Okavango Delta

Okavango Delta offers the truest safari experience - spectacular wildlife and unspoiled nature

Our three nights in the Okavango Delta were the nature highlight of our Southern Africa trip. (which is no small thing with stops in Zambia, Cape Town and Londolozi – all highly recommended!) The difference in the Okavango was the beauty of the delta itself. The blue ribbons of water lined with sea grass and occasional water lilies were a photographer’s dream - especially when out of the grass poked a brightly colored Jacana or a trumpeting elephant.
All activities at camp revolve around the water. We were met by staffers at the airstrip who transferred us to a small launch to make our approach to camp. Twice daily game drives were in Land Rovers equipped for the watery terrain. We drove through areas with 3-4 feet of water. “Legs Up!” would shout our guide and we’d hold cameras, etc., above our heads.
The wildlife in the Okavango was extraordinary, with close encounters with leopards, hippos and elephants. And the abundance of birdlife is legendary. Afternoons at camp were spent watching crested barbets, weaver-birds, and other striking species from our deck.

Exploring wonderful Okavango Delta

After a bumpy ride, we arrived at the campsite in Gweta, at the Okavango Delta, where the staffs were waiting and welcoming us by singing and dancing. After a short briefing about the activities we were going to take, the staffs immediately served us some tea and coffee. Late in the afternoon, we took a 2-hours trekking (we spotted some elephants, buffaloes); after dinner, the staffs entertained us with more dances and songs by the campfire. The staffs were so warm, welcoming, and friendly-just like all the staffs from other campsites during our stay in Botswana.

The next day we were taking a Mokoro (a dug-out canoe), we left early in the morning to explore the Okavango Delta. The mokoro can carry 2 people and a poler, usually a guide from a local campsite. The poler, stands in the stern and uses a long pole to propel through the shallow water. It is so peaceful and serene, and the water is so calm during the trip. The view is breathtakingly beautiful, especially during the sunrise. Okavango Delta is the home of more than 400 species of birds, large variety of wildlife and painted reed frogs.

Another way to enjoy the aerial view of the delta is by taking a 45-minutes helicopter rise (a 206 or 210 Cessna) from Maun Airport, which cost about US$90.00. In order to be able to see different views, the helicopter sometimes flies at 45 degrees angle left or right, which could be nauseating and making you dizzy. Those uncomfortable feelings is a very small price to pay for the magnificent view from the sky, especially when you spot the animals- elephants, hippopotamus, buffaloes, among other things.

The weather in March was nice although sometimes a bit chilly at night, since it was almost the beginning of the Autumn. The roads mostly bumpy, e.g., it took about 6 hours to drive about 500 kilometers. One thing we noticed in Botswana was that we stopped at the police check points very often; for what purpose, we never knew. The immigration officer at the Kazungula (Botswana-Zimbabwe Border) was very friendly. He asked if we had a nice time and invited us back to visit different parts of the country. We left Botswana very happy that day-not only we saw so many animals (elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, birds, antelopes, etc), but also some countrysides, as well as met nice people.

Not to sound cliche, but you will never forget the experience and the excitement after taking these trips.

A remarkable place in Botswana

Okavango Delta (Botswana) offers amazing and varied vistas with incredible wildlife diversity for the avid photographer. The photos captured at Okavango Delta are second to none and favorable weather makes days very productive. The sights are highly memorable and a global treasure.

Exquisite location and teeming with birds and wildlife. One of the best places to visit.

Okavango Serenity

We went to the Okavango Delta in February. We stayed in a riverside camp manned by Delta Rain. We were serenaded by the very friendly Delta Rain team when we arrived via jeep (after a 1/2 hour ride from Maun).
http://tinyurl.com/ovtxwz8
They then paddled us along the river to our camp in their mokoros. It was a tented camp, with real beds, mosquito nets & en-suite showers (rigged up in a tree branch & filled with hot water, heated on the fire). We cooked over an open fire and sang songs around the fire by night. During the day we explored the local bush on walking safari & rivers via mokoro, but apart from the odd Fish Eagle we saw very little wildlife - think that the rivers were high and we were just unlucky. Life out in the bush was great and really laid-back & relaxed. I would recommend it.

The last night we stayed at a hostel back in Maun and one of our friends (sleeping in a tent within the fenced compound) was robbed (laptop)and apparently it had happened before. So that was a bit of sad ending to an otherwise fantastic trip.

A not-to-be-misses destination

The Okavango Delta was just one stop on a month long visit to Africa but it was the richest in terms of game viewing and overall safari experience. We encounter the rarely seen pangolin, lions galore (a pair on their "honeymoon"), amusing (and sometimes annoying) vervet monkeys, elephants, zebra, herds of antelope, and amazing birds; the iconic lilac-breasted roller among many others. It was July so bundling up for the early morning game drives was a must....by about 10 it warmed up enough to shed a few layers and enjoy the sun. Our camp was operated by Wilderness Safaris - the food was wonderful, the staff simply the best, and our guides shared not only their knowledge of the area but their love of the land as well. The sweet scent of what our guide called "savannah basil" filled the air as we traveled through the delta - an experience I will long remember.

I was impressed by stunning nature far away from the civilisation.

My accommondation was a tent, that was build on a high platform. On that platform was a toilet and a shower with no roof. The valuables were stored in a box that was locked.
The excursions were very exciting, because we used a traditonal boat made of wood to reach our destination. I never walked by foot in an area, where animals like elephants, lions and leopards are living.
In the night, elephants and hippos walked through our camp. Summarized the three days were very exciting.

Luxury safaris here are famous for being some of the most exclusive and private in the world.

This vast wetland attracts much game due to its lush vegetation and permanent water supplies – luxury safaris here are famous for being some of the most exclusive and private in the world, and the game viewing never disappoints. Due to the flat nature of the Delta the sunrises and sunsets are particularly colourful, which makes for excellent photographic opportunities when you do find your herd of zebra.

This was opposite in scenery to the Kalahari, lots of water and plants, again remote from other tourists. The wild life was totally amazing and combining the Kalahari and Okavango as my two destinations I feel I had two totally different but amazing experiences of safaris.

I loved The mokoro Activity- a dug out canoe which is 'poled' along by a Guide is the most evocative way of exploring the numerous waterways of the delta.