the area a different look from the river.
Our pick: Savute on a longer trip
Savute is part of this ten-day camping route; it is not a day-trip destination.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Chobe safaris and trips from Kasane
Game drives, river cruises and day trips around Chobe, with live prices and availability.
Getting to Savuti
The drive is part of the trip, and the sand sets the pace.
| From | Distance and time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kasane | About 165 km, 4 to 5 hours | Sandy track in the park; plan it carefully |
| Maun | About 200 km, 6 to 7 hours via Mababe | Condition and season can change the time a lot |
Treat these times as guide values. Deep sand and rain can slow you down a lot, and a vehicle with 4x4 is the sensible choice if you drive yourself. A local rental firm offers self-drive trips with 4x4 from Kasane. The park speed limit is 40 km/h, so allow time. For most visitors without their own 4x4, a guided trip or a short stay with transfer is the better way in. Our page on getting to Chobe covers flights to Kasane and the roads.
Ghoha Gate serves the northern access and Mababe Gate the southern. These are gates of Savuti access, not additional gates on the Riverfront.
Linyanti
Linyanti is a small extension of the park along the river and swamps. The neighbouring Kwando, Selinda and Linyanti concessions are not the park. Private camps and self-drive campsites have different access, so check which side of the boundary a place lies on before you book.
The campsites at Savuti and Linyanti are run by a private operator, and you reserve in advance with that operator.
Where to stay at Savuti
Camping or a lodge: both exist, and their costs differ a lot.
Camping
Campsites exist at Savuti and Linyanti. Reservations go through the operator. The park's camping rate for non-residents is 60 BWP per person per day in the tariff valid from 1 April 2022; check the current amount. It is not the full price of a privately run campsite, so confirm the operator's rate and any extras before you go.
A lodge example
Camps in Savuti start from around $655 per person per night sharing (2025/26 season example). Meals, activities, selected drinks and camp park fees are included, and gate fees for self-drivers are not. Children from 2 years are accepted: 50 percent for ages 2 to 11, the adult rate from 12. It is one example, not a general price range.
Day trips
Savuti is not a day trip from Kasane. The distance and the sand make a night or more worth the effort. Our Chobe accommodation page compares stays by area.
Plan the rest of Chobe
Savuti works best with the Riverfront.
Savuti: frequently asked questions
Is it Savute or Savuti?
Both are used for the same area. This guide uses Savuti and sometimes Savute.
Will the Savuti Channel have water when I visit?
That cannot be promised. The channel has dried up and refilled repeatedly, so ask for the current state before you plan around it.
How long does it take to drive to Savuti?
From Kasane it is about 165 km and roughly 4 to 5 hours, from Maun about 200 km and roughly 6 to 7 hours via Mababe. Deep sand and rain can change this a lot.
Can I visit Savuti as a day trip from Kasane?
It is not a sensible day trip. The distance and the sandy track make an overnight stay worthwhile.
Can I camp at Savuti?
Yes. Campsites exist at Savuti and Linyanti. You reserve in advance with the operator, and you cannot choose a spot freely.