Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The stirring counterpoint to the Kalahari Desert that consumes so much of Botswana is
the Okavango Delta. The up-to-18,000-sq-km expansion and expiration of the Okavango
River is Southern Africa's massive outpouring of fertility. Indeed, the contrast the
Okavango presents compared to the rest of Botswana is one of her most beguiling aspects:
here, in the heart of the thirst lands, is one of the world's largest inland river deltas, an un-
ceasing web of water, rushing, standing, flooding, dying. And the waters do die. They
never make it to the sea, soaking instead into the salt pans of central Botswana. But before
they do, they sustain vast quantities of wildlife that shift with the seasons in this mother of
waters.
REGIONS OF THE OKAVANGO
The Okavango Delta is a complex and unique ecosystem but its scope can be daunting. It is, however, easier to
plan a trip through the region than you might imagine, especially if you think of the delta as having four distinct
areas.
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Eastern Delta
This part of the delta is far more accessible, and therefore cheaper to reach, from Maun than the
Inner Delta and Moremi. You can easily base yourself in Maun, and arrange a day trip by
mokoro
(dugout canoe)
or an overnight bush-camping trip for far less than the cost of staying in (and getting to) a lodge in the Inner Delta
or Moremi.
»
Inner Delta
The area west and north of Moremi is classic delta scenery where you can truly be seduced by the
calming spell of the region. Accommodation is mostly in top-end luxury lodges, almost all of which are only ac-
cessible by expensive chartered flights.
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Moremi Game Reserve
This region includes Chief's Island and the Moremi Tongue, and is one of the most
popular destinations within the delta. The Moremi Game Reserve is the only officially protected area within the
delta, so wildlife is plentiful. Moremi has a few campsites as well as several truly decadent lodges with prices to
match. The reserve is accessible by 4WD from Maun or Chobe as well as by charter flight.
»
Okavango Panhandle
This swampy extension of the Inner Delta stretches northwest towards the Namibian
border. Although this area does not offer the classic delta experience, it is growing in popularity due to its ease of
accessibility bya public transport or 2WD. As a general rule, this is prime birdwatching and fishing terrain, rather
than the domain of wildlife safaris.
The Okavango's fly-in luxury lodges make a strong claim to be Africa's most exclusive
safari destinations. Fork out a fortune for nights spent deep in the inner delta and you're
unlikely to regret it. And yet, it is possible to gain a delta foothold for those on a smaller
budget through a combination of mobile safaris from Maun and self-driving to the camp-
sites of the Moremi Game Reserve. Whichever way you travel, you'll take home so many
