Okavango Delta

About this trip

The Okavango Delta is a 15,000 km² UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Okavango River, instead of reaching the sea, fans out across the Kalahari sands into a maze of palm-fringed islands, papyrus channels and lily-covered lagoons. From May to October, floodwaters from Angolan highlands transform the desert into a wetland teeming with 200,000 large mammals - elephant, lion, leopard, African wild dog, sitatunga, red lechwe and 530+ bird species. Botswana's low-volume, high-cost tourism model keeps the experience exclusive: small camps of 6-12 tents, no fences, expert guides. Travel by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) poled by a Bayei guide, by motorboat through deep channels, by light aircraft between camps, and on classic 4x4 game drives.

Highlights

• Mokoro safari poled by a local Bayei guide through reed-lined waterways
• Light aircraft flights between camps with breathtaking aerial delta views
• Walking safari on a private island with armed professional guide
• African wild dog tracking - the delta has one of the densest populations on earth
• Night drives in private concessions (not allowed in national parks)
• Stargazing in one of the world's lowest-light-pollution skies

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Arrive Maun → fly to delta

   Land in Maun, transfer to light aircraft for 25-minute flight to your first camp on a private concession. Afternoon mokoro through papyrus channels. Sundowner on a termite mound.

2. Day 2

   Water-based exploration

   Dawn motorboat through deep channels - best for sitatunga and Pel's fishing owl. Brunch at camp. Afternoon walking safari on a remote island with armed guide. Bush dinner under the stars.

3. Day 3

   Fly to land-based camp

   Light aircraft transfer to a second camp on drier ground in a different concession. Afternoon 4x4 game drive - focus on big cats and elephant breeding herds.

4. Day 4

   Full-day game drives

   Pre-dawn departure for predator activity. Track African wild dogs if denning. Brunch in the bush. Afternoon drive then night drive (concession privilege) for genet, civet, leopard.

5. Day 5

   Final morning → Maun → onward

   Sunrise drive, brunch, then light aircraft back to Maun for international connection.

What's included

• Return light aircraft transfers Maun–camps–Maun
• Four nights at high-end safari camps, fully inclusive (meals, drinks, laundry, all activities)
• Two camps in different ecosystems (water-based + land-based)
• Park and concession fees
• Professional guide and tracker, mokoro poler

Not included: international flights, visa fees, optional activities marked above, personal expenses, tips beyond stated inclusions, and travel insurance (we arrange separately on request).

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