Things to do in Okavango & Northwest
The Okavango Delta spreads across the Kalahari in a maze of channels and palm islands. Drift through the reeds by mokoro, walk the islands with a guide and fly into camps from Maun.
The Okavango Delta spreads across the Kalahari in a maze of channels and palm islands. Drift through the reeds by mokoro, walk the islands with a guide and fly into camps from Maun.
From about June to August the flood is usually at its highest, the channels are deep enough for long mokoro trips, and the drying bush draws animals towards the water. September and October are hotter, with the water shrinking back and wildlife gathering around it. The green season, from November to April, is quieter and full of birds, and water levels then vary from one part of the delta to another.
Three or four nights is a good minimum, ideally split between a water camp for mokoro and boat trips and a drier camp for game drives and walks. Longer stays let you slow down and wait at sightings rather than rushing between them. If you're driving yourself, add a night in Maun on either side for fuel and supplies.
The boats are stable as long as you sit still. Most polers grow up on these channels, read the water constantly and keep a careful distance from hippos, so it pays to follow their lead. Tell your centre if you can't swim or feel nervous on water, and they'll brief you and pick calm routes.
Yes, though it's a long way from Maun, so most people fly in or spend a night nearby. The hills rise from the sand about 40 km from Shakawe, at the top of the Panhandle, and hold more than 4,500 rock paintings on a World Heritage Site. Local San and Hambukushu guides lead walks on trails such as the Rhino Trail and the Cliff Trail.
