Overview–botswana

Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s most famous destinations. There are several private reserves in the Delta, as well as Moremi Game Reserve. It offers a true wilderness experience, excellent wildlife viewing, and stunning scenery. Walking safaris and mokoro (dugout canoe) trips are a great addition to the usual game drives.

Scenery

The Okavango is the world’s largest inland delta. It is fed by the river with the same name during the driest months. The fan-shaped delta is a mosaic of papyrus-fringed channels connecting open areas filled with water lilies. Islands in between carry Borassus palms and thickets of acacia and mopane woodland.

Weather & Climate

The Okavango Delta has a Dry season that extends from April to October. Afternoon temperatures are warm and pleasant until September, with the heat quickly building to a fierce peak the following month. Then the rains break, announcing the start of the Wet season (November to March), and the Delta starts to cool down a little. It remains reasonably hot in the afternoon, but the morning is especially pleasant.

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Sept

Oct

Jan

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April

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Jun

Nov

Dec

Rates

From: $152 to $651 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: July to October (Best wildlife viewing)

High Season

From: July to October (Higher rates apply but not busy)

Size

From: 22,000km² / 8,494mi²

Wildlife & Animals

The Okavango Delta attracts a huge number of herbivores in the Dry season, which attracts the carnivores as well. Wildlife viewing is superb, especially in Moremi Game Reserve. Four of the Big Five are easily seen. Both black and white rhinos have been reintroduced, but sightings are still rare. Elephants and buffalo are often spotted on land and from the water.

Wildlife Highlights

The Okavango has good general wildlife, but the most common swamp-adapted animal is the rare red lechwe that can be seen wading through water in big herds. The semi-aquatic sitatunga is harder to find. Other unusual antelope include tsessebe, sable, and roan. The Okavango is a prime area for wild dogs, which are most easily observed while denning.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The Okavango Delta has seasonal wildlife viewing. The best time to visit is in the dry months, from July to October, as there is an influx of animals gathering at the Delta. During the wet months, from January to March, many areas become inaccessible, and some lodges close down.

General Wheather

The Okavango Delta has a climate that is warm to hot, and it experiences distinct Dry and Wet seasons. The rains break the build-up of heat in November or December (their exact timing is unpredictable) and come as a relief. The last rain of the Wet season usually falls in April.

Dry Season –April to October

June and July is the coolest time of year, but temperatures begin to increase in August, and they peak in October. Remember to bring warm clothing for early morning game drives and boat trips.

April & May – This is the beginning of the Dry season. The vegetation in the Delta is still green. There is plenty of sunshine and conditions are mostly dry. Afternoon temperatures average 29°C/84°F, making the days feel very warm.
June, July & August – It is very dry and somewhat cooler now. Afternoon temperatures climb to a pleasant 26°C/79°F on average. However, early mornings are very cold at about 7°C/45°F.
September & October – It gets hotter and hotter at the end of the Dry season before the rains bring relief from the oppressive heat. October is stifling, with average temperatures of 35°C/95°F. Nights and early mornings are pleasant.

Wet Season –November to March

The arrival of the rains cools things down, and the dust settles. Afternoon thunderstorms and short showers become normal. It stays pretty hot through the Wet season – afternoon temperatures are about 32°C/90°F. Mornings are a very nice time to be active.

November & December – It only rains every now and then; mostly it’s hot and sunny. The rain comes as a relief because temperatures build beforehand and drop after. With average temperatures of about 19°C/66°F, early mornings are the most comfortable time.
January & February – These months receive the most rainfall. It rains many afternoons, but it is typically finished after a few hours. Powerful storms are common.
March – The rains are diminishing in March. It still rains every couple of days though, usually in the form of a storm. Mornings are a little bit cooler at 18°C/64°F on average.

Prons

Excellent wildlife viewing with four of the Big Five easily spotted
Off-road driving is permitted, which facilitates quality sightings
Great birding destination, especially for waterbirds
Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, and mokoro trips are available
A large choice of small, exclusive camps

Cons

The Okavango is an expensive destination

How To Get There

The easiest way to visit the Okavango Delta is by charter plane from Maun Airport (MUB). This is also the country’s most common point of entry for people visiting this part of Botswana. The eastern part of the Delta can also be accessed directly from Maun by 4x4. The drive usually takes 3 to 4 hours*.

If you’re on a road trip to Botswana, it is possible to drive from Chobe National Park. The distance is about 600km/370 mi and the driving time is at least 7 hours.*

It is customary for your tour operator to take care of charter flight bookings between parks as part of your tour package. There are no scheduled flights to the Okavango Delta.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Maun Airport (MUB), and what tickets would cost.