The Okavango Delta is one of the most exclusive wilderness destinations in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the backdrop to wild Africa's grand spectacle, presenting unparalleled wilderness experiences in a serene inland delta unlike anywhere else on Earth. A journey to the Okavango Delta – deep inside Africa's pristine interior – is like no other, encompassing vast wetlands and expansive drylands. Visitors traverse the Delta's meandering waterways, passing palm- and papyrus-fringed islands, thick woodland, resplendent with lush vegetation, and teeming with rich wildlife.
The largest intact inland delta in the world, the Okavango Delta is situated deep within the Kalahari Basin. Fed by the Okavango River, originating in the Angolan Highlands to the north and often referred to as the 'jewel' of the Kalahari, the Delta comprises three main geographical areas: The Panhandle, The Delta, Drylands
The Panhandle begins as the Okavango River crosses into Botswana from Namibia at Mohembo, extending approximately 80 kilometres southeast. Contained within two parallel faults in the Earth's crust, the river runs deep and wide, with surrounding swamps flooded annually. The Panhandle's main tourist attractions are fishing, birding, and visiting the colourful villages along its western fringes, surrounded by papyrus beds and large stands of phoenix palms.
The river spills out over the fan-shaped Delta at Seronga, rejuvenating the landscape and creating stunning mosaics of channels, lagoons, pools, flooded grasslands, and thousands of islands.
The Okavango Delta can vary in size from 15 000 square kilometres during drier periods to a staggering 22 000 sq. km during wetter periods. Dominant plant species include reeds, real fan palm, acacia, sycamore fig, sausage trees, rain trees and African mangosteen.
