Overview

Welcome to the Selinda Canoe Trail

The Selinda Canoe Trail is a 5-day and 4-night adventure along the Selinda Spillway - the waterway linking Botswana's Okavango Delta and Linyanti and Kwando water systems. This is the ideal setting for Botswana's leading canoeing and walking safari, hosting a mere eight guests on each departure. The Trail hearkens back to the spirit of safaris of old, when days were spent on impromptu exploration and each night was spent camping along the banks of a river. Today, this experience can be enjoyed on the Selinda Canoe Trail.

The high rains of the 2009 wet season resulted in epic floodwaters. For the first time in nearly three decades the Selinda Spillway flowed in full, connecting these two ancient waterways. Then, the ample rains of the first half of 2010 and 2011 ensured that the Selinda Spillway continued to flow. The headwaters met again in early May 2010, three months earlier than in 2009, and even earlier the following year in March 2011.

By popular demand for additional adventure and exploration, the 2014 Selinda Canoe Trail has been extended to four nights. It was discovered, after five successful seasons, that the desire to further explore the islands and lagoons of Selinda Reserve was overwhelming. Our guests consistently asked for an additional night to reach remote areas only accessible by foot. The updated itinerary, for implementation in the 2014 season, extends this sought-after adventure by one day allowing for an even more extraordinary experience.

The Trail begins roughly 45 kilometers downstream from Selinda Camp, northeast of the Okavango Delta. We explore the Selinda Spillway eastward following this meandering route through the 320,000-acre Selinda Reserve. We complete the journey close to the convergence of the Linyanti and Kwando waterways.

The 5 day / 4 night safari consists of a combined three full days and two half-days of relatively easy paddling and three nights in impromptu fly camps along the way. We begin each day with the break of dawn. Whilst paddling, we encounter wildlife along the Spillway's banks, and disembark our canoes to enjoy walks, looking for tracks and signs. After brunch and a bit of a siesta at midday we continue onward through afternoon and arrive at our campsite before dark.

This area is well known for elephant, buffalo, sable, roan, wild dog and it is possible to encounter predators and a variety of other species en route. The Spillway is also a birding paradise but has relatively few hippos or crocodiles, making for a relaxing journey.

The Selinda Canoe Trail ends at Selinda Camp mid morning on the fifth day, where after you can be transferred to Selinda Reserve airstrip for your connecting charter aircraft. Ideally though one should consider extending your Selinda Reserve experience by staying at either Selinda or Zarafa Camps.