Beside the Kwando-Linyanti river system, three large private reserves protect high concentrations of wildlife. Like the exclusive reserves around the Okavango, these offer more remote, private safaris than are possible in the busier national parks. Walking and night drives are both allowed, as well as off-road driving (which makes finding predators much easier).

There are no fences here, so the animals move freely between these reserves and the national parks. During the dry season, when concentrations of elephant and buffalo are very high, the permanent water of the Kwando-Linyanti riverfront is a big attraction. Near the water you'll also find plenty of red lechwe, impala and sometimes sable antelope. Meanwhile, in the riverine forest and on the plains, wildebeest, kudu, zebra, baboon, warthog, giraffe and tsessebe are common. Further from water, the highlights of the drier forests are herds of eland and roan antelope.

The predators are numerous: lion are everywhere, whilst leopard favour the wooded areas in more broken country and cheetah prefer open plains. Wild dogs range throughout these reserves, and in the last few years have consistently had several dens in this area. They are relatively easy to follow when hunting across the open plains found here.

The Selinda Reserve protects the Selinda Spillway (also known as the Magwegqana Spillway), which links the Okavango and Linyanti river systems. There are three options here: Selinda Camp, on the banks of the Spillway, the smaller Zibalianja and the more adventurous bush-camps on the Selinda walking trail. These camps offer first-class 4x4 game drives, and some of the best opportunities for walking safaris in Botswana.

North of Selinda, Kwando Reserve covers an enormous 2,300km², including a band of lush riverine forest and many open plains. In the north of this, Lagoon Camp stands in thick riverine forest; whilst to the south, Lebala Camp has a much more open environment around it. Both camps have plunge pools; each offers short walks, fishing and a double-decker boat for bird-watching – although adventurous 4x4 game drives are the main focus of their activities. All of their vehicles use a tracker as well as a guide.

Sandwiched between the Linyanti River and Chobe National Park, the Linyanti Reserve has which three private camps currently operating there. In the north, beside the Linyanti River, King's Pool and DumaTau both overlook the river, in an environment that's very like the Chobe riverfront – only with the original riverine forest which was stripped from the Chobe many years ago. Away from the flowing rivers, Savuti Camp overlooks a waterhole in the sandy bed of the Savuti Channel.


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