Wilderness King’s Pool

AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife
The Linyanti concession is run by Wilderness Safaris and is home to several camps – Duma Tau, Little Duma Tau, Kings Pool and Linyanti Tented Camp overlooking the Linyanti wetlands in the north and Savuti Camp overlooking the Savuti Channel in the south/central region. The concession covers a huge area, some 300 000 acres, and offers a classic big game wilderness experience.

The habitat along the Linyanti River is one of lush riverine woodland, giving way to the drier, mopane dominated woodlands of the interior, through which the Savuti Channel snakes it way to eventually feed the Savuti Marsh. The Savuti Channel is a seasonal waterway which extends south-eastwards from the Linyanti/Kwando river systems. In years of good rains, the channel holds water throughout the year but it is a delicate system easily affected by drought and tectonic plate movement. After several years of holding water, the channel is in a cycle of drying out again.

Once the dry season commences, the Savuti and Linyanti waters attract large herds of buffalo, zebra and elephant and the predator species which follow them, particularly lion. Other animals likely to be seen include hippo, kudu, impala, zebra, tsessebe, red lechwe, eland, sable antelope, giraffe, and wild dog. On night drives, you’ll have the opportunity to view nocturnally-active species such as bat- eared fox, spring hare, leopard, spotted hyaena, aardwolf, porcupine, aardvark, honey badger, bushbaby, civet, genet, serval and wild cat.

The birdlife is prolific, attracting both water and dry country species such as slaty egret, Allen’s gallinule, wattled crane, and African skimmer, as well as, Bradfield’s hornbill, white-breasted cuckoo-shrike, Bennett’s woodpecker, Arnott’s chat, Kori bustard and secretary bird. The area is even better when the summer migrants return and swallow-tailed and carmine bee eaters, racket-tailed rollers, and high concentrations of raptors, including Dickinson’s kestrel, are commonly seen.

Activities
Activities focus around game drives (by day and by night) with afternoon boat cruises offered on their double decker cruiser ‘Queen Sylvia’ (only when water levels permit). Walking is also possible (minimum age of 13 years). Massage treatments are available in the privacy of your tent. Helicopter scenic flights are possible (extra cost) and can be arranged either locally or in advance and there is a sunken hide allowing for eye level game viewing a few minutes drive from camp. Guests also have the option (at an extra cost) of arranging an excursion to learn more about CLAWS (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainability – an organisation focusing on reducing conflict between people and predators) or a “Life With Elephants” village visit with EcoExist (an NGO aiming to reduce conflict between people and elephants.

Seasons
Wilderness King’s Pool is open all year round, though game viewing is best from June to early November. However, birding is best from November to April.