A Botswana safari to the marvelous wonder that is the Okavango Delta will expose you to an abundance of wildlife. The ecological diversity of this vast expanse secured it a deserved spot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
Wildlife to spot on safari in the Okavango Delta
Experience the unique and winding waterways known as the Okavango Delta on your holiday to Botswana. The area comprises 16 000 km sq of permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. The Okavango Delta’s floods are fed by the Angolan rains, which start in October and finish in April. The Delta’s water ends in the Kalahari Desert – with over 95% of the water eventually evaporating – hence sometimes referred to as ‘the river that never finds the sea’.
Its meandering waterways, palm-fringed islands, ox-bow lakes, and lagoons give the area an exquisite beauty, as well as an abundant ecosystem. The annual flood tide revitalises ecosystems during the peak of the dry season, an extraordinary contrast between arid landscape and vibrant wetland. The transformation results in a large variety of wildlife. Some species leave during the rainy seasons and return during the drier winters.
When you embark on a Botswana safari through the Okavango Delta, you will explore an environment that supports large herds of elephant, antelope, and buffalo, as well as hippo, giraffe, crocodile, lion, cheetah, leopard, wildebeest, rhino, zebra and baboon. An Okavango Delta safari will bring you in close contact with over 400 species of birds, including the African fish eagle, Pel’s fishing owl, crested crane, lilac-breasted roller, ostrich and the sacred ibis.
Mokoro Adventures in the Okavango Delta
Make your Botswana safari a memorable one by exploring the Okavango Delta with a mokoro ride. The mokoro canoes are made from the dug-out trunks of large trees. The local Botswana people that hand-make these mokoros have become experts in this craft, making it their main source of income. Supporting this venture and travelling on hand-made mokoros are recommended for a Botswana safari.
