On and over the Okavango

---

Alongside the Maasai Mara and Serengeti/Ngorongoro, the Okavango Delta is undoubtedly one of the most famous natural wonders of Africa. It is our next destination as we cross the border into Botswana.

At this time of year, the delta is flooded, and this year’s floods are particularly high. We camp in Maun, the hub of all delta activities, then gear up to be poled into the delta on mokoros, small two-person dugout canoes. It takes us roughly thre hours to reach our campsite in the middle of the delta, making our way slowly through knee-deep water filled with reeds, lillies and lots of flies. Not quite as civilised as punting on the River Cam, but still a unique experience as we kick back and watch the world float by.

On our first day in the delta, we go for an early morning walk on one of the larger islands. We hear a lion roar, but sadly it’s too far away to see, so we content ourselves watching elephants, giraffe and antelope. Towards the end of the walk, we chance upon a dead gazelle, it’s hind leg bent beneath it and a large chunk of flesh missing from it’s rump. A leopard kill, but this time we don’t see the culprit. The kill is fresh, maybe only a few hours old, so the cat may still be in the area. Our guide tries to hack off a nice cut of meat for the barbecue, but all we have is a pen knife, and we decide it might not be the best thing to hang around in case the leopard is still in the vicinity! That night we take to the mokoros again to watch the sunset.

We pole out of the delta the next day, and jump into a plane to appreciate the delta from the air. We soon realise that poling in showed us only a tiny fraction of this vast, rich spectacle. We fly for nearly an hour, swooping down low over river channels, watching herds of elephant, hippos and giraffe, and marvelling at the variety of landscapes in the massive delta.

---

Photos

040
Our mokoro fleet awaits

053
Game viewing delta style

049
The delta from above

047
Elephants in the flood waters

Comments

[Dad]

Photographs
The photographic lesson has certainly paid dividends. I am so envious of you being in such magnificent/photogenic places. Do not let anyone tell you that it is easy taking good photographs in such a place, some of these are special. If I was only 40 years younger!!

[SmithyWorldWide]

Thanks Dad... that means a lot coming from you. I wish you were out here with me to take some of your own!