Okavango Delta Safari

The Okavango Delta is Botswana's most famous and popular tourist attraction. This unique wetland system is formed by the Okavango River in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, and is one of the largest inland deltas in the world. The Okavango Delta has extraordinary beauty and an exceptional diversity of wildlife which includes predators, antelope, birds and fish. From the air, the rich mosaic of land and water is a perfectly constructed puzzle. Palm tree islets, savannah grasslands and forest glades are chain-linked by ox-bow river loops, lily ponds and winding watercourses.

Acknowledged as arguably the most successful, stable and peaceful of all the African Countries, Botswana is home to the Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert, the Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve.

An unspoilt land of timeless beauty which is teeming with game and bird-life, Botswana justly deserves its high reputation for Wildlife protection and environmental conservation.

The World's largest producer of gem quality diamonds, Botswana's has been allowed to develop its tourism without the desperate need for revenues that often face other African countries. An eco-tourism policy has resulted in visitors being able to experience an Africa at its most natural, unspoilt and stunningly beautiful.

In the north-west corner of this otherwise dry country and covering some 16,000 square kilometres, is the maze of channels, lagoons and palm-covered islands that make up the Okavango Delta. This is the largest inland Delta in the world, and never fails to impress even the most jaded of travellers. Water levels vary on a seasonal basis with the rains in the Angolan highlands actually contributing more water that the rains falling on the Delta during the November to March period. Thus the annual flooding of the delta, waited for with baited breath, usually starts in April or May, and can continue for some months. The Delta is fed by the Kavango River (renamed the Okavango in Botswana). The waters are crystal clear, and are best navigated by traditional mekoro (dug-out canoes), many of which are now made of fibre glass, to preserve the majestic trees in the Delta, that were traditionally used.

The Delta is a breeding ground for several hundred species of bird, including many migrants, who visit from November to March, making the area a bird-watchers dream destination. It is not uncommon to see hundreds of members of one species, in a morning.

Part of the Delta has been incorporated into the Moremi Game Reserve, set aside in 1963, by the local community to preserve the wildlife. The delta has a number of Lodges and Camps, many of which are in private concessions, bordering the Park, and therefore allowing for more intimate game viewing. Game drives are not possible at many lodges, therefore walks and mekoro excursions are the order of the day – and there is possibly no better way to experience nature than on the tranquil waters of this magnificent place.

Travel throughout the different regions of Botswana is facilitated by the wide availability of light aircraft, and most properties have their own landing strips. It is therefore advisable to design an itinerary which enables you to visit two or three lodges in different regions.

Accommodation in Botswana is of a very high standard, especially when one considers that many Lodges are built in remote areas.

Accommodation in Botswana is of a very high standard, considering many Lodges are built deep into the bush.

The best season to visit the Okavango Delta is the dry season from April to October. The rainy season is from November to March and is the best time for birdwatching and seeing the beauty of the natural vegetation. Most animals in the Delta have their young during this bountiful time.