African Odyssey Wildlife Safaris

Well, those who will be visiting Botswana's Okavango Delta in the next few months are in for a treat! Every year this magnificent wonderland gets inundated by flood waters originating from the highlands of Angola. The waters arrive at the top or "panhandle" of the Delta in about January and get to the "end" of the Delta in June or so.

Every year is different, and due to tectonic shifts in the earth some years channels flow in the opposite direction to the previous year! Sometimes the bulk of the water comes down the south-western Delta, and other years it comes down the northern sector! This flood is unlike any other flood. No boiling tempestuous floodwaters - just a gentle creep through the channels and onto the floodplains.

The arrival of the "floods" is a major talking point among the human residents of the Delta and its progress is followed with great interest. Daily reports on where the water is come in and forays are made to go and find the waters! Sometimes - if you have the time - you sit next to the water and watch it cover a meter in 20 minutes or so. Its exciting - like the end of a long drought! Other residents also follow the headwaters - particularly herons. Rich pickings are to be had as insects try to make their excape from the creeping waters.

To date the highest flood level recorded in the far north of the Delta near Shakawe was in 1984. This year, the 1984 levels have been eclipsed and have peaked higher and earlier than before! This means that the Okavango will be at its stunning best this year. It may also mean that in some areas the land activities may be a little more difficult. The water activities - particulalrly the mokoro experiences, will more than make up for that.

If you are booked or want to book, make sure that your consultant has chosen wisely in terms of a spread of water and land based activities. even more reason why you should use someone who knows this paradise intimately, and is going to know what the high waters mean. Dont miss this once in a lifetime experience! Ask us - we know!