Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is a large wetland surrounded by the Kalahari Desert. It is about 15,000 square kilometres and the largest inland delta in the world.

The delta is fed by the Okavango River. The river rises from the Angolan highlands and does not flow directly into the Atlantic but inland towards the southeast and into Botswana.

The annual flood of water floods the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons, channels and islands hence the term "the river that never finds the sea".

Every year, some 11 cubic kilometres of water reach the delta. Some of the water moves further south to create Lake Ngami.

Since the water does not have an outlet to the sea, large quantities of salt have precipitated beneath the islands. The Okavango is suitable for game viewing, fishing, bird watching and photography.

It is home for an amazing variety of animals.

Animals here include elephants, buffalos, hyenas, wild dogs, buffalos, hippos and crocodiles.

There is a wide variety of antelope and other animals such as warthogs, mongoose, red lechwe, spotted genets, monkeys, bush babies and tree squirrels.

The predators include lions, leopards and cheetahs.

The delta is a birder viewer's paradise. It forms an ideal habitat for many water-loving birds. There are more than 400 species of birds here.

The birds include Pel's fishing owl, lesser gallinule, lesser jacana, African crake, painted snipe, longtoed plover, greater swamp warbler, pygmy goose, wattled crane, slaty egret, western banded snake eagle, black coucal, brown fire finch, dwarf Bittern, majestic fish eagle, exotic heron, brightly coloured bee-eater and the uncommon variety like the slaty egrets.

The Okavango's water is clear and pure because it passes through very sparsely populated areas on its journey from Angola. The water supports many types of fish. Fishing can take place anywhere in the Delta.

The Okavango Delta can be reached only by air. This destination remains wild, exclusive and relatively unpopulated.

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About the Author: Joe Ngugi runs http://www.hunting-expedition-africa.com/ - a website that provides African Safari information such as the best tourist destinations and accommodation in Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

For more information on Botswana Safaris, visit http://www.hunting-expedition-africa.com/botswana-safaris.html

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