A veritable masterpiece crafted by Mother Nature, the Okavango Delta boasts breath-taking natural beauty and incomparable wildlife viewing.
Situated in the north-west corner of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a vast inland delta formed by seasonal flooding of the Kalahari Desert. A 15000km² maze of tranquil lagoons, meandering waterways, verdant islands, expansive floodplains, and thick woodland it is an undisturbed haven to a wide variety of wildlife and birdlife.
Often referred to as the ‘jewel’ of the Kalahari, the Okavango Delta was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 on the basis that it is an outstanding example of complex geo-morphological and hydrological processes, and a sanctuary to some of the world’s most endangered mammals. As over 11 cubic km of water from the Okavango River spills into the otherwise parched Kalahari Desert, a seasonal oasis is formed, providing much-needed sustenance to the animals and birds that call this region home.
The Okavango Delta features over 130 species of wildlife, including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hyena, zebra, serval, leopard, wildebeest, and sable. A list of endangered mammals includes white and black rhino, cheetah, wild dog and lion, which have all adapted to life in this pristine wetland.
The Delta is a bird-lovers paradise, with over 480 species of birds to be spotted within the area. Notably, a variety of globally threatened and rarely-seen birds live within the delta, including the Southern Ground-Hornbill, six species of vulture, the Slaty Egret, the Pel’s Fishing Owl and the Wattled Crane.
The Okavango Delta has two distinct seasons: a dry season which runs from May to October, and a wet season which runs from November to April. During the dry season, wildlife congregate around waterholes and river, making them easier to spot, and the temperature is pleasant and mild. During the wet season, however, the scenery is greener, the area is less busy, and there is still plenty of wildlife to be seen.
Accommodation in the Okavango Delta is limited to small, temporary tented camps accessed by air. Suitable to many different budgets, these tented camps range from five star stays to camping in the wild of the delta. From most of these camps, activities to be enjoyed include scenic helicopter flights, game drives, guided walks, boat cruises, traditional mokoro trips, and photographic safaris.
To find out more about planning your trip to the Okavango Delta, simply get in touch with our Botswana travel experts at Kiboko Adventures.
An amazing adventure and fantastic experience seeing so many magnificent animals up close. The accommodation exceeded…
