Unlike the lush riverine thickets that surround the Chobe River, the landscape around Savute is strikingly different, with an arid, almost desert-like feel. Mopane forest gives way to acacia savanna, with rocky outcrops dotted around the area. Large areas of marshland that extended from the Linyanti River have dried up along with the Savute River, but several artificial watering holes attract a high concentration of wildlife.

Large numbers of elephant can be seen in the area, while lion and spotted hyena vie for dominance in the region. In the wet season, large herds of zebra and tsessebe graze on the wide open plains. The drier season, from June to October, is a good time to see bull elephant gather around the watering holes, although other game may migrate to others areas of the Chobe. Eland, kudu, roan, sable, waterbuck, wildebeest, impala and many other antelope, as well as numerous predators, including leopard, cheetah, African wild dog, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and bat-eared fox may also be encountered in the Savute area.      

Birdwatching in the Savute area is best in the wet season, when flocks of birds are attracted to the small amounts of standing water that gather after heavy rains. Flocks of the beautiful little carmine bee-eaters mingle with gatherings of storks, while other species include rollers, kestrels, plovers and sand grouse. The kori bustard, notable for being the world’s heaviest flying bird, is commonly spotted in the area.