North West is Botswana's wettest corner. The Okavango River crosses from Namibia near Shakawe, runs down a narrow valley called the Panhandle, and then spreads into a fan of papyrus channels and palm-covered islands. Maun, on the Thamalakane River at the delta's south-eastern edge, is the working town, with the airport for light aircraft to the camps. Moremi Game Reserve protects the eastern delta, and west of the Panhandle the four Tsodilo Hills rise from the flat Kalahari sand.
A day on the water and in the hills
A mokoro is a narrow canoe, once carved from a single tree and now usually made of fibreglass. Your poler stands at the back and pushes you through the reeds past water lilies and reed frogs, often stopping for a walk on an island in the midday heat. In Moremi, game drives around Xakanaxa and Third Bridge look for lion, wild dog and elephant, though what you see depends on the season and the water. The flood, which starts as summer rain in Angola, usually peaks around June to August. Some delta camps also run horse-riding safaris through the shallows. At Tsodilo, walking trails lead between painted rock shelters, including the white rhino and giraffe of Rhino Cave.
Booking on adventuro
Local centres in Maun and around the delta list mokoro days, guided walks and riding trips. For seasons and flights into the camps, see our guide to the Okavango and the north-west. Use the Book here tab to see live dates and prices.
