Are you ready for an Okavango Delta safari in Botswana? Top tips

The Okavango Delta is a huge, untouched floodplain on the northern border of Botswana. At the top of many African safari bucket lists, the Delta is incredibly beautiful and filled with a wide array of wildlife.

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know for an unforgettable Okavango Delta safari – the seasons, the safaris etc. – so that you can get the most out of your once-in-a-lifetime Botswana safari experience.

Geography of the Okavango Delta in Botswana

Okavango Delta mapLocated in the north-west corner of Botswana, bordering the Caprivi Strip, with Angola just north of it, the Okavango Delta wetlands cover between 6 000 and 15 000 km², depending on the time of year.

The Okavango River (and some local rainfall) deposits about 11 km³ of water over the area annually, creating its beautiful waterways and lily-filled ponds and providing water for the huge concentrations of wildlife that call the area home.

There are numerous islands in the delta, the largest being Chief’s Island which is 70 km long and 15 km wide. This also forms part of the Moremi Game Reserve.

The Okavango Delta is loosely divided into the northern delta and the southern delta. While the southern parts may dry up almost completely during the dry season, the northern parts have many sections that remain wet throughout the year.

Will we see the Big 5 animals on our Okavango Delta safari?

Lily, Okavango Delta safari by Rachel Hahs

The Okavango Delta is about way more than the Big 5. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a must for anyone visiting Botswana - and an incredibly beautiful destination to add to your African safari.

While you are unlikely to see all of the Big 5 animals on an Okavango Delta safari, they are present in some parts of the Delta. But, a safari here is a unique water-based experience that gets you up close and personal with nature and the smaller creatures inhabiting this watery paradise. Being a permanent wetland, aquatic animals, flora and birdlife are most typically what you will see, while the larger animals move continuously between the islands following grazing and always heading off to bigger areas of dry land.

You can spot the Big 5 in Moremi Game Reserve on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. Moremi is known for its excellent leopard sightings and is one of the best places in Botswana to see rhinos.

Land-based wildlife viewing areas are best for the larger herds of antelope, elephants and carnivores. To maximise your experience, we strongly recommend combining a water-based experience in the Okavango Delta with land-based areas. This is the ideal combination that will allow you to experience the beauty of the Okavango Delta and a chance to see the Big 5 animals at one of the land-based game reserves in Botswana, like Chobe National Park.

Dry Season vs Wet Season: The Okavango Delta Water Cycle

Okavango Delta Mokoro chilling by Ross Huggett

This is a commonly confused phenomenon. In northern Botswana, the ‘wet season’ occurs from November to around April. This is when the rains come, usually in the form of dramatic afternoon thunderstorms, precluded and followed by bright sunshine and heat.

High water season in the Okavango Delta, however, occurs when the flood waters from Angola slowly fill the delta, usually from May/June into August/September. This is the ‘dry season’, climatically, but the flood season for the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Why do the water levels of the Okavango Delta fluctuate?

Thunderstorm, Botswana safari by Chris Eason

The water that fills the enormous floodplains of the Okavango Delta, travels from the Angolan highlands, where the summer rains fall from January to February. It takes this huge volume of water from February to May/June to travel over 1 200 km along the Rio Cubango (as it’s known in Angola) and the Okavango River (in Botswana), to reach the floodplains, spreading across the area over a couple of months.

What happens to the water in the Okavango Delta?

While a small percentage ~2% of the water from the delta flows into Lake Ngami, the majority ~60% is consumed (transpired) by plants, and the remaining 36% evaporates or percolates into the underground water system ~2%. This river never reaches the sea.

How water levels and temperatures affect Okavango Delta safaris

Mokoro, Okavango Delta safari by Surreal Name Given

While the northern parts of the Okavango Delta don’t usually dry up completely, those in the south do. This means that if you want to do water-based activities (mokoro safaris and boat cruises etc.), they may not be possible in the low water season i.e. before the delta fills around May/June.

This is winter in Botswana and is an ideal time to visit, temperature-wise, with mild days averaging around 25°C. Pack a jacket, as morning and evening temperatures may drop to the single figures.

If, however, you’re interested in land-based activities the dry season is the time to go. The drying of the delta usually starts in September (from the southern end) and intensifies with the – often unbearable – dry October heat, before the November rains give some respite (to the temperature, not really the water levels).

Okavango Delta Climate: Hot! Hot! Hot!

Lion resting, Botswana safari by Steven dosRemedios

Summer daytime temperatures in the Okavango Delta can reach over 40 °C (October to March/April), making travel uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Also, due to the remoteness and wildness of Delta camps, most don’t have air conditioners, so keep this in mind when choosing dates to travel!

While there is game and incredible birdlife all year, as the area dries up, only the deeper pools remain. The game moves in to search for water, allowing for excellent game-viewing opportunities.

