The Okavango is the largest inland delta on the planet, and is rightly considered one of the most incredible wildlife and wilderness sanctuaries in Africa. This Eden of wildlife lies northwest of the country and won’t fail to take your breath away while on safari in Botswana. Known as the “river that never finds the sea”, it lies like a jewel amid the sandy thorn-scrub of the Kalahari Desert. A maze of glistening lagoons, meandering papyrus-lined waterways and rich savanna grasslands that are teaming with wildlife, this natural wonder is best experienced in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe). Gently glide alongside the delicate waterlilies in complete serenity and observe the aquatic creatures in their natural habitat.
The delta itself takes the shape of a hand; the palm is permanently filled with water and the fingertips seasonally flood to form canals. In a country that is 80% arid, the Okavango is an incredible source of life. Many travelers prefer to visit the delta in the drier season, from May to October, when the best wildlife encounters are almost always guaranteed. The green season, from December through to March, also offers spectacular highlights, from the lush vegetation and fauna that springs up, to the pleasure of so many mammals giving birth during this time.
A myriad of species is found within the delta including African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Nile crocodile, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Plains Zebra, Warthog, and Chacma Baboon. Notably, the endangered African Wild Dog still survives within the Okavango Delta and exhibits one of the richest pack densities in Africa.
