Okavango Delta

Luxury holiday or business accommodation in The Okavango Delta, the gem of Botswana

The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland water systems. The deltas headwaters start in Angola’s western highlands, with numerous tributaries joining to form the Cubango river, which then flows through Namibia (called the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana, where it is then called the Okavango.

Millions of years ago the Okavango river use to flow into a large inland lake called Lake Makgadikgadi (now Makgadikgadi Pans). Tectonic activity and faulting interrupted the flow of the river causing it to backup and form what is now the Okavango delta. This has created a unique system of water ways that now supports a vast array of animal and plant life that would have otherwise been a dry Kalahari savanna.

The delta’s floods are fed from the Angolan rains, which start in October and finish sometime in April. The floods only cross the border between Botswana and Namibia in December and will only reach the bottom end of the delta (Maun) sometime in July, taking almost nine months from the source to the bottom. This slow meandering pace of the flood is due to the lack of drop in elevation, which drops a little more than 60 metres over a distance of 450 kilometres. The delta’s water deadends in the Kalahari – via the Botetle river, with over 95 per cent of the water eventually evaporating.

During the peak of the flooding the Okavango Delta can expand to over 16,000 square kilometres, shrinking to less than 9,000 square kilometres in the low period. As the water travels through the delta, the wildlife starts to move back into the region. The areas
surrounding the delta are beginning to try out (the rains in Botswana occur approximately the same time as in Angola) and the wildlife starts to congregate on the edge of the newly flooded areas, May through October.

The delta environment has large numbers of animal populations that are otherwise rare, such as crocodile, red lechwe, sitatunga, elephant, wild dogs, buffalo, wattled crane as well as the other more common mammals and bird life.

The best time for game viewing in the delta is during the May-October period, as the animal life is concentrated along the flooded areas and the vegetation has dried out.

The best time for birding and vegetation is during the rainy season (Nov.- April) as the migrant bird populations are returning and the plants are flowering and green.

Safari activities by water are the primary speciality of the Okavango - the mokoro - a dug out canoe which is poled along by your Guide is the most evocative way of exploring the numerous waterways. Motor launches travel on the main waterways and lagoons.

Traditional 4x4 Game viewing vehicles are used on the main islands, with night drives available in the private concession areas - not allowed within the National Park.

Walking Safaris are available from most Camps and Lodges - perhaps the most exciting way of viewing Game - stalking and tracking wildlife with an expert Guide.

Game Viewing flights are available by both light aircraft and helicopter, but hot air ballooning is not allowed.

Perhaps the most marvellous way of exploring the Okavango is on the back of an Elephant at Randall Moores famous Abu Camp

Rainfall is not heavy in the Okavango - it gets less than half of the rainfall than over the Kruger Park area

There are some 40 Lodges and Camps situated in the Okavango Delta.

Government Camping Sites are situated within the Moremi Game Reserve - but none in the heart of the Delta. Booking is essential

Private Lodges and Camps are either situated within the National Park or in private concessions, most can only be accessed by light aircraft out of Maun or Kasane.

The Okavango does not really cater for the Budget Traveller - This is deliberate policy on the part of the Botswana Government. They are anxious to avoid the mass tourism that has been allowed to spoil other areas of Africa, but also to protect the fragile eco-system that is the Okavango Delta.

The Government achieves this by making the Okavango a very expensive and difficult place to visit - The Government Airline Air Botswana is the only carrier allowed to fly in to Maun (the gateway to the Okavango Delta) from the major hubs - and fares are astronomical.

Lodges and Camps are charged very high Concession Fees, Resource Royalties and Community Charges, and visitors must pay Park Entrance Fees

However, this policy has resulted in The Okavango Delta remaining one of the truly unspoiled wilderness areas of Africa. A place of incredible natural beauty, indigenous protected Wildlife and vegetation

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