“Okavango delts is Africa’s third largest alluvial fan and the continent’s largest endorheic delta”.

The Okavango Delta is a vast inland river delta in northern Botswana. It’s known for its sprawling grassy plains, which flood seasonally, becoming a lush animal habitat. The Moremi Game Reserve occupies the east and central areas of the region. Here, dugout canoes are used to navigate past hippos, elephants and crocodiles. On dry land, wildlife includes lions, leopards, giraffes and rhinos. Okavango Delta is a large low gradient alluvial fan or ‘Inland Delta’ located in north-western Botswana. The area includes permanent swamps which cover approximately 600,000 hectares along with up to 1.2m of seasonally flooded grassland.

 

Okavango is an interesting delta  in Botswana  and is one of the world’s largest inland deltas. While most river deltas usually lead to an ocean, the Okavango River empties onto open land, flooding the savanna and creating a unique and ever-changing inland delta created by seasonal flooding. The Okavango River drains the summer (January–February) rainfall from the Angola highlands and the surge flows 1,200 km (750 mi) in around one month. The waters then spread over the 250 by 150 km (155 by 93 mi) area of the delta over the next four months.

A lion walking through Okavango delta Botswana  An elephant walking through Okavango delta Botswana

Very few people live in most areas of the inner Delta and the remote areas of western and northern Ngamiland. The settlements which do exist are extremely small. Most of the population lives in a cluster of larger villages and in Maun the district capital. The best time to visit the Okavango Delta is between June and August and from September to October – however, a winning combination of permanent wetlands and abundant resident wildlife means the Okavango Delta is a year-round safari destination. Every year, the Okavango Delta undergoes uncontrolled burning of vegetation. The causes of these fires are both manmade and natural and some have been blamed on illegal hunters and the tourism industry. Okavango Delta is so special that it is an exceptional example of the interaction between climatic, hydrological and biological processes. The Okavango Delta is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, elephants, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion.

 

  Elephant safari and makoro boat safari Okavango delta Botswana  Jeep game safari Okavango delta Botswana

 Activities of Okavango delta

1.Mokoro game sights in Okavango Delta

The mokoro or makoro, is a traditional canoe/boat vessel commonly used in the Okavango Delta as a popular mode of transport, and now utilized for game viewing safaris. A trip through the narrow waterways on board traditional canoes will take you to beautiful hidden islands, inaccessible during the rest of the year. Sit back and watch your Mokoro glide through the rivulets as eerie reed banks stand guard on either side. Once the only form of transport for the bushmen of Okavango, these canoes will take you into the heart of the wetlands.

  local guides gliding mokoro or makoro traditional canoe vessel Okavango delta Botswana 

2.Motorboat game Safari along Okavango River

If the dug-out canoes(mokoro) are too slow for you, the next option is a motorboat through the flood plains of Okavango delta. The hungry hippos yawning with abandon, wild elephants frolicking in the water, and the antics of the lechwe antelope will take your breath away. The crocodiles get really friendly during the wet season , you might find them watching you just as curiously. Also you’ll see lots  of elephants and big game along  the beautiful waterfront of Chobe National Park.

  Motor boat cruising along Okavango delta river Botswana

3.Best Game Drives during Africa Safaris

This region offers some of the best game drives during Africa safaris, be it in vehicles, on horseback, or on top of elephants (which travelers prefer most). Wildlife of the Okavango Delta includes a myriad of species including African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Lechwe, Topi, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Nile crocodile, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Plains Zebra, Warthog … and hundreds of birds are scattered all over the area during the wet season, naturally making this a predator’s paradise! A safari is a  great way to see the primal fight between lions and buffaloes – not an experience for the weak-hearted. Set out early in the morning for a successful game viewing.

Okavango delta Animal photos

Leopard and striped Brown Hyena Okavango delta Botswana

Leopard Okavango delta Botswana.  striped Brown Hyena Okavango delta Botswana

Crocodile and plains zebra Okavango delta Botswana

  Plains zebra Okavango delta Botswana

Elephant and Greater kudu bull Okavango delta Botswana

  greater kudu bull Okavango delta Botswana

Sable Antelope and Buffalos Okavango delta Botswana

a herd of Sable Antelopes Okavango delta Botswana    A herd of buffalos Okavango delta Botswana

 

Black Rhinoceros and  Giraffe Okavango delta Botswana

Black Rhinoceros Okavango delta Botswana  Towers of Giraffe Okavango delta Botswana

Warthog and hippopotamus Okavango delta Botswana

Warthog mother and her babies Okavango delta Botswana  hippopotamus Okavango delta Botswana.

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