Okavango Tours & Trips

What our customers ask about Okavango Tours & Trips

• What's So Special About the Okavango Delta?

  The Okavango's actually pretty incredible - imagine a massive 16000 square kilometer wetland maze right in the middle of Botswana where this river just spreads out across the Kalahari Desert. It's got UNESCO World Heritage status and it really comes alive between June and August when the flooding peaks creating this amazing network of channels islands and floodplains. You'll find over 500 different birds 150 types of mammals including these fascinating Kalahari elephants with shorter tusks and 70 different fish species. The geography's really interesting too creating different zones from the deep-water channels around Panhandle to seasonal floodplains in Moremi Game Reserve.

• What's the Best Way to Get Around and Experience the Delta?

  There are some really cool ways to explore actually. The traditional mokoro trips are amazing - local Bayei guides pole you through narrow channels getting you super close to wildlife and sharing their cultural knowledge. If you want to see predators the 4x4 game drives in Moremi Game Reserve are your best bet and they're great for spotting rare sitatunga antelope too. Walking safaris with armed guides around Chief's Island and Khwai are incredible for tracking while helicopter flights give you this mind-blowing view of how the whole Delta fans out. Boat safaris near the Panhandle are perfect for birding especially around Gadikwe Heronry. Timing matters though - do mokoro trips early morning for birds game drives at dawn or dusk for predators and boat safaris at sunset to catch elephant herds.

• When's the Best Time to Visit for Different Activities?

  The water levels really influence what you can do and when. June to August's great for water activities especially around Xakanaxa and Khwai - the flood comes in waves from Angola hitting Panhandle in March and reaching the southern Delta by June. September through November's fantastic for game viewing because the waters pulling back concentrates wildlife around the permanent channels and lagoons particularly in Moremi's Xakanaxa area. December to March brings these dramatic afternoon storms and loads of birds with over 350 species including the rare Pel's fishing owl. April and May's kind of in-between good for both water and land activities around the permanent lodges.

• What's Different About Staying in a Luxury Lodge Versus Mobile Camping?

  The luxury lodges like Mombo Camp and Vumbura Plains give you all the comforts - air-conditioned suites amazing food and exclusive access to prime wildlife spots. You get nice extras like plunge pools and spas with professional guides dedicated to each camp. Mobile camping in places like Moremi and Savuti's more of a raw wilderness experience with dome tents or traditional Meru-style setups. These camps move with the wildlife which means you get to explore different areas and actually cover more ground. While lodges definitely win on luxury mobile safaris give you this incredible changing landscape experience and deeper connection with the wilderness though you'll need to be okay with basic facilities and weather changes.

• How Do Private Concessions Compare to Public Areas for Safari Experiences?

  Private areas like Kwara and Abu give you some real advantages - you can do night drives track predators off-road and you won't find crowds of vehicles. The public Moremi Game Reserve's more accessible and budget-friendly but has stricter rules about vehicle numbers and when you can operate. Private concessions control visitor numbers which means more intimate wildlife encounters especially in places like Duba Plains where you can watch these amazing lion-buffalo interactions. Public areas still offer great game viewing particularly around Third Bridge and Xakanaxa but you'll see more vehicles in peak season. The private areas often throw in special experiences like walking safaris and sleep-outs while public reserves stick to traditional game drives and boat trips.