To summarise the Okavango Delta’s seasons (remembering that Mother Nature is highly unpredictable!):

• Summer/Spring (October to April): temperatures into the 40°C, dramatic afternoon thunderstorms. Vegetation is lush and green.
• Autumn/Winter (May to September): daytime temperatures in the 20 – 30°Cs, minimal (if any) rainfall.
• High Water Season: starting in May in the north, gradually filling the whole area until October, when the ‘drying out’ starts, working its way back to the northern parts.

Okavango Delta Camps: Land-based vs Water-based 

Okavango Delta walking safari by Tim Copeland

There are many camps in the Okavango Delta area, both on the islands that dot the floodplain, and along its edges. They can loosely be divided into land-based and water-based Okavango Delta camps, depending on their location and, therefore, the activities offered.

Water-based camps offer – surprise! – water-based activities, and mainly require either a boat trip or short-hop flight to be reached. Water-based activities include gentle trips through the exquisite waterways on Mokoros and walking safaris on the islands.

Land-based camps, on the other hand, may offer land activities in addition to water-based activities, such as game-viewing in 4X4s (through Moremi, for instance), which are not possible at the water-based camps.

Okavango Delta sunset by Lawrence Murray

Fear not, though, if you want to go to a water-based camp AND experience game drives – just chat with one of our safari experts who will find the perfect Okavango Delta safari that includes the beauty of a water-based camp and some days ‘on-land’.

Drive-In vs Fly-In Okavango Delta Safari

Aerial of Okavango Delta, Botswana Safari by Richard Toller

As you can imagine, road travel in the Okavango Delta is often not easy or even possible. While some camps do have road access (often only accessible by 4X4), the more remote camps may only be reached by small plane.

Numerous charter companies fly both visitors and supplies in and out of the Okavango Delta, and there are plenty of landing strips within this vast area. Another bonus of a fly-in safari is that you get to see the Okavango Delta from the air, which is pretty spectacular!

Remember though, these are light aircraft, so strict luggage restrictions are in place. Pack lightly!

Okavango Delta Mokoro Safaris 

Mokoro safari, Okavango Delta by Ross Huggett

The traditional means of transport around the Okavango Delta is by hollowed-out boats made from the local trees – sausage trees, jackalberries and morulas – called mokoros. These canoe-like boats were designed specifically to allow passage through even the shallowest of canals and are manoeuvred by a man standing at the back of the boat with a pole.

Due to the threat of extinction of many of the trees used traditionally, many modern mokoros are made from fibreglass. Mokoro safaris are offered throughout the Okavango Delta and are well worth doing. With only the sound of the pole going into the water, you can fully appreciate the birdsong, hippo grunts and other truly African sounds. You can’t get closer to nature than this!

Hippos in the Okavango Delta

Hippo in Botswana, Okavango Delta by Malcolm Macgregor

This is hippo country if there ever was one. These rotund creatures live in large numbers in the Okavango and, therefore, may affect when and where you can be. While hippos look particularly benign, their looks are deceiving: they are particularly dangerous animals, being extremely territorial, protective of their young, and generally bad-tempered. 

During the dry season(s), the water retracts northwards and the pods of hippos are forced into smaller and smaller areas. When water levels are low, it may not be possible to manoeuvre the mokoros through the narrowed waterways and avoid the hippos. Safety is of primary concern, so keep this in mind if you’re unable to do a Mokoro safari trip.

Getting to the Okavango Delta in Botswana

The closest town to the Okavango Delta is Maun, which makes it the most convenient access point for travellers wanting to keep transfer distances to a minimum. To see what kinds of trips are available, browse our upcoming tours departing from Maun.

The next closest travel hub to the Okavango Delta is Kasane, also located in northern Botswana, just north of Chobe Park. Kasane is located a long day's drive from Maun and trips starting here are usually longer, visiting Chobe and other highlights on their itineraries. To view upcoming trips starting in Kasane see our calendar listing of Kasane tour departures.

One of the most popular options is to fly to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and travel to the Okavango Delta from there. These are also longer itineraries that travel to multiple destinations in Botswana, beginning at the famous Vic Falls.  Search Victoria Falls tour departures for availability on your travel dates.

Lastly, many Botswana Safaris, start in Johannesburg (South Africa) as this is a major travel hub with plenty of cheap flights from international destinations. Most of these South African safaris travel to Kruger and Pilanesberg but the longer trips often include the Okavango Delta in Botswana. By flying to Johannesburg you may be able to save on your international flights freeing up your budget to spend more on a longer, more comprehensive African safari. Take a look at the longer safaris departing from Johannesburg to compare options.

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Plan your Okavango Delta Safari

While all these factors should be taken into consideration, and nature can be unpredictable, an Okavango Delta safari at any time is guaranteed to be spectacular, each season offering a different experience. This is truly wild (and hot!) Africa.

Chat with one of our travel experts for more advice on planning your Botswana Safari to the Okavango Delta and beyond.

(This post was originally posted in 2016 and has been updated in 2024)