Why Go on a Okavango Delta Safari?
Astounding Water-Based and Land-Based Safaris
Nowhere else in the world can you experience the sublime serenity of being poled along in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) as birds frolic among the lilies and elephants arrive to feed on the soft grass. Classic safari game drives in the Delta are remote and secluded, with few safari vehicles sharing the same areas.
A Year-Round Safari Destination
The Okavango Delta has a seasonal nature but with game viewing that far surpasses expectations all year round. The Delta is home to huge numbers of plains game plus unusual antelope like puku, sitatunga and red lechwe. It’s a world-famous stronghold for predators as well as many sought-after bird species.
Unforgettable Experiences
The Okavango Delta truly offers something for everyone, from game drives, mokoro rides and nature walks to catch-and-release fishing, cultural village visits and special photography hides. All of this in an area that is remote and seldom explored by anyone.
Exclusive Lodges & Camps
Luxury accommodation and the Okavango Delta are synonymous. Expect grand experiences from luxury suites with four-poster beds, private plunge pools and spacious decks for romance seekers to safari villas with a personal chef and guide for travelling families.
Quick & Easy Air Transfers
The capital of Botswana, Maun, is the gateway to the Okavango Delta. The remoteness of the Okavango Delta means that some of the areas are difficult to access and it’s for this reason that most of the lodges are accessed by light aircraft, and in some cases a boat is the only way to get where you are going.
Easy Add-ons
Frequent flights and accessibility make it easy to combine your Okavango safari with other spectacular destinations in Botswana like the Chobe National Park, land of the elephants and Savuti. You can also pair a safari with a beach vacation by visiting Cape Town or witness the majesty of Victoria Falls.
Land & Water Experiences
Considered by many safari aficionados as Africa’s last remaining Garden of Eden, the Okavango Delta is unlike any other wildlife destination on earth. This wetland paradise in the middle of the Kalahari Desert is virtually untouched and supports an abundance of animals.
A World Heritage Site that encompasses the magical Moremi Game Reserve, the Delta is home to colossal numbers of elephant, buffalo, zebra, hippo and lion. It’s also a renowned sanctuary for rare wild dog and leopard.
Accommodation From $500 USD
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Accommodation From $700 CAD
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Accommodation From $1,100 AUD
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Accommodation From €1,100 EUR
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Accommodation From £850 GBP
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Accommodation From R16,000 ZAR
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Top Safari Destinations in Okavango Delta
Here are some of our best packages, all completely customisable to your requirements and travel wishes:
Moremi Game Reserve
Protecting the eastern and central regions of the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve is one of Africa’s best reserves. Game viewing is nothing short of exceptional, and sightings of elephant, buffalo and lion are commonplace.
Moremi Game Reserve’s size and challenging terrain means that even at busiest times of the year, you’re likely to be the only spectator at some of the most dramatic animal sightings.
Highlights
- Mokoro safaris, boat cruises and walking safaris
- First reserve in Africa established by local residents
- Private and luxurious safari lodges and camps
- Predator paradise with the sights of the reclusive leopard and the endangered wild dog
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Linyanti, Selinda & Kwando
If it’s an Okavango Delta-type experience you are looking for but with an air of exclusivity, then travel to the private reserves of Linyanti, Selinda and Kwando. Bordering the Caprivi Strip, these wild wetland reserves have exceptional game viewing opportunities, particularly in June to October, the dubbed dry season.
Private Concessions
Clustered around the Moremi Game Reserve are a number of private concessions, sole-use areas of the Okavango Delta run by individual operators. A stay at one of these private concessions is a great option that translates to a very exclusive, away-from-crowds experience. In addition, these private concessions offer night drives and off-road driving to enhance wildlife sightings.
When To Go
Dry Seasons: May–Oct
The dry winter season from May to October is the best time for wildlife viewing in the Okavango Delta. It is dubbed dry because there is very little rain, but this is when the floodwaters have made their way from the highlands in central Angola thousands of kilometres away, swelling the Delta to double or triple its size.
Peak water times are between July and September. You will see huge herds of elephant, buffalo, wildebeest and zebra concentrated around water sources which attracts classic predators.
Rainy Season: Nov–Apr
When it’s the rainy season, the floodwaters recede, and the rains begin. The Delta shrinks substantially and often boating and mokoro trips are put on hold, but game viewing is still spectacular.
This season coincides with the herbivore birthing season and is also the time of exceptional birdwatching, with a staggering number of species breeding and nesting.
Browse Our Okavango Delta Resources
Okavango Safari Trip Ideas
Here are some of our best packages, all completely customisable to your requirements and travel wishes:
Okavango Delta, Chobe & Vic Falls
Spend eight fantastic days exploring two iconic safari destinations – the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park – before ending off with a stay at the mighty Victoria Falls.
Begin your getaway in the Okavango by going on game drives and canoe trips – you’ll even have the chance to interact with semi-habituated elephants. Move on to Chobe, a famous conservation area packed with game and predators. There are also plenty of opportunities for keen bird enthusiasts to tick of dozens of bird species.
Lastly, head to the banks of the Zambezi River which will be the base from where you will explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls, known as the adrenalin capital of Africa.
PER PERSON sharing
FROM $9,550 CAD
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FROM $15,300 AUD
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FROM €14,550 EUR
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FROM £11,650 GBP
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FROM R216,000 ZAR
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Botswana's Desert, Delta & Chobe Safari
This trip combines three iconic landscapes in one journey: the vast Makgadikgadi, the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta, and the abundant wildlife of Chobe and Chobe River.
Begin with Leroo La Tau, nestled on the tall banks of the Boteti River and overlooking the Makgadikgadi National Park beyond that. This region is famous for seasonal zebra and wildebeest migrations and its unique desert eco-system, forming part of the Kalahari Basin. Next is the renowned and enchanting Okavango Delta. Camp Okavango, a classic Okavango Delta camp, offers a year-round water wilderness experience.
Conclude your journey in the Chobe region, staying at Chobe Game Lodge. Positioned on the banks of the Chobe River, expect spectacular wildlife viewing, including the largest concentration of elephants in Africa during the dry season.
itinerary FROM $6,600 CAD
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itinerary FROM $10,550 AUD
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itinerary FROM €14,550 EUR
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itinerary FROM £8,000 GBP
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itinerary FROM R148,000 ZAR
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How Much is an Okavango Safari?
Rates generally depend on timing (i.e key travel seasons like holidays) and level of luxury (the type of amenities and exclusivity).
As a guideline, Okavango safaris can range anywhere from approximately 450 USD per person per night in low season to over 1650 USD at the finest lodges in high season.
What Costs Are Included?
Most accommodations are all-inclusive; all your meals, snacks, beverages, alcohol (with some exceptions) are part of your room rate. In addition, your game drives, and other excursions like walking safaris and cultural village visits will all be included. To operate in such remote areas at such a high level of hospitality, it takes some serious logistics and often means guest-to-staff ratios of more than 5 to 1. Not to mention many accommodations offer services like laundry, so you can pack light and travel easy.
The only things you’ll have to pay for are special activities (like spa treatments) and, in some cases, imported spirits. Beyond that, just gratuities for the incredible staff who will make your stay at each lodge so memorable.
Justin Chapman
“The Okavango Delta originates in the Angolan highlands and winds its way down through Botswana, disappearing into the desert sands of the Kalahari. It's one of the finest showcases for an inland delta on the planet. The waterways and islands are host to a plethora of key wildlife species, and the ability to combine both land and water-based safari activities mark out this very special destination as unique.”
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