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Okavango Delta Safaris, Botswana Safari Adventures
The Okavango Delta is one
of the world's largest inland water systems. It's headwaters
start in Angola's western highlands, with numerous tributaries
joining to form the Cubango river, which then flows through
Namibia (called the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana,
where it is then called the Okavango.
Millions of years ago the
Okavango river use to flow into a large inland lake called
Lake Makgadikgadi (now Makgadikgadi Pans). Tectonic activity
and faulting interrupted the flow of the river causing it
to backup and form what is now the Okavango delta. This has
created a unique system of water ways that now supports a
vast array of animal and plant life that would have otherwise
been a dry Kalahari savanna.
The deltas floods are fed
from the Angolan rains, which start in October and finish
sometime in April. The floods only cross the border between
Botswana and Namibia in December and will only reach the bottom
end of the delta (Maun) sometime in July, Taking almost nine
months from the source to the bottom. This slow meandering
pace of the flood is due to the lack of drop in elevation,
which drops a little more than 60 metres over a distance of
450 kilometres. The delta’s water deadends in the Kalahari
via the Botetle river, with over 95 per cent of the water
eventually evaporating.
During the peak of the flooding
the deltas area can expand to over 16,000 square kilometres,
shrinking to less than 9,000 square kilometres in the low
period. As the water travels through the delta, the wildlife
starts to move back into the region. The areas surrounding
the delta are beginning to try out (the rains in Botswana
occur approximately the same time as in Angola) and the wildlife
starts to congregate on the edge of the newly flooded areas,
May through October. Wild Dogs are frequently found in the
Okavango DeltaThe delta environment has large numbers of animal
populations that are otherwise rare, such as
crocodile, red lechwe, sitatunga, elephant, wild dogs, buffalo,
wattled crane as well as the other more common mammals and
bird life.
The best time for game viewing
in the delta is during the May-October period, as the animal
life is concentrated along the flooded areas and the vegetation
has dried out. The best time for birding and vegetation is
during the rainy season (Nov.- April) as the migrant bird
populations are returning and the plants are flowering and
green. Mokoro in the Okavango DeltaSafari activities by water
are the primary speciality of the Okavango - the mokoro -
a dug out canoe which is 'poled' along by your Guide is the
most evocative way of exploring the numerouswaterways. Motor
launches travel on the main waterways and lagoons.
Traditional 4x4 Game viewing
vehicles are used on the main islands, with night drives available
in the private concession areas - not allowed within the National
Park. Walking Safaris are available from most Camps and Lodges
- perhaps the most exciting way of viewing Game - stalking
and tracking wildlife with an expert Guide.
Game Viewing flights are
available by both light aircraft and helicopter, but hot air
ballooning is not allowed. Perhaps the most marvelous way
of exploring the Okavango is on the back of an Elephant at
Randall Moore's famous Abu Camp Rainfall is not heavy in the
Okavango - it gets less than half of the rainfall than over
the Kruger Park area
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