Okavango Delta travel guide
Botswana
A river that never reaches the sea, explored by mokoro through Africa's largest inland delta.
The Okavango Delta floods annually into the Kalahari, creating a shifting maze of channels, islands, and floodplains reachable only by light aircraft, boat, or on foot.
Okavango Delta — current status
Open. (Status checked 2026-08-30.)
Okavango Delta — TL;DR
The Okavango Delta floods annually into the Kalahari, creating a shifting maze of channels, islands, and floodplains reachable only by light aircraft, boat, or on foot.
Okavango Delta at a glance
- What are the best things to do in Okavango Delta? Balance one or two headline sights with unhurried time in the neighbourhoods highlighted in this guide — that mix is what makes a Okavango Delta trip feel like more than a checklist.
- How many days do you need in Okavango Delta? Three to four full days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Okavango Delta — enough to cover the main neighbourhoods on foot, sit down for two or three proper meals, and still keep a day for a…
- When is the best time to visit Okavango Delta? June to October, the dry season and peak flood period, brings the most reliable wildlife concentrations and clearest waterways for mokoro trips.
- Where should I stay in Okavango Delta for the first time? First-time visitors do best in one of the walkable central neighbourhoods covered in the Where to Stay section of this guide — the ones that put you within a short walk of dinner and public transport.
- How do you get around Okavango Delta? Light aircraft transfer guests from Maun to private airstrips near individual camps; movement within camps is by mokoro, boat, or 4x4 depending on water levels.
Okavango Delta overview
- June to October, the dry season and peak flood period, brings the most reliable wildlife concentrations and clearest waterways for mokoro trips.
- Light aircraft transfer guests from Maun to private airstrips near individual camps; movement within camps is by mokoro, boat, or 4x4 depending on water levels.
- Botswana Pula (BWP)
- English (official). Setswana is widely spoken.
- CAT (UTC+2)
- Xigera Safari Lodge continues to set the design standard in the Delta with its focus on art, sustainability, and handcrafted furniture, while Kanana Nyana, opening October 2026, will add a new option with access to one of the Delta's notable heronries.
Where to eat, drink & do in Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta neighborhoods
- Jao Concession A private concession deep in the Delta surrounded by forested islands and floodplains, home to some of the region's most intimate camps.
- Vumbura Plains area Annually flooded grasslands in the far north of the Delta, home to elephant, giraffe, buffalo, and strong predator sightings.
- Chief's Island (Moremi Game Reserve) One of the Delta's premier private concessions, home to some of its most exclusive lodges.
Practical info for Okavango Delta
- Getting around in Okavango Delta? Light aircraft transfer guests from Maun to private airstrips near individual camps; movement within camps is by mokoro, boat, or 4x4 depending on water levels.
- When to go in Okavango Delta? June to October, the dry season and peak flood period, brings the most reliable wildlife concentrations and clearest waterways for mokoro trips.
- What's changing now in Okavango Delta? Xigera Safari Lodge continues to set the design standard in the Delta with its focus on art, sustainability, and handcrafted furniture, while Kanana Nyana, opening October 2026, will add a new option with access to one of the Delta's notabl
- Seek out Kanana Nyana heronry access in Okavango Delta? A new camp opening October 2026 offering access to one of the Okavango's remarkable heronries, a specialist birdwatching draw.
- Base yourself in Jao Concession in Okavango Delta? A private concession deep in the Delta surrounded by forested islands and floodplains, home to some of the region's most intimate camps. Known for seclusion, floodplain scenery.
Frequently asked questions about Okavango Delta