Overview

The unique pulsating wetlands of the vast Okavango Delta cover close to 15,000 square kilometers of Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana. The mighty delta owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River that flows through from the Angolan highlands, crossing Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and into the harsh Kalahari Desert. The Okavango is home to a vast and varied ecosystem and is rich in wildlife including some of the most endangered animals and birds in the entire world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful wilderness areas on the planet.

The Okavango Delta is one of the best safari destinations in Africa. Its aquatic landscape experiences dramatic periods of flood and drought, and a large variety of animals have adapted to the changes. The Okavango can be explored on foot, by 4x4 safari vehicle, or from the water by boat. The flood waters reach the Delta by March and June, peaking in July, the peak coincides with the country’s dry season resulting in migrations of plains game from the dry hinterland. The Okavango Delta was declared one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in 2013, and it was the 1000th site to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Okavango Delta is comprised of numerous small islands, Chief’s Island is the largest island it was formed on a tectonic fault line. The Okavango is an important wildlife area that is protected by the Moremi Game Reserve on the eastern edge, and the numerous concessions within Ngamiland. There are large populations of mammals and excellent birding in the breeding season. The Okavango features some of the premier camps in Africa such as Mombo Camp, Duba Plains Camp, Vumbura Camp, Xigera Camp, Abu Camp, and Sandibe Camp.

Things to see and do

The Okavango Delta has many opportunities for safaris. The vast and virtually untouched freshwater wetland offers visitors an insight into one of Africa’s truly great wildernesses. The Delta is home to a huge number of wildlife including plains game, and some unusual animals. The spectacular and remote wilderness can be explored on land by 4x4 game drives, guided island walks, boating safaris, and canoe trips.

Taking a unique mokoro or canoe safari on a traditional dugout canoe is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can try in the Okavango Delta. Mokoro’s are traditional boats that are poled along by your guide through the vast waters of the Delta. The channels of the flooded Okavango Delta are a maze made by hippos that move from the water onto dry land during the night in search of fresh grazing. The other animals such as elephants use them as a way of moving between higher ground, they make the perfect pathway for these traditional boats to ply through. Travelers will get a different perspective being inches away from the water. Safari goers can expect to spot birds such as jacanas, and herons, spot elephants arriving to feed on the soft grass and frolicking in the waters, and sitatunga antelope hiding in the reeds. There are options for taking on a motorboat through the floodplains and lagoons. Expect to see some hungry hippos and crocodiles during the wet season. The best time to take these trips is in the morning and evening time.

Taking an iconic game drive by a 4x4 safari vehicle is probably the most common comparison when you think of a safari ride. The drive on land allows visitors to explore the drier areas of the Okavango filled with rich diversity and land animals such as buffalo, giraffe, zebras, and antelope. The region boasts some of the best game drives in Africa with almost 200,000 mammals and hundreds of birds scattered throughout the area during the wet season. Take a tour through the Duba Concession which is a great opportunity to see the primal fight between lions and buffaloes! Night drives are also a great opportunity to see lions hunting and nocturnal animals like porcupines, aardvarks, genets, civets, and owls. Another great part of a game drive on land is evening sundowners, a tradition to pause in the afternoon and find somewhere with a spectacular view to enjoy a cold drink and some snacks while soaking up the sunset. These drives are best early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

Taking a walking safari is the best opportunity to get up close and personal with some of these wonderful wild animals. Your personal ranger and guide will take you on an exhilarating bush walk and allow you the opportunity to follow trails that lead close to watering holes and rivulets. The Shinde Concession is one of the perfect destinations for a walking safari dotted with palm islands and known for its wild dogs there are a great variety of activities to enjoy. A walking safari allows you to tune into the sounds and scents of your surroundings, on foot you have a different perspective than being in a boat or vehicle. Your guide will teach you about the area, the history, and the uses of the plants you come across as well as the animals you encounter along the way. Most walking safaris take place early in the morning before the heat of the day kicks in and makes things uncomfortable.

Go on a Horseback riding safari for another wonderful and unquestionably unforgettable experience. This is one of the most elusive things to do in Botswana. Your horse will be habituated to game. Riders will be able to enjoy cantering through pristine floodplains to search for sitatunga, lechwe, and zebra.

Take a once in a lifetime hot air balloon ride over the massive Okavango Delta. Serenely float above the oxbow lakes, and count the endless animals below. This is certainly one of the most magical experiences and one of the best things to do early in the morning and watch the sunrise.

There is an option in some camps in the Okavango Delta to experience a ‘Sleep Out’. This is an opportunity to stay out in the wilderness for the night in either a satellite bedroom (a raised platform or treehouse) which is 15-20 feet above the ground and boasts a shower, and a toilet with comfortable beds to spend a night ‘outdoors’ so to speak. Campers will be dropped off by a guide usually after dinner with a packed picnic and drinks and hot water for coffee in the morning. Once the guide has left its just you, a radio, and the African night where you can lie and look at the stars above and hear the distant sound of lions roaring or hyenas whooping.

Go Fishing! The Okavango Delta is teeming with fish, 85 recorded species to be exact! These include bass, bream, tilapia, catfish, and the infamous and ferocious tigerfish. Many camps offer catch-and-release fishing trips along the Delta. Your guide will take you to the best fishing spots, the Panhandle is said to be the best place to try and catch a Tiger Fish.

Visit Chief’s Island, which measures 43 miles long and 9 miles wide, it raised above the water due to tectonic activity and was once the sole hunting preserve of the local chief (hence the name). A lot of the delta’s wildlife retreats here as teh water levels rise, meaning the island is home to the richest concentration of wildlife in Botswana.

The Okavango Delta is home to both permanent and seasonal wildlife including all of the Big Five animals; lion, leopard, African buffalo, African bush elephant, and rhinoceros. Taking a trip to the Okavango is all about looking for animals and reveling in the region’s natural splendor. The lagoons and waterways of the Delta are what makes the region unique, it is home to some of the most endangered species of large mammals in the world including; the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog, and lion. Other spectacular species include giraffe, blue wildebeest, plains zebras, hippopotamus, impala, common eland, greater kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope, puku, lechwe, waterbuck, sitatunga, tsessebe, cheetah, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, caracal, serval, aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, Topi, Nile crocodile, Brown hyena, chacma baboon, African savanna hare, honey badger, crested porcupine, common warthog, and vervet monkeys.

Go Birding! There are over 400 species of birds that call the delta home and some of the prime birdwatching areas are those with a mixture of habitats like the Panhandle, the seasonal delta, and the parts of the Moremi Game Reserve which are close to the water. Some of these magnificent species include the helmeted guineafowl, African fish eagle, Pel’s fishing owl, Egyptian goose, South African shelduck, Africa jacana, African skimmer, marabou stork, crested crane, African spoonbill, African darter, southern ground hornbill, wattled crane, lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird, and common ostrich.