Things to do in Okavango & Northwest

The Okavango River rises in the Angolan highlands and never reaches the sea. Instead it spreads across the Kalahari into one of the largest inland deltas in the world. The water arrives months after the rains that feed it, so the delta is usually fullest from about June to August, in the middle of the dry season. Maun, on the southeastern edge, is where you'll land or drive in. Camps deep in the delta are a short light-aircraft hop from there, and many can only be reached by air.

On the water and on foot

The whole delta lies in North West district, along with the Moremi Game Reserve on its eastern side and the Khwai community area on Moremi's northern edge. A mokoro trip is the classic way to see it. Your poler stands at the back and pushes the dugout through papyrus and water lilies, then stops so you can step out onto an island and look for fresh elephant tracks. Guided walks on the islands teach you to read spoor, and in community areas such as Khwai you can also go out on night drives. For confident riders, horse riding safaris splash across the shallow floodplains. What you meet on any outing depends on the flood level and the month.

Getting there and how long to stay

Maun has direct flights from Johannesburg, and light aircraft fly on to the camp airstrips, usually with soft bags only and a strict weight limit. Self-drivers can reach Moremi and Khwai by 4x4, but you'll need campsite bookings well ahead. Three or four nights gives you time for both water and land activities. Upriver, the Panhandle near Shakawe is a single papyrus-lined channel known for fishing and birdlife. The delta combines easily with Chobe to the northeast or the Makgadikgadi pans to the east.

Booking on adventuro

Dry-season places in the delta camps fill early, so it pays to plan ahead. Use the Book here tab to see live dates and prices from local centres.