The Okavango is one of the world's largest inland deltas - most river deltas usually lead to the ocean but the Okavango River drains the summer rains from the Angola highlands and empties into open land, flooding the savanna and creating a unique and ever-changing inland delta. As you would imagine, the delta is very flat, varying just 2m in height and between March and August swells almost three times in size, fluctuating between 6,000 square kilometres to approximately 15,000. There are more than 150,000 islands, some are just a few metres wide while the larger islands can be longer than 10 kilometres
Deemed one of the world’s premier wilderness areas it is home to elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, antelope, leopard, hyena, zebra and crocodile amongst many others and during the dry season, around 260,000 mammals congregate around the delta. Birdlife is prolific here with 530 bird species including the extremely rare Pel’s Fishing Owl, one of just a handful of fish-eating owls in the world (we actually saw one of these in Zambia, at night and I took a very rubbish photo).
One of the main reasons for visiting is to experience the water-based safaris offered in the delta, traversing the waterways on a traditional mokoro canoe. These traditional boats were once made from a carved out tree trunk, however, now they are made out of more environmentally-friendly fibreglass.
As well as the many safari lodges, the area is occupied by five BaSarwa (San) tribes which live in the Moremi Game Reserve on the eastern side and use the area for fishing, growing crops and hunting.
This map shows just how many lodges there are in the area. We go firstly to Okuti Camp which is in the Moremi National Reserve and then on to Shinde Camp (both are owned by the same company).
Landing at Maun after just 1 hour 20 mins, we were met by someone from the light aircraft company who took our hold baggage and, after about 1/2 hour wait, drove us and the other 9 on our flight out to the plane. Maun is known as the gateway to the delta and there must have been 50 or so small planes on the tarmac.
Not our actual plane, but same size and same livery.
Leaving Ian to identify our big bags before loading, I checked with the pilot if there was a preferable side to sit - no - and jumped on board so I could safely stow the cameras before the masses got on. Being first on, I went to the front of the plane and took the seats right behind the pilot. Some people insist on sitting at the back and then everyone else boarding has to squeeze past them and believe me these planes are tiny for 12 people.
Flying over the delta was incredible.
