The unique Okavango Delta takes visitors on a journey into the past and a place evocative of paradise itself...
Guests can look forward to first-class service at exclusive and stunning lodges set amid pristine wilderness. The Okavango Delta is an inland delta in the north of Botswana, which can be accessed via Maun or Kasane. Some areas on the edge of the delta are accessible by vehicle, but the vast majority of lodges here are located deep in the delta, which means they are only accessible by air and therefore highly exclusive.
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The Okavango Delta plays host to a fascinating cycle of rain, flood, drought, heat and cold. These processes determine the behaviour of the animals and their migration paths. The onset of rain in November / December leads to the appearance of spectacular green meadows as dormant flora springs back to life, trees sprout new leaves and colours become vivid and saturated. The vast majority of animals give birth to their young at the beginning of the wet season, which means the whole area is teeming with baby elephant, impala and kudu – big cat often gives birth to its young at this time too.
The sporadic rains continue until the end of March. Temperatures slowly drop and a feeling of spring sets in around April. The nights become cooler and dew settles on the grass, causing it to sparkling in the sun’s first rays of light when guests can be found pulling up their hoods in preparation for the early morning game drives. The floodwaters reach the delta in April, sometimes earlier, and, covering immense areas, expand outward like a living, breathing organism. The floodwater is basically rainwater from the mountains of Angola, which slowly accumulates in the Okavango River over a period of several months. It squeezes through the panhandle, which is where the Okavango Delta fans out, and then floods the entire region. The well-equipped game drive vehicles struggle through metre-deep water from one island to the next, leaving passengers awestruck and wondering how the journey is at all possible.
The coolest temperatures are measured in June / July, when night time lows can drop as far as 5°C, and welcome hot water bottles are duly distributed! Well-wrapped guests come prepared for the early morning game drives with hats, gloves and warm jackets. Daytime temperatures are pleasant and the skies are clear with bright sunshine – every day! The sun’s heat dominates once again as September approaches, the alluvial areas begin to dry out and the short, dry grass offers a clear and welcome view of the entire spectrum of wildlife here. Temperatures climb to their maximum in October as the whole parched region once again anticipates the coming rains. When huge clouds begin to gather on the horizon, you know it’s only a matter of time until the whole cycle begins again.
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