Posted on February 6, 2020
The Okavango Delta is often quoted as the “jewel of Botswana”, but what is it that makes it so special both for the animals that live in the area and those of us lucky enough to visit and ride there? Becky from In The Saddle writes:
The Okavango Delta covers between 6,000 and 15,000 square kilometres of the Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana. Unlike other famous deltas such as the Mississippi, the Nile or the Rhine, the Okavango never reaches the sea.
Map showing the location of the Okavango Delta in Botswana (screenshots taken from google maps).
The Okavango Delta is a vast inland river delta that is affected by seasonal flooding. Water travels over a thousand kilometres from the rain-soaked highlands of Angola before it spills onto the Kalahari sands and slowly seeps away.
When the floods arrive, the main channels of the delta weave their way around lush grasslands, reed beds, palm groves and mopane forest. During this time a green oasis is created – a haven for so much wildlife.
The flood waters spreading out across the desert. The areas of higher ground are made into islands during this time. (Photo taken at Macatoo camp).
The rain in Angola falls mostly from November to April before slowly making it’s way through Namibia and into Botswana usually by late May. The floods normally peak in the Delta during July and August and start to recede again in September.
Just to confuse a little, the time of year when the flood waters should be at their highest in the Delta, is actually known as the “dry season” because there is no rain at this time. Between November to February are the hottest months and the ground is bone dry but since this is when the most rain falls it is known as the “wet season”.
A group of riders travel through the flood water alongside a herd of buffalo. (Image taken at Kujwana camp).
When the delta is in full flood there is plenty of water for all species of animal. This means that the herds can spread out. But on horseback you can easily traverse this wet landscape. The riding during this time normally includes lots of splashy canters and the Botswana winter temperatures make it ideal riding weather.
Having said that the hotter summer months of November to February are also great for game viewing. Since there is limited water at this time the game surrounds the remaining water holes making them much easier to find.
A large herd of buffalo at dusk. During the hotter summer months, when there is little water remaining, the game is much more concentrated. (Image taken at Macatoo Camp).
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For more information about riding in the Okavango Delta, please call us on +44 1299 272997 or email rides@inthesaddle.com.
The rides that operate in the delta are:
It was so sad to see how dry it was last year but as you say, it did mean the game congregated around Kujwana’s water holes so for the first time ever I saw all the Big Five in one trip and wild dog virtually every day
Hi Laurel, I’m so pleased you were able to see so much game this year. Spotting all of the big five is special indeed. Hopefully this year the rains have been much better in Angola and the delta will return to a lush green oasis during the winter months. Becky
Hi, i heard there were severe storms and much damage in Duba area a few days ago, is this true?
Hi Sam, I’m not sure about the storms in the Duba area. The riding safaris that we work with are further south and we get a lot of our updates directly from them. Becky
The level looks much better and promissing .Please if possible keep me up dated
thanks looking forwards for the updates
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your comment and the levels certainly do look much better than last year. We will aim to put out further updates as we hear them. Becky
its a blessing year for as in Botswana. we are waiting patiently
Thank you for the valuable information. Would the Inner Delta Tender Boat Cruises be possible during the month of May?
Hi Mandy, thank you for your comment. In The Saddle specialises in riding holidays and so I’m not sure about the boat cruises. Perhaps it would be a good idea to contact a cruise company?
We stayed on the Rundu Beach Lodge on 28 December 2019 and the water level was extremely low. It is exciting to hear that the water level has gone up to the extent that we hope the water in Boteti River would reach Rakops in large quantities so that life of all livings things including Humans can flourish again
Yes – the water levels look like they are going to be great this year.
Let it be too much because the river is so dry .
Can you give an update 2 months later than the last report
As of April 2020 we know that the flood waters have arrived at the horse safari camps at Macatoo and Moklowane and are heading for Kujwana camp. Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus travel restrictions currently no visitors can enjoy the floods at the moment but hopefully they can visit later in 2020.
The amount of water in the delta right now is so so much …this is going to be history .i dont remember seing the delta with such an amount in the mid of rainy season and also before the floods from Angola ,unless if the floods have advanced this year.im in Pioneers camp and the water is flooding in land from the seasonal chanels …many roads are un accessible ..we now have flooding forest.so lovely anyway and good for all
Hi Rati
That’s amazing. Thank you for the update. Let’s hope that international visitors will be able to travel to experience the floods in 2021.
Olwen
Still dreaming about Botswana. Maybe Europe is more realistic this year. Is Tuscany hot in the later months.
Tricia Heaps
Hi Tricia
Botswana might be OK for later in 2021? At the moment we just don’t know when the travel restrictions will be lifted. Tuscany is hot in July and August and so we only offer the shorter riding programmes then, but it’s lovely in June or September. Do email rides@inthesaddle.com or call us on 01299 272 997 if you would like us to check any dates for you.
kind regards
Olwen