Page 48 - Discover Botswana 2021

This complex system of rivers, lagoons and channels attracts and supports a huge diversity of wildlife. Where you and I see beauty, animals see food, water and shade. They see a source of survival. During the dry months of July to December these resources are scarce in the surrounding mopane woodland. The game is forced to move out of the mopane’s relative safety, into the forests and floodplains close to the rivers. Naturally, predators follow.
Linyanti is blessed with an abundance of big predators. There are several prides of lion roaming the two parallel rivers, as well as the floodplains between them. A few nomadic males can always be spotted in the area, on the prowl for territory, females and opportunity. Some of these nomads have followed the river from the Chobe National Park, some may arrive from neighbouring Namibia to add spice to the mixing pot.
African wild dogs have also historically been successful in the area. There are often three or four packs here at any given time, meaning the Linyanti area plays an important role in the conservation of this
Below Inset: Old vegetated termite mounds are handy for Cheetahs to use to scan for prey across the flat landscapes of the Linyanti.
Facing Page: What could be deemed as unusual – cats in water - it is not unusual to see Lions crossing water in the Linyanti and Okavango systems. Although reluctant, any watery obstacles are easily overcome by simply swimming across them.
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