Okavango Delta

Introduction

Okovango from the air

© baluba

The Okavango Delta is the world's biggest inland delta and is located in the northwest of Botswana. The Okavango river does not have an outlet into the sea and instead it ends in the middle of the Kalahari desert where it floods an area as big as 15,000 square kilometres. The flooding starts in the north at the end of the year (December) and hits the south about 5 or 6 months later in May. The area is best reached from the gateway of Maun and to reach the furthest parts you will have to fly in and spend some nights in a lodge, or in some cases camping is possible. Either way, it requires a plane trip. You will be rewarded though as the area is teeming with wildlife and a trip in a dug out canoe, a mokoro, is one of the highlights to this magnificent area. Crocodiles and hippos roam the waters and elephants, zebras and giraffes are here in huge numbers.

Opening Hours

Like most other places in Botswana, it is best visited from April or May until October/November when it is usually dry and warm and navigating the waters is still possible because only towards the end things are starting to dry up a bit.

Sleep

There are several safari tour operators in Maun. Most of the lodges/camp sites also offer activities such as game drives, mokoro rides and bush walks.

Some of the safari service providers are:

• Bushway safaris - mobile camping safaris
• Sango safari camp - luxury tented camps in the Delta area close to Moremi reserve. It is overlooking the Khwai river bordering the Moremi Game Reserve and takes about 3 hours in a 4x4 from Maun. A very scenic drive that takes you through the south gate of the Moremi Game Reserve and out of the North gate of the reserve and through a Bushman village
• Kalahari Skies - mobile camping safaris
• Papadi safaris - mobile camping safaris