Botswana
Northern Botswana (Kalahari Desert Basin)
Lake
~15,000 km² (varies seasonally)
Heritage
A PROLOGUE
The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland deltas, formed where the Okavango River spreads across the sands of the Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana rather than reaching the sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the delta’s seasonal floodwaters transform the dry Kalahari into a mosaic of channels, lagoons, and islands each year.
This unique wetland ecosystem supports an exceptional concentration of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo and Nile crocodile, alongside hundreds of bird species. The delta is best explored by traditional mokoro canoe, motorboat, and light aircraft, offering a very different safari experience from the dry savanna reserves elsewhere in the region.
Delta Area (Peak Flood)
Plant Species
Bird Species
Large herds move seasonally between islands and floodplains.
Prides are found across the delta's drier islands and fringes.
Present throughout the delta but most often spotted on night drives.
Large herds graze the floodplains, especially in the dry season.
Abundant in the delta's permanent channels and lagoons.
Common along channels and lagoons throughout the delta.
A frequent sight perched along the delta's waterways.
Commonly seen grazing near the delta's floodplains and channels.
Accommodations
Botswana
Macatoo Camp sits on a private concession in the western Okavango Delta and is built entirely around riding. Guests explore the floodplains on horseback, moving at a pace and silence no vehicle can manage, and often getting far closer to plains game as a result.
The riding is genuinely demanding — guests need to be competent and comfortable at a canter, since the ability to move quickly matters around big game. For non-riders and rest days the camp also runs mokoro trips, walking safaris and conventional game drives.
Botswana
Xigera Safari Lodge sits on Xigera Island in the western Okavango Delta within Moremi Game Reserve, raised on stilts above permanent floodplain.
The lodge doubles as a showcase for contemporary southern African art and craft, with commissioned pieces throughout the suites and public spaces. Its position on permanent water means mokoro and boat excursions run year-round, unlike much of the delta.
Botswana
Bordering Moremi Game Reserve, Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is instantly recognisable for its organic, shell-like architecture, inspired by the form of a pangolin and set among riverine forest.
Raised suites look across permanent delta waterways, and the lodge runs largely on solar power with a deliberately light environmental footprint. Game drives and guided walks explore the private concession bordering the reserve.
Botswana
Chief’s Camp occupies a prime position on Chief’s Island within Moremi Game Reserve, an area long known to safari guides as the delta’s premier wildlife concentration.
Spacious bush pavilions each include a private plunge pool and shaded deck overlooking the floodplain. Activities combine game drives across the island with seasonal mokoro excursions through the surrounding channels.
Botswana
Set on Chief’s Island in the heart of the Okavango Delta’s Moremi Game Reserve, Mombo Camp is widely regarded as one of the finest safari properties in Africa, with a reputation built on extraordinary game density.
Elevated suites and walkways look out over floodplains crossed daily by elephant, lion and buffalo. The surrounding concession supports one of the highest predator concentrations in southern Africa, and both black and white rhino have been successfully reintroduced here.
Location
Most nationalities receive South African entry on arrival; Zimbabwe issues an e-visa or visa on arrival. We confirm requirements for your passport.
Low-risk malaria areas — anti-malarials advised. No mandatory vaccinations from most countries; consult your travel clinic before departure.
South African Rand; US Dollars are widely used around Victoria Falls. Cards are accepted in cities; carry small USD for tips.
Warm days and cool mornings on safari in the dry season. Pack layers — early game drives can be cold even when afternoons are hot.
Neutral, breathable clothing, a warm layer, sun protection and binoculars. Soft bags are required on light aircraft, with strict weight limits.
Wi-Fi at all hotels and lodges, though deliberately gentle in the bush. Power is 230V; bring a universal adaptor.
The practical Guide
A quick fly-in visit combining a mokoro canoe trip with a short game walk on a delta island.
Per Person
A classic itinerary combining mokoro trips, game drives, and light aircraft transfers between delta camps.
Per Person
An extended stay across multiple delta concessions, combining water- and land-based game viewing.
Per Person
Moremi Game Reserve covers around 5,000 square kilometers on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. Established in 1963, it was one of the first protected areas in Africa created by a local community, the Batawana people, in response to declining wildlife populations from unregulated hunting.
Moremi combines the wetland habitats of the Okavango Delta with dry mopane woodland and open savanna, supporting an exceptional diversity of wildlife. The reserve offers strong sightings of the Big Five, alongside significant populations of wild dog, and is considered one of the most beautiful and game-rich reserves in southern Africa.
The Makgadikgadi Pans form one of the largest salt pan systems in the world, remnants of an ancient lake that once covered much of northern Botswana. Protected within Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan National Parks, the area transforms dramatically with the seasons, from a cracked, shimmering white desert in the dry months to shallow wetlands after the summer rains.
When water returns, the pans draw one of southern Africa’s great wildlife migrations, as zebra and wildebeest move across the plains in search of fresh grazing, followed by predators. Flamingos gather in vast numbers on the flooded pans, while the surrounding grasslands support gemsbok, ostrich, and other species adapted to this stark, open landscape.
Chobe National Park covers around 11,700 square kilometers in northern Botswana, and is home to what is widely considered the largest concentration of elephant in Africa, with an estimated population exceeding 120,000. The park stretches from the Chobe riverfront in the north to the Savuti and Linyanti regions further south and west.
The Chobe riverfront is famous for its evening boat cruises, offering close-up views of elephant herds, hippo pods, buffalo, and a wide range of birdlife gathering along the water’s edge. Beyond the river, drier savanna and mopane woodland support lion, leopard, and one of the richest concentrations of wildlife in southern Africa.
The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland deltas, formed where the Okavango River spreads across the sands of the Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana rather than reaching the sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the delta’s seasonal floodwaters transform the dry Kalahari into a mosaic of channels, lagoons, and islands each year.
This unique wetland ecosystem supports an exceptional concentration of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo and Nile crocodile, alongside hundreds of bird species. The delta is best explored by traditional mokoro canoe, motorboat, and light aircraft, offering a very different safari experience from the dry savanna reserves elsewhere in the region.
TOURS & SAFARIS
How it works
01
Share where you long to go and what would make it unforgettable .
02
A tailor-made itinerary matched to the right camps and seasons.
03
We shape every detail until the journey feels entirely your own.
04
A dedicated team is with you from landing to homecoming.
GUEST REVIEWS
answers
It’s one of the few major rivers in the world that never reaches the sea, instead spreading across the Kalahari Desert to create a rich, seasonal wetland ecosystem.
A mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe, poled through the delta’s shallow channels by a local guide, offering a quiet, close-up way to explore the waterways.
The delta’s flood peaks between June and August, offering the best water-based activities, though wildlife viewing is strong throughout the dry season from May to October.
Most visitors fly into Maun and then take a light aircraft transfer directly to their camp, as road access within the delta is limited.
Yes, alongside classic delta wildlife like hippo and crocodile, the region supports strong populations of elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo.
Yes, the delta is often paired with nearby Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park for a varied Botswana safari itinerary.
Neutral-coloured clothing, insect repellent, sun protection, and a waterproof bag for mokoro and boat trips are all recommended.
