Location: border between Botswana and Namibia
Area:n275 000 acres (111 288 hectares)
Linyanti Swamp is a wetland biosphere
formed around the Linyanti River that is also known as a Chobe
River. Linyanti Swamp is located on the border between Botswana and
Namibia and covers an area of 900 square kilometers. On a Botswana
site Linyanti Swamp is protected by the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
that covers an area of 275 000 acres (111 288 hectares). The banks
of the river is lined by tall papyrus plants with forests of marula
tree and giant ebony. Fauna of the Linyanti Swamp include elephants,
crocodiles, leopards, wild dogs, hyenas, lions, zebras, wildebeests
and many other species.
Keep in mind that area of Linyanti
Swamp is a malaria infested so take proper medications for
prophylaxis of this disease. It is especially true during the rainy
season between November and March when humid hot environment breeds
malaria mosquitoes. During May to October months when the Dry season
comes to the region water level drops and most of the game in the
area gather in large hoards around the river ways of the Chobe
River.
The Cuando rises in the Bié highlands in Angola and flows towards the
southeast. The border with Zambia follows later. The Cuando then flows
through the Caprivi Strip of Namibia near Kongola and forms the border
with Botswana on its southern edge. In this section it forms the inland
delta of the Linyanti Marshes and then turns abruptly to the east. From
here it is called Linyanti and - after passing the temporarily dry Lake
Liambezi - Chobe (pronounced Tschobe). The river flows into the Zambezi
near Kazungula, on the four borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
Linyanti
In the section of the river called
Linyanti, the river areas of the neighboring western Okavango river are
in temporary contact. During heavy floods, water from the Okavango
reaches the Linyanti via the Magwekwana River (also called the Selinda
Channel). Likewise, at appropriate water levels, some of the water flows
from the Linyanti via the Savuti into the Mababe Depression. At this
point, at the end of the last glacial period, the Linyanti inland delta
continued southwards, where it was connected to the Okavango inland
delta. The stronger sediment deposition there and a line of dunes
extending to the east contributed to the Linyanti flowing east to the
Zambezi with a sharp change of direction (see satellite image map).
The variable humid climate, large evaporation areas in the swamps and
water losses into the subsoil result in an unusually uniform and, in
relation to the size of the catchment area, low water flow in the
Cuando.
The flow rate of the river was measured at the mouth in
m³/s. The display of graphics is currently disabled due to a security
problem.
Mainly because of the high game population, the following national
parks have been established in the Cuando river basin, all of which fall
within the cross-border Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area:
Luiana Game Reserve (Angola)
Sioma-Ngweizi National Park (Zambia)
Bwabwata National Park (Namibia)
Mudumu National Park (Namibia)
Nkasa-Rupara National Park (Namibia)
Chobe National Park (Botswana)