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Selinda Game Reserve: A Botswana Wilderness Jewel

Explore Botswana's Selinda Game Reserve: a pristine wilderness with diverse wildlife, luxurious camps, and exceptional safari experiences along the Selinda Spillway.

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Selinda Game Reserve, a 320,000-acre private concession in northern Botswana, is a pristine wilderness area known for its diverse habitats and abundant wildlife. The Selinda Spillway, a unique waterway linking the Okavango Delta and Linyanti wetlands, is the heart of this reserve, attracting a wide array of species.

A brief summary to Selinda Game Reserve (Private) NG/16

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Local tips

  • Visit during the dry winter months (June to October) for the best wildlife viewing opportunities, as large herds congregate around water sources.
  • Consider a stay at one of the reserve's exclusive safari camps for a luxurious and intimate safari experience.
  • Pack appropriate clothing for both warm days and cool nights, as temperatures can fluctuate significantly.
  • Bring binoculars and a camera with a good zoom lens to fully appreciate the diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes.
  • Inquire about water-based activities, such as boating and canoeing, as they are dependent on seasonal water levels.
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Getting There

  • Air Charter

    The most common and convenient way to reach Selinda Game Reserve is by a chartered light aircraft. Most visitors fly into Maun International Airport (MUB) or Kasane International Airport (BBK) and then connect via a pre-arranged charter flight directly to the Selinda airstrip. Your tour operator or safari camp will typically handle these arrangements as part of your safari package. There are no scheduled flights to Selinda. The flight from Maun or Kasane takes approximately one hour. Upon arrival at the Selinda airstrip, you will be transferred to your camp by vehicle or boat, depending on the camp's location and water levels.

  • Driving (Limited Access)

    While it is possible to drive to Selinda Reserve, it is less common and requires advance booking and coordination with the Selinda team. Self-driving is not permitted within the private concession. If driving from northern Chobe, the easiest approach is via the Linyanti Campsite, following the 'transit route' through the southern Linyanti Reserve. This route is designed to minimize disturbance to wildlife and guests. Ensure the Selinda team knows your arrival time and route. Note that driving off the transit route is prohibited. Due to the remoteness and challenging terrain, driving to Selinda is generally only recommended for experienced overlanders with a well-equipped 4x4 vehicle.

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Discover more about Selinda Game Reserve (Private) NG/16

Selinda Game Reserve, also known as Selinda Reserve (NG/16), is a vast and picturesque wildlife sanctuary located in northern Botswana. Encompassing 320,000 acres (130,000 hectares), this private concession lies between the Okavango and Linyanti river systems. The reserve is centered around the Selinda Spillway, a fascinating fossil channel that connects the Linyanti Swamps and the Okavango Delta. This unique waterway, often dry, experienced renewed flow in 2009 due to heavy floods, revitalizing the ecosystem. The landscape is a diverse mix of open grasslands, tree islands, riverine forests, and dense mopane woodlands. This variety of habitats supports a rich array of wildlife, including large herds of elephants and buffalo, as well as resident populations of impala, kudu, tsessebe, giraffe, and reedbuck. Selinda is particularly renowned for its healthy predator populations, including lion, leopard, cheetah, and the resident Selinda pack of African wild dogs. Birdlife is also abundant, with species like carmine bee-eaters, raptors, egrets, and wattled cranes adding to the area's natural beauty. Historically, the Selinda Reserve was leased to Linyanti Explorations in 1995, with a focus on both consumptive and non-consumptive tourism. In 2007, Great Plains Conservation took over, transforming the area into a haven for photographic tourism and conservation. Today, Selinda is known for its exclusive safari camps, offering luxurious accommodations and exceptional wildlife viewing experiences. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including game drives, walking safaris, boating excursions, and canoeing along the Selinda Spillway.

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