Okavango Delta Botswana Safaris

OUR BOTSWANA SAFARIS AND THE OKAVANGO DELTA: 

The Okavango Delta of the Republic of Botswana is a large wetland surrounded by the Kalahari Desert. Millions of years ago tectonic activity and faulting, interrupted the flow of the river causing it to backup and form what is now known as the Botswana Delta. This has created a unique system of waterways that now supports a vast array of animal and plant life that would have otherwise been a dry Kalahari savanna. The Okavango Delta has proved to be a popular Botswana Safari destination over the past few years boasting history and culture.

The Okavango Delta’s headwaters start in Angola’s western highlands, with offshoots joining to form the Cubango River. The water then flows through Namibia (called the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana, where it is then called the Botswana Okavango Delta. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of fresh water flows inland, spreading over 15 000km² of the Kalahari sand into a maze of lagoons and channels.

The Okavango 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 m over a distance of 450 km. The Delta’s water ends in the Kalahari – via the Botetle River, with over 95% of the water eventually evaporating.

The best time for Botswana safari game viewing in the Okavango Delta is during the period between May and October, as the animals gather along the flooded areas as the vegetation has dried out. The most impressive month is August, when the champagne-coloured water is at its deepest. The best time for birding and vegetation is during the rainy season when most of the young are born. This is the time between November and April, as the migrant bird populations are returning, and the vegetation is lush and green. Our Botswana Safaris are highly recommended for these wildlife seasons and our Botswana Safaris book up very fast in these months.
 
The Okavango Delta presents a unique ecosystem with countless islands that emerge from its waterways. The environment has large numbers of animal populations that are otherwise rare, such as crocodile, red lechwe, sitatunga, elephant, wild dogs, buffalo, wattled crane.  The water supports many kinds of fish and more common mammals and bird life. As it is such an exceptional area, conservationists have taken a great interest in the preservation of the Botswana Delta.

Please have a look at our Botswana Safaris that pass through Okavango Delta below. We also have other Botswana Attractions that you might want to visit on your Botswana Safari!

• Chobe National Park
• Kalahari
• Savuti Game Reserve
• Linyanti Game Reserve
• Moremi Game Reserve
• Makgadikgadi Pans
• Tuli Block Reserve
• Khwai River
• Mashatu Game Reserve
• Mokoros
• Khama Rhino Sanctuary
• Tsodilo Hills
• Gemsbok Area
• Nxai Pan National Park
• Baines Baobabs
• Nata Bird Sanctuary
• Botswana Animals