Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is an inland river delta in northwest Botswana where the Okavango River fans out across a flat basin to form a mosaic of channels, lagoons and islands; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The system expands seasonally to create one of Africa’s largest concentrations of permanent and seasonal wetlands.

Visitors come for water-based safaris by mokoro (dugout canoe), motorboat and guided walking safaris to see high densities of wildlife and birdlife across channels and floodplains. The delta’s navigable waterways, maze-like channels and island camps are major attractions during the dry season when animals concentrate around water.

The Okavango flood originates in Angola and spreads into Botswana, creating seasonal inundation that supports diverse habitats and large mammals. Conservation management includes a mix of protected areas, private reserves and community-managed zones that together sustain tourism and wildlife.

The delta lies in northwestern Botswana; the town of Maun is the principal gateway for visitors and light-aircraft airstrips within the delta provide access to lodges and camps.

• Seasonal floods: The delta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its floodwaters arrive seasonally from the Angolan highlands between roughly June and August, reaching peak extent later in the dry season.
• Access via Maun: Maun serves as the main gateway for flights and road departures to lodges and camps inside the delta, with many operators using small aircraft to access private airstrips.

What to See#

• Moremi Game Reserve: A protected game reserve established in 1963 that occupies the eastern portion of the delta and covers approximately 4,871 square kilometres; it contains river channels, mopane woodland and diverse wildlife concentrations.
• Chief’s Island: A large inland island complex within the delta that forms a wildlife-rich core area of permanent channels and floodplain habitat, important for predators and large mammals.

The Okavango Delta is normally accessed via Maun, Botswana, which is the main gateway town. Most visitors fly into Maun Airport and then take scheduled light‑aircraft charters to private airstrips at camps inside the delta; alternately some areas on the delta’s fringes are reachable by 4x4 from Maun on seasonal tracks (a high‑clearance vehicle is required and access can be seasonal due to flooding). Arrange transfers through your camp or operator in Maun.

• Plan a visit in the dry season (roughly May-September) for the highest concentration of wildlife around permanent water and the best visibility for game viewing from lodges and boats.
• Use Maun as your staging point and consider booking a fly‑in camp or concession area - small private airstrips put you closer to quieter parts of the delta and reduce long overland transfers.
• Book mokoro (dugout canoe) excursions for early morning or late afternoon when wildlife activity is highest; discuss concession/seasonal options with your operator to avoid the busiest camps and areas.