For a truly unique safari holiday experience, opt for a more unusual way of viewing wildlife and take a canoe safari down the Selinda Spillway in Botswana. Immerse yourself in the African wilderness and imagine you are one of the early pioneers of this region, exploring the water channels for the first time. You can expect to see a range of wildlife on your venture down the Selinda Spillway, including elephant, buffalo, sable, roan and wild dog. The area is also particularly well known for its birdlife. An African safari experience like no other, this trip is a real adventure!
The Selinda Spillway is an ancient channel located in northern Botswana that connects the northern part of the Okavango Delta with the Linyanti Swamps. This channel winds through thousands of hectares of prime African wilderness. For over thirty years the Spillway was dry, but with the exceptional rains and floods of 2009 the channel began to flow again. Since 2009 the heavy seasonal rains of 2010 and 2011 have ensured the river has continued to flow, changing the dynamics of game movement and viewing in the area.
As a result of the floods, the Selinda Spillway has become a fantastic place to view wildlife, offering visitors a unique safari holiday experience. Journeying down the river by canoe is the best way to see nature in action. As you navigate along the serpentine waterway look out for the myriad of wildlife that is drawn to the water’s edge to drink and to bathe. The Selinda Spillway is also home to a spectacular array of birdlife, regional numbers have exploded since the flooding of the area 3 years ago and had flourished ever since.
The canoe trail covers about 45 kilometres over four nights and three days. You will be met at the Selinda airstrip by an experienced guide who will take you on a 3 hour game drive deep into the wilderness to the start of the canoe trail. Guests will be introduced to their own canoe which includes a bed roll and whatever essentials you choose to keep with you. The vessels are Canadian built canoes, sturdy, robust and comfortably accommodating two paddlers. After a safety briefing the canoe trail begins with a tranquil drift-paddle to the first campsite. A canoe safari is an exciting but relaxing way to see wildlife as you silently glide along the river, providing a unique perspective of the animals at rest and bringing visitors even closer than a land based tour.
The trail will be led by a professional guide who paddles with the group, and a four member support team, each in their own canoes, who venture ahead and set up camp. The flexibility of this type of safari means that there are no set campsites, so it really is an adventure into the wilderness! The authentic dome tents will be ready on your arrival at the selected site, with comfortable washing and dining facilities already arranged.
Days will be spent leisurely paddling along the spectacular Spillway, with occasional stops made for lunch and a siesta. Your guide will point out mammals, birds and interesting plants as you drift along, and game walks will be taken into the surrounding bush to get a closer look at wildlife or any interesting features. Evenings are spent round the campfire, enjoying local food and beverages accompanied by the sounds of the African bush.
There can truly be no better way to journey to the heart of Africa and explore its most beautiful geography. This is an exciting, rewarding and extremely eco-friendly way of uncovering the charm and wonder of this stunning country.
