Okavango Delta Luxury Fly in Safari Holidays

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Okavango Delta Luxury Fly in Safari Holidays

The Okavango Delta sits at the terminal point of the Okavango River, where the water flows into a tectonic trough in the central part of the Kalahari Basin. The water in the delta does not connect to any sea or ocean and ultimately evaporates into the atmosphere. It’s the world’s largest inland delta and exists as a result of seasonal flooding.

From January to February, the water drains and evaporates. From March until June, a surge of water from the Angola highlands spreads slowly over the delta. The flood peaks between June and August, during Botswana’s bone-dry winters. During this time, the delta swells to three times its usual size, attracting animals from all over and creating one of Africa’s highest concentrations of wildlife.

Visitors to the area can expect to see animals year-round. Explore the waterways by motorboat to see thousands of breeding herons and storks. Head to the thickly forested upland savannahs to see rare African wild dogs and leopards, cheetah, jackal, impala, red lechwe, and other animals.

African elephants, giraffes, hippos, tseessebe, sitatunga, blue wildebeest, black and white rhinos, warthogs, and chacma baboons all call the area home. Several hundred species of birds also live here, including Pel’s fishing owl, crested cranes, the lilac-breasted roller, hammerkops, and sacred ibis.

Spend your days exploring the area on game walks and relaxing in the peaceful countryside. See wildlife on game drives and motorboat trips or relax by the swimming pool.

Top activities to do at the Okavango Delta Botswana

Photographic Safaris

The Okavango Delta is best known for its spectacular photographic safaris. With the game-rich Moremi Game Reserve at its center and surrounded by huge private concessions the delta provides first-rate safaris. Conducted primarily from safari camps, photographic safaris allow guests to explore this unique ecosystem and usually comprise a number of camps chosen to fully expose guests to the delta.

Family Safaris

Increasingly popular, family safaris provide excellent opportunities for families to experience the Okavango Delta without the restrictions usually placed on children by safari camps. Specialist guides and activities ensure that children get the most out of their safari in the Okavango Delta with parents firm in the knowledge that the safari has been tailored to their requirements.

Riding Safaris

The delta offers Africa’s most authentic riding safaris. Operating from both fixed fly camps these specialist operators allow guests to ride among the continent’s big game.

Walking Safaris

While most safari camps in private concessions offer walking safaris, specialist walking safaris for the safari aficionado provide a unique safari experience in the Okavango Delta. Expert guides and small intimate camps ensure that the safari experience is intensely personal with wildlife sightings often missed by those in vehicles.

Balloon Safaris

Only recently introduced to the Okavango Delta balloon safaris are operated in the northern concessions of the delta. These concessions provide the most appropriate environment for these most iconic safaris

Mobile Safaris

Moving every couple of days these safaris make use of exclusive campsites within the National Parks and Game Reserves, not available to the general public, and outside in Botswana’s vast private concession areas.

See our popular Okavango Delta safaris

How to get to the Okavango Delta Botswana

Generally, access into the Okavango Delta and the private safari camps is by flying in. There are several airstrips usually situated a few minutes’ drive and/or boat ride, from the camps. Flights into these airstrips can be from Maun or Kasane Airports, or linked from other airstrips in the different areas of Botswana, and are usually not included in the standard rates, although they may be packaged in with multi-night stays. The lodges and camps will pick up from the airstrips, sometimes at no extra cost. Flights into Maun are via Johannesburg and Cape Town, or locally from Gaborone and Kasane. Charter flights are another option, and inter-camp air transfers are available when booking with sister camps in Botswana. Flights from Maun Airport into the delta take no more than 30 to 45 minutes.

Best time to visit the Okavango Delta Botswana

We generally recommend the drier months of July, August and September as the best time to travel to the Okavango Delta As the surrounding regions are now very dry, the animals often gather together at the remaining water points and wetlands of the delta. In addition, the land areas in the delta are also becoming smaller and smaller, leaving the animals with fewer opportunities to retreat.

The transitional months between the dry season and the rainy season are also highly recommended as a travel season. Generally, there are good conditions for your unforgettable safari from May to October. During the rainy season, however, many lodges in the Okavango Delta are closed; some places can now only be reached by boat or seaplane anyway.

Where to stay at the Okavango Delta Botswana

Campsites

There are plenty of basic campsites at the South Gate, Khwai Gate, Xakanaka, and Third Bridge. These are ideal for self-drivers who self-cater and only need a place to cook and ablution facilities. Although activities are not included, you can book a Mokoro canoe trip as well as a boat ride when the water level is high enough. Other activities include game drives and bush walks.

Budget Accommodation

Also near the entrance gates are a couple of tented camps and lodges, which offer affordable accommodation, great for those who don’t want to carry all the equipment. Third Bridge offers elevated en-suite safari tents on a self-catering basis. The Panhandle area also has some lower-end lodges and fishing camps.

Luxury Accommodation in Okavango Delta

There are plenty of luxury camps both within and outside the borders of the Moremi Game Reserve. These are typically on private concessions, and they pamper guests with delicious food and a range of activities included in the price. The private concessions do not get traffic from tour operators or other camps, and so guests staying at these camps have exclusive experiences. Around Chief’s Island, there are actually very few camps – five to be exact. Mombo Camp, Little Mombo, and Mombo Trails are on the northern ridge of the island. Sanctuary Chief’s Camp is right in the heart of the island. On the southern edge of the island is Sanctuary Stanley Camp. Other luxury camps are dotted around outside the perimeter of the island as well as along the border of the Moremi Game Reserve.

Outside the Delta

There are other lodges that are suited for those who want to drive in and out and not necessarily stay within the delta. There are several budget options – self-catering, camps, and B & B’s, on the Maun-Okavango road. Along the Thamalakane River which runs adjacent to the Maun-Okavango road, there are a few reasonably priced lodges such as Okavango River Lodge and Island Safari Lodge.

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