North Island Okavango
- Northern Okavango Delta
- 7 Rooms
- US$ 1,465 — US$ 3,395 per night
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta is renowned for its vast biodiversity. It is the incredible variety and concentration of animals and birds which has earned it the reputation as one of the top safari destinations in Africa. At the height of Botswana’s dry season the delta’s flood waters spill into the heart of the Kalahari Desert setting in motion an ecological spectacle unlike anywhere else on Earth. The floods are fed by summer rains in Angola’s lush highlands starting in October and peaking in January. As the floodwaters move through the delta, the wildlife including 200 000 large mammals starts to move back into the region fuelled by the promise of abundant food from the fertile flood plains. By July the floodwaters are at their highest in the Okavango Delta and it swells to double its size as the grass plains fill with water.
A beautiful melee of floodplains, woodlands and waterways, the Okavango Delta is undoubtedly one of the most famous wildlife-watching destinations in the world — and it lives up to every expectation.
The Okavango Delta is a vast and varied ecosystem created as the Okavango River flows into the Kalahari Desert. Here the water sinks into the dry sands to create a lush oasis with crystal clear lagoons and constantly shifting channels, reeded islands and fertile floodplains. The largest inland delta in the world, it is home to a large number of species and is, without doubt, one of the very best safari areas in Africa.
With over 1500 species of plant in a variety of ecosystems, the diversity of the Okavango Delta is staggering. Habitats include waterways, open grass plains dotted with palm trees and wild sage, mopane forest, savannah with ancient baobab trees and acacia, and desert.
The town of Maun is the main safari hub for the Okavango Delta. The international airport has regular connections with Cape Town and Johannesburg. The majority of our camps in the Okavango Delta can only be accessed by helicopter or light aircraft. There are daily flight connections, synchronising with international connections, between all our camps and Maun airport.
The weather in the Okavango Delta is influenced by the region’s semi-arid climate with a hot summer from November to March, which sees frequent rain storms, and a warm dry winter from May to August. The area experiences distinct wet and dry seasons.
The varied and rich eco-systems of the Delta attract a stunning variety of wildlife, including over 530 recorded bird species, which can be spotted whether you venture out with a vehicle, boat or by foot.Some of the most popular sightings include wild dogs, leopards, lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, wetland antelope including the red lechwe and sitatunga, and an array of bird species like the African fish eagle, Pel’s fishing owl, African jacana, slaty egret, and wattled crane.
Africa’s most iconic wildlife thrives in the sanctuary of the Okavango Delta. The fertile floodplains and pristine waterways provide abundant food attracting large numbers of herbivores which are followed closely by predators including cheetah, wild dog, lion, leopard, and hyena. The continent’s largest population of savanna elephants roam the area, and the Delta is a true haven for the Cape Buffalo, and where there are big herds of buffaloes the lion prides are usually not far away.
