The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland water systems. Its headwaters start in Angola’s western highlands. A large number of rivers and streams join up to create the Cubango River. This river then flows through Namibia now becoming the Kavango River and finally enters Botswana, where it is then changes its name again to the Okavango.
The amount of water that flows into the Delta is as a result of the rains that fall in Angola. The flood waters only reach the border between Botswana and Namibia in the December with the waters finally reaching the Delta near Maun sometime around July.
This duration of almost 9 months and the slow meandering pace of the river and its waters is due to the very small drop in elevation - 60 metres over a distance of 450 kilometres. These waters eventually come to the end of their journey when they reach the Kalahari via the Botete River.During the peak flow time the delta’s area can expand to over 16,000 square kilometres, shrinking to less than 9,000 square kilometres in the low period.
Water is the life blood of the region, and as the water travels through the delta, the wildlife starts to move back, which in turn attracts the predators. This makes for fantastic game viewing and a photographers paradise.The delta has large concentrations of animals like red lechwe, sitatunga, elephant, wild dogs, buffalo, the wattled crane as well as many other 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 is during the rainy season (November - April) as the migrant bird population’s return to feed on the fresh and succulent plant life.
The amount of water that flows into the Delta is as a result of the rains that fall in Angola. The flood waters only reach the border between Botswana and Namibia in the December with the waters finally reaching the Delta near Maun sometime around July.
This duration of almost 9 months and the slow meandering pace of the river and its waters is due to the very small drop in elevation - 60 metres over a distance of 450 kilometres. These waters eventually come to the end of their journey when they reach the Kalahari via the Botete River.During the peak flow time the delta’s area can expand to over 16,000 square kilometres, shrinking to less than 9,000 square kilometres in the low period.
Water is the life blood of the region, and as the water travels through the delta, the wildlife starts to move back, which in turn attracts the predators. This makes for fantastic game viewing and a photographers paradise.The delta has large concentrations of animals like red lechwe, sitatunga, elephant, wild dogs, buffalo, the wattled crane as well as many other 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 is during the rainy season (November - April) as the migrant bird population’s return to feed on the fresh and succulent plant life.
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