Okavango Delta, Botswana

Okavango Delta is the world’s biggest inland delta, the waters of the Okavango Delta are subject to seasonal flooding and as the Okavango River has no outlet to the sea, it empties some 11 cubic kilometers of water into the sands of the Kalahari Desert, sometimes reaching as far as Lake Ngami. The headwaters of the Okavango delta commences in Angola’s west highlands and eventually forms the Cubango river, as it flows through Namibia it’s called the Kavango river and later the Okavango River as it enters Botswana.

The Okavango Delta is subject to seasonal flooding and because of its extremely flat plains, dropping less than 60 meters in elevation over a distance of 450 kilometers, the result is that over 95% of the water is evaporated in the extreme high temperatures as there is no exit to the sea. The waters are very pure due to its route down the Okavango River, the process of passing through numerous sand delta islands, the salt is filtered out and left behind.

This seasonal habitat attracts a enormous amount of wildlife species including elephants, buffalo, hippopotamus, wildebeest, antelope, wild dogs, black and white rhinoceros among others.

The best time to view game in the delta region is during May through to October, wildlife generally is very concentrated along the flooded areas and hosts large numbers of wildlife such as the crocodile, elephants, wild dogs, buffalo, wattled crane and many others. The best time for bird-watching is from November right through to April as migrating bird populations are returning to the Okavango Delta and plants have begun to flower once again.

Water safari are often carried out by a mokoro – a dug-out canoe which navigate the shallows, whereas the larger motor launches will travel along the main waterways and lagoons, 4WD, walking and even elephant safari’s are available dependant on the season, not to mention light aircraft or helicopter.

There are some 40 Lodges and Camps situated in the Okavango Delta however the government is determined to protect the areas fragile eco-system and is able to achieve this by making this an expensive and difficult place to come and visit, the result however is a habitat that remains truly unspoiled, a beautiful wilderness or protected wildlife and vegetation.

 

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