Botswana | Africa's wildlife Eden: feature story
Tucked away in the northern reaches of Botswana - a landlocked country about the size of France, seated just to the north of South Africa - lies the closest thing to Eden left on the planet, the Okavango Delta. Here rich droves of wildlife still roam the grasslands, surrounded by beds of reeds and papyrus, and stands of majestic gallery forest that line the myriad riverine channels braiding their way through the delta.
| Duration: | 4 Days |
|---|---|
| Tour Code: | ITW160 |
| Trip Style: | Superior - 4 star |
| Departure Dates: | Year Round |
| Price: | Please Contact Us |
Trip Details
Tucked away in the northern reaches of Botswana - a landlocked country about the size of France, seated just to the north of South Africa - lies the closest thing to Eden left on the planet, the Okavango Delta. Here rich droves of wildlife still roam the grasslands, surrounded by beds of reeds and papyrus, and stands of majestic gallery forest that line the myriad riverine channels braiding their way through the delta.
This is the brink of wild Africa. Far from the gridlocked national parks of Kenya, the Okavango Delta is a pristine network of rivers, marshes and grasslands spanning some 16,800 square kilometres, its sheer size making it the world's largest inland delta. It's this massive area of wetlands that makes it a magnet for wildlife. And that you can drink the water right out of the Okavango provides testimony to how untouched it is.
The Okavango offers an oasis of habitat for prolific plant and animal life in a personified state of "balance in nature", and in fact, one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Hippos flatten paths through the papyrus on their nocturnal forays to graze, allowing easier access for the sitatunga and antelope to traverse across the swamps during their daytime migrations. Belts of forest fringe the swamps, with tall trees giving shade to large herds of larger game. Beyond the forest fringe the landscape forms open savannah parkland, and in these drier areas the greatest concentrations of game are accompanied by the predator families: lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wild dog.
It is in these forest fringes and savannah grasslands that elephants and giraffes can be found browsing with antelope of almost every kind, buffalo, wildebeest, kudu, sable, roan and impala. Okavango is a delicate and unique example of dynamic equilibrium at work in nature. Yet it is the water - the thousands of twisting, turning channels heading off in all directions, the carpet of lilies and the spectrum of greens in the grasses and weeds - that make this place magic. A place worthy of being called a "greatest place!"
The most relaxing, and indeed authentic, way to experience the Okavango Delta is to be gently poled down a quiet channel by a guide in a mokoro - the local version of a canoe, yet only a shallow draught that's usually poled like a punt or gondolier. It provides access to places unreachable by other modes of transport: quiet backwaters, floodplains and shallow sandy channels. The silence of the mokoro means you can get close to wildlife - hold still as the elephants cross the river in front of you... or drift slowly towards that basking crocodile. Then, for those game enough, start the next day by taking a walk in the wild - the Delta is one of the few places in Botswana where you can walk in the bush with your guide tracking down and getting close and personal to big game. Add to this an elephant safari, or saddle up on horseback, and you'll quickly realise why the Okavango is a paradise for travellers seeking the ultimate authentic "African game" experience.
Yet remote as it may be, the Okavango caters for all tastes and pockets, from tented camps to stunning luxury lodges where the service is world-class standard. It's also an ideal place to go for the ultimate in romantic getaways, and even has lodges and facilities that cater fabulously for families.
When to go?
The Okavango has two distinct seasons: a cool, dry winter from May to September and a hot, wet summer from October to April. The dry season (May-Oct) is the best time to go for wildlife: huge numbers of animals make their way out of the dry interior towards the floods; while the wet season is a mecca for bird-lovers and the plants are flowering and green.
For more information on tours, accommodation and experiences in the Okavango Delta, contact us at Inspired Travel Worldwide on 9449 8598.
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For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
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