Okavango Delta safari planning guide

• The Okavango Delta is Africa’s great inland safari oasis: seasonal floods transform desert into wildlife-rich lagoons and islands.
• This part of Botswana is a predator paradise: lions, leopards and wild dogs deliver thrilling wildlife encounters.
• The Okavango Delta offers water and land safaris: mokoros, boating, walking and game drives across varied habitats.
• Distinctive camps for every style: community-owned, classic tented and boutique luxury.
• The Okavango is known for its exceptional guiding: Bushman trackers and local experts interpret tracks, behaviour and subtle signs.
• The Delta runs on a low-impact conservation travel model: limited beds, private concessions and community partnerships protect wilderness.

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Want to visit the Okavango Delta on safari? Browse our top Okavango Delta safaris here. Or, let us plan your handcrafted, unique safari.

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Once upon a time, the Okavango Delta was little more than a fabled unknown on the safari circuit – only braved by the most adventurous of travellers. A remote wetland known mainly to researchers, bush pilots and Bushman trackers. Today, you can hardly keep safari goers away. This vast oasis of floodplains and islands is now one of Africa’s most sought-after safari regions – a place of intimate camps set right in the thick of the wildlife action, where lions work the floodplains, wild dogs weave through the woodlands, and elephants wade past your doorstep.

But where does one start when heading to this piece of African paradise? Here are all the practical tips you need for visiting the Delta: why the Delta matters, what to expect, and where to stay – from simple tented camps to design-forward luxury camps and lodges, and community-owned camps. This is everything you need to know about the Okavango Delta.

Okavango Delta at a glance

The Okavango Delta, in northern Botswana, is a seasonal maze of floodplains, lagoons, palm islands and woodlands in the middle of the Kalahari. Accessed via Maun or Kasane, usually by light aircraft, it’s famous for big predators, water-based safaris and low-impact camps. Spend 4–8 nights here to have enough time to experience game drives, mokoro trips, boating, walking safaris and night drives. A trip here pairs well with Chobe and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans for the ultimate Botswana journey. For many travellers, this is the place where a love of safari truly takes root.

Why the Okavango Delta is different

The Okavango is an inland delta – a river that never reaches the sea. Instead, floodwaters from Angola spread out across Botswana’s Kalahari sands, turning 15,000km² of desert into a patchwork of wetlands and islands.

This seasonal “miracle” concentrates wildlife in extraordinary numbers.

Predators follow the antelope herds onto the floodplains; elephants and buffalo move between islands and woodlands; birdlife explodes. For travellers, this means:

• Reliable big-game viewing – including lions, leopards, cheetahs and globally important populations of African wild dogs.
• Both land and water safaris – you could be gliding in a mokoro in the morning and tracking lions on a game drive that afternoon.
• Space and privacy – strict low-impact tourism policies keep bed numbers low, so sightings are often shared with just one or two vehicles – or none at all.

Crucially, this is also a living cultural landscape. Bushman communities have moved through this region for thousands of years. In some concessions, such as NG12 in the far north, their descendants still guide visitors using tracking skills honed over generations.

When to go to the Okavango Delta

The Okavango is rewarding year-round, but your experience changes with the flood.

• May–October (dry season & flood peak):

From May to October, the Delta settles into its dry season and flood peak: days are cooler (although September is warmer and October can be very hot), drier and mostly rain-free, while rising floodwaters fill channels and lagoons, making this the prime time for mokoro and boating. As the surrounding bush dries out, game crowds onto the remaining islands and floodplains, delivering superb, often intense predator viewing.

• November–April (green season):

From November to April, temperatures rise and dramatic afternoon storms transform the Delta into a lush, green world. This is the season of baby animals and superb birding, with fewer visitors and better-value rates. While some water activities may be restricted in parts of the Delta, game drives remain productive and often feel more exclusive.

What to expect from the Okavango Delta

A typical Delta day blends activity and downtime:

• Early morning: Coffee around the fire, then out at first light for a game drive, walk or mokoro excursion.
• Midday: Brunch, time to rest, swim or watch wildlife from your deck.
• Afternoon & evening: Another activity, often ending with sundowners on a floodplain, followed by a night drive back to camp, where spotlighting may reveal civets, owls, genets and more.

 

Expect small groups, flexible guiding and a focus on staying out in the field when the action is good – especially at camps using expert trackers, such as Okavango Origins, where Bukakhwe Bushman guides read spoor, sound and scent with remarkable precision.

You will reach most camps by light aircraft from Maun or Kasane, sometimes with short helicopter hops for more remote concessions. Luggage is limited to soft bags, and some areas are malarial, so advance planning and medical advice are recommended.

Top experiences in the Okavango Delta

Glide in a mokoro through narrow channels as reed frogs call and fish eagles cry overhead. Track predators with Bushman guides, learning how to read fresh tracks and subtle signs on ancestral land. Follow wild dogs on the hunt in northern concessions where several packs den and hunt regularly, and drift along at sunset by boat, watching elephants cross channels and herons stalking in the shallows.

Walk on an island and discover the finer details – from medicinal plants to termite mounds – that are often missed from a vehicle. Head out on night drives in private concessions, when leopards, genets, hyenas and porcupines emerge, and spend unhurried time with your hosts, listening to how communities and conservation partners are working together to keep the Delta wild.

Khwai: predator hotspot on the Delta’s edge

On the northeastern edge of the Okavango, Khwai links the Delta, Moremi and Chobe via a ribbon of permanent water. The Khwai River and its floodplains draw in elephants, buffalo, lechwe and other grazers year-round – and with them come lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs. The result is one of Botswana’s most reliable areas for predator action and photographic opportunities, with a mix of open plains, riverine woodland, and reflective channels that work for photography in almost any lighting conditions.

• Why go: High predator densities, year-round water, and clean, varied backdrops for photography.

Where to stay

The Delta offers a wide range of camps – from classic tented lodges and high-end treehouses to back-to-basics, authentic bush camps. Here’s how a few key options stand out, depending on the kind of safari you’re after.

Okavango Origins – community, predators and proper wilderness

Set in the northern Okavango, south of the Selinda Spillway, Okavango Origins operates in partnership with the Bukakhwe Cultural Conservation Trust and the Gudigwa community. Safaris here take place on ancestral Bakakhwe Bushman land, guided by men and women who grew up in this landscape and now lead guests through it with exceptional tracking skill. The camp itself is a small, relaxed Meru-tented setup – only a handful of tents with full-size beds, ensuite bathrooms and electricity, designed for comfort without fuss.

Days are spent on day and night game drives in open vehicles, ethical off-road tracking of predators, walking safaris and, when levels allow, mokoro outings from a quiet channel deep in the Delta. This area is known for wild dogs, tree-climbing lions, leopards and strong general game, from sable and kudu to red lechwe and elephant. A portion of every stay is channelled into community projects and training, with staff drawn wherever possible from the village of Gudigwa. This is the Delta for travellers who want serious wildlife, authentic guiding and tangible community benefit – at a price point gentler than many ultra-luxury lodges.

Camp Okavango – classic water-based safari

On remote Nxaragha Island, at the heart of the permanent Okavango, Camp Okavango is one of Botswana’s best-known water camps. You come here for water, not long drives: the experience is about drifting through a maze of channels and lagoons on traditional mokoros and motorboats, then walking on nearby islands to explore on foot.

The lodge offers contemporary suites on raised walkways and airy main areas overlooking the wetlands, with a slow, tranquil pace that suits couples, birders and anyone wanting that quintessential “floating” Delta experience – reed-fringed channels, mirrored lagoons and superb birdlife all year round.

Shinde – intimate classic in a private concession

In the Shinde Concession on a palm-dotted island, Shinde is an intimate, luxury tented camp overlooking the Shinde Lagoon and surrounded by permanent water and grass plains. From here, guests enjoy a flexible mix of land and water activities: day and night game drives, boat trips, mokoro excursions, guided walks and seasonal fishing.

Because it sits in a private concession, vehicles can linger at sightings and access areas closed to the general public, keeping the feel exclusive even in busy seasons. Refurbished tents with generous bathrooms and a classic, understated style make Shinde a strong choice for travellers wanting excellent guiding, varied activities and fewer vehicles, in a camp that feels personal rather than grand.

Tuludi – treehouse luxury in Khwai Private Reserve

For a contemporary take on Delta luxury, Tuludi in the 200,000-hectare Khwai Private Reserve combines spacious suites with wide views over floodplains and woodlands. Each of the elevated rooms has a private plunge pool, large deck and indoor–outdoor bathrooms, connected to the main area by raised boardwalks, and there’s even a treehouse library and slide for a touch of fun.

Game drives here offer excellent year-round predator viewing, complemented by seasonal water activities during the floods, photographic hides, and family-friendly options. Tuludi works particularly well for couples, families or small groups who want high-end design and comfort alongside honest, wildlife-focused safaris in a low-vehicle-density reserve.

Oddballs’ Enclave – back-to-basics on Chief’s Island

On Chief’s Island, in the middle of the Delta, Oddballs’ Enclave strips things back to what matters most: wilderness, walking and local guides. This small, eco-friendly camp has simple tents on raised decks and a lightweight footprint, overlooking the channels and floodplains around Chief’s. Guests are allocated a private guide – usually from a nearby community – and days are entirely flexible.

There are no game drives; instead, you explore on foot and by mokoro, following tracks onto nearby islands or even fly-camping under the stars. For active travellers and those on a tighter budget who still want front-row access to some of the Delta’s best wildlife, Oddballs’ Enclave is one of the most authentic options available.

Little Sable – small camp, big wildlife

Also in Khwai Private Reserve, Little Sable is an intimate eight-tent camp overlooking open grassland and woodland in one of Botswana’s most productive private conservation areas. The camp is deliberately simple and down-to-earth compared to some of its neighbours, but it has plenty of character and comfort – and shares the same superb game-viewing as larger, higher-priced lodges in the reserve.

Activities focus on classic game drives with strong year-round predator viewing, complemented by seasonal water activities, night drives and walks when conditions allow. Operating in a community-focused reserve and owned by a conservation-minded safari company, Little Sable suits travellers who value intimate camps, excellent guiding and the knowledge that their stay supports long-term conservation and local livelihoods.

Final thoughts

The Okavango Delta is not just another safari stop; it is one of Africa’s last great freshwater wildernesses – a place where daily predator action, deep cultural roots and diverse habitats come together. Planning how to visit the Okavango Delta starts with choosing your safari style and timing. Whether you choose a community-owned camp like Okavango Origins, a classic water lodge such as Camp Okavango, or design-driven retreats like Tuludi, you’ll find an experience that fits your style and purpose. When you are ready to explore, plan carefully, choose the camps that match your interests and values – and let the Okavango show you why so many travellers return to its waters again and again. Our safari experts can also help, so that you get the best out of your experience. Let us plan your handcrafted, unique safari.

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