The Okavango Delta is one of the great natural wonders of the world. Situated in the north of the country and surrounded by the Kalahari, this verdant and massive oasis is the largest inland delta in the world, covering 15 000 square kilometres. The landscapes and sweeping waters are spectacular, and so is the wildlife. The best areas here are typically private concessions, which are leased from the local communities by tender. Significant parts of the high rates that are charged go back to these communities as compensation for their loss of grazing land.

It’s a spectacular place to visit. The landscape, which is extremely flat, is diverse with papyrus and islands of palms, figs, jackalberries and timeless baobabs. Purple day lilies and cream-coloured night lillies bob above the crystal clear waters. The reeds are alive with dragonflies and painted reedfrogs. The Okavango has lions, leopards, cheetah, wild dog, serval and more than 600 species of birds including fish eagles, Pel’s fishing owls, herons, kingfishers and endangered wattled crane. When visiting the Okavango, make sure that you plan your itinerary to include camps with a wet (think boating and fishing) and a dry (think game drives and walks) focus of activities. This way you can be sure of capturing the full extent of photographic opportunities. Arranging a helicopter flip in the early morning can provide fascinating new angles.

Most people visit the Delta during winter, from May to October, and try to plan their visit according to the flood, which usually starts pushing in from the Angolan highlands towards May or June. At this time, the rain has long since stopped, and the flood is eagerly awaited by birds and herbivores—and the predators that follow them! It gets increasingly hot and dry until the start of the rains from November into December, and this is also an exciting time to visit when the landscape teems with newborn animals, large thunderclouds and great predator action. It is also when the first summer migrants begin to arrive. For photographers, there are plenty of good reasons for going in the green season.

Jutting into the Okavango from the east, is the Moremi Game Reserve, an important conservation area run by the government, which includes some public areas and campsites that are great for overland travellers. It also includes an exclusive area called Chief’s Island, which is 60 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide. It is on the edge of permanent water and offers some of the best—and most highly priced—game viewing in the region.

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