The Okavango Delta: Africa's Last Eden
Savagely beautiful, untamed and remote, The Okavano Delta is a dramatic masterpiece of nature. A staggering amount of African wildlife and plants flourish in its life-giving waters. Here, endangered species such as cheetah, leopard, rhinoceros, lion, and African wild dog roam in abundance. Elephants, while resident year-round, migrate to this region in the thousands during dry season.
A richly woven tapestry of African splendor, it is paradoxically a wetland located in a desert, and a delta that does flow into sea - resulting in an ecosystem of outstanding importance and amazing biological diversity. A recent overview of the Okavango records 122 species of mammals, 71 species of fish, 444 species of birds, 64 species of reptiles and 1,300 species of flowering plants.
The Delta is located in Botswana, deep within the Kalari Basin and is often referred to as “The Jewel of the Kalahri.” It is comprised of permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. Varying in size from 15,000 square kilometers during drier periods to an astonishing 22,000 square kilometers, the Okavango Delta is the largest freshwater marsh ecosystem in the world. It is globally recognized and protected as a Ramsar Wetlands Site and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and classified as the world’s largest Wetland of International Importance.
Naturally, this desert oasis is a most sought-after destination for game viewing, birding, and boating, often in the traditional mokoro, a dug out canoe. Moremi Game Reserve comprises – and protects - 40 percent of the Delta - and is regarded as one of the most spectacular wildlife conservancies in Botswana. Named after Chief Moremi of the BaTawana tribe, it offers a myriad of unforgettable adventures in Okavango, from the supreme tranquility of birding to the heart-stopping thrill of safari. Moremi’s accommodations range from comfortable tented camps to cushy luxury lodges.
