Okavango

  1. Botswana
  2. Okavango
Delta 3 properties ★ 4.8 avg Google rating

Okavango, at a glance

The Okavango Delta is northern Botswana's inland wetland wilderness, the world's largest intact alluvial fan, fed by floodwaters that travel over 1,200 kilometers from the Angolan highlands. Unlike East African savanna circuits or Southern Africa's national-park safaris, the Okavango floods during the dry winter, creating open water exactly when surrounding land dries out. There is no connected road network inside the delta; every camp is reached by light aircraft from Maun, and access via Kasane serves the northern concessions toward Chobe and Victoria Falls. Botswana's concession system caps camp density and vehicle numbers, permitting off-road tracking and night drives rarely allowed in state-run parks elsewhere on the continent.

The delta divides into distinct zones: Chief's Island and Moremi at the core for year-round predator density, northern concessions like Vumbura and Duba Plains for combined land-and-water safaris, the western permanent swamps around Jao for mokoro and fishing, and eastern woodland margins near Khwai for elephant and buffalo corridors. Peak game viewing runs June through October, coinciding with maximum flood and then peak heat, both requiring booking far in advance. The rainy season from December to March lowers rates but thickens bush cover, reduces sightlines, and brings a January–February fishing ban. Self-drive access exists only in public Moremi sections and demands full 4x4 self-sufficiency. Luggage on bush flights is capped at 15 to 20 kilograms, soft-sided only.

When to go

J Low
F Low
M Low
A Shoulder
M Shoulder
J Peak
J Peak
A Peak
S Peak
O Peak
N Shoulder
D Low
Peak — Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct Shoulder — Apr, May, Nov Low — Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Interior accessible only by light aircraft; no roads or bridges connect camps
Soft-sided luggage required, capped at 15-20kg per passenger on bush flights
National fishing ban in January-February; heavy rains Dec-Mar reduce sightlines and close some camps

Experiences in the area

Mokoro excursions
Open 4x4 game drives
Motorized boat safaris
Guided walking safaris
Catch-and-release fishing
Specialist birding
Horseback safaris
Helicopter safaris

Position & access

Maun Airport (MUB) Primary gateway; scheduled flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town; 20-45 min light aircraft to camp airstrips
Kasane Airport (BBK) Secondary northern gateway from Johannesburg; 45-60 min flights into northern Delta concessions
Concession bush airstrips Unpaved gravel runways; inter-camp hops average 10-25 minutes
Self-drive access Restricted to public sections of Moremi Game Reserve; requires high-clearance 4x4 and full self-sufficiency

Activities in the area

Mokoro Excursions
Silent poling through shallow floodplains and papyrus channels in fiberglass or wooden dugouts.
2 to 3.5 hours, morning or afternoon
Open 4x4 Big-Game Drives
Tracking lions, leopards and wild dogs across woodland and savanna with off-road and nocturnal privileges in private concessions.
3.5 to 4.5 hours, twice daily
Motorized Boat Safaris
Navigating permanent river systems and lagoons by aluminum swamp boat to reach heronries, hippos and crocodiles.
2 to 4 hours, often at sunset
Guided Walking Safaris
Exploring islands and flood margins on foot with an armed professional guide, focused on tracking and botany.
2 to 3 hours, early morning only

Areas

Central Delta & Chief's Island (Moremi) Elevated year-round refuge with the highest concentrations of lion, leopard, cheetah and reintroduced rhino; typical stay 3 nights 0 properties
Northern Floodplains (Vumbura, Duba Plains, Kwara) Private concessions balancing land game drives with boating and mokoro, known for swamp-hunting lion prides and wild dogs; typical stay 3 nights 0 properties
Western Deep-Water Zone (Jao, Jedibe, Panhandle) Permanent papyrus swamps and deep channels focused on mokoro trails, boating and fishing; game drives seasonal; typical stay 2-3 nights 0 properties
Eastern Margins & Woodlands (Khwai, Sandibe, Chitabe) Transition zone of mopane forest and floodplain drawing elephant, buffalo and wild dog, with night drives and walking safaris permitted; typical stay 2-3 nights 0 properties
Nearest gateway: MUB
Plan for 4-6 nights here
Best months: Jun – Oct

Okavango

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