Five Things That Make the Okavango Delta a Must Visit

A must-see when visiting Botswana, the world-famous Okavango Delta! Not only known for its rich wildlife but also for the great diversity of terrain and activities. Here is a little more inspiration for why you need to include the Okavango Delta on your next visit.

Unique Features

The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland deltas and covers between 6 and 15 000 square kilometres. It is amazing to think that each year the water from the Okavango River in the Angola Highlands flows about 1600 km through Namibia until it reaches Botswana and fills the Okavango Delta. A river that never reaches the sea, but transforms the Kalahari sands to a beautiful oasis. Definitely a must to see!

Accessibility around the Okavango Delta

Being filled with water most of the year, the camps in the Okavango Delta is best accessed by either plane or boat. Flights are offered from both Kasane and Maun to the airstrip closet to the lodge where you would be staying.  Getting to fly over the Okavango Delta is amazing as you would get a full aerial view. You would get to see all the channels and the little islands. Some camps are located on these islands formed in the Okavango Delta. To reach these camps, you would have to fly to an airstrip and then transfer to the camp by boat. This is a great start to your safari, as it would start as soon as you leave the plane and board the boat.

Activities

Having so many terrains in the Okavango Delta, you have a number of activities options. Where the camps are situated on the mainland, they would offer morning and afternoon game drives which is great for spotting a variety of wildlife.  

The more remote camps, especially these located on islands, would focus more on water-based activities. These activities would include motorboat safaris on the larger rivers and lakes. Definitely one of the best ways to explore Botswana, as your guide glide past pods of hippos. To explore the narrower waterways, a mokoro would be on the menu. Just you and your guide as his polls you through the tranquil waters of the Okavango Delta.  

While staying at one of the camps on the islands, you would also have the option to explore the island on foot. Walking safaris is a great opportunity to not only see wildlife a little closer but also to learn more about nature. As you walk your guide will explain more about the flora and learn you more about animal tracking.

The Delta’s Wildlife

With the many habitats found int he Okavango Delta, this area is home to about 2000 species. This would include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds species and over a 1000 plant species.  

Although the Okavango Delta is a great destination for big game viewing, here you would also be able to see the smaller creatures which are often missed. As you glide through the waterways of the Okavango Delta, reed frogs and dragonflies are commonly seen.

Accommodating a large number of bird species, the Okavango Delta is a must for birders. Most species would migrate to this area between November and April, turning the Okavango Delta into a birders paradise. Some of the more popular birds would include red-billed oxpecker and the African Jacanas.

Accommodation

The Okavango Delta offers a wide variety of accommodation. There is definitely something to suit everyone’s budget. But the Okavango Delta is often the spoil of the trip. Here you will find flagships lodges offer all the bells and whistles you can think of.

Think large rooms leading out on verandas overlooking the floodplains of the Okavango Delta.  Here you can spend your afternoons relaxing with a G&T, watching wildlife as they pass by.  Dinners are done in true African style with boma fires and lanterns leading the way.

When planning your next visit to Africa, make sure to add the Okavango Delta to the list. Experiencing the tranquil waters flowing through the channels and the wildlife it brings with it, is not to be missed.