Okavango Delta Holidays

Enjoy a wide range of safaris in this incredible region where the terrain is almost as diverse as the wildlife. Cruise along the river in a dug-out Mokoro canoe, or on a motorised boat, and witness up close how the water brings life to the region. See elephants and giraffes stopping on the banks while birds - from owls and kingfishers to colourful bee-eaters - dance through the trees beside. 

Watch out for hippos and some of the world’s largest crocodiles as they wait in the shallow waters for prey. Look closely to see exotic frogs among the reeds and lilypads. Rise above the plains with a scenic flight or hot air balloon ride. Hit the salt flats at Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi Pans National Parks on a quad bike. Ride amongst herds of zebra and antelope on horseback. Or take ranger-guided dawn and dusk jeep drives from your luxury lodge.

Visit the oldest protected game reserve in the Okavango Delta. Uncover the incredible wildlife sanctuary of the Moremi Game Reserve, founded by the Batawana tribe in 1963 and covering around a third of the delta. Stay in luxurious lodges and camps of all styles as you explore habitats ranging from rivers lined with papyrus to dry savannahs and floodplains, grasslands and acacia woodlands between.

Spot the “Big Five” alongside wildebeest, zebras, wild dogs, cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, hyenas, warthogs, chacma baboons, lechwe antelopes, and more. Go birding to discover 400 winged species including Sacred Ibis and African Fish Eagle. Catch rare glimpses of endangered white and black rhino, reintroduced by the Botswana Rhino Reintroduction Project after populations were devastated by poachers.

Preservation of the Okavango Delta and its wildlife is a high priority for Botswana and the creation of the region's concessions is key to this. Visitor numbers are strictly limited by each of these diverse areas, creating not just the best environment for their animal residents but a more exclusive safari experience for you. See the floodplains and sand islands of Abu. 

Witness Botswana’s largest buffalo herds in Duba. Visit a local village and taste traditional foods at Khwai. Discover some of the country’s best birdwatching among the palm islands and lily-filled waterways of Xigera. Cruise the deep waters of Nxabega and Gunns. Each privately run zone, some measuring hundreds of square miles, has something different to offer, meaning you can return to Okavango over and over again.

As with much of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a year-round destination with something to offer regardless of when you choose to visit. As the focus is on the rivers and waterways, peak season corresponds with the floods of July and August. Days between 20°C and 30°C, clear skies, and unrivalled game viewing encourage visitors from around the world. Temperatures continue to climb through September and October with some days reaching 40°C, but animal numbers are still high and fishing in the delta becomes increasingly rewarding. 

November to March is Okavango’s rainy - or green - season with beautiful flora emerging and migratory birds arriving while dramatic thunderstorms fill the night sky. April to June are pre-flood with dryer days and cooler temperatures, lower water levels can also make for easier animal spotting as wildlife gathers around the rivers to drink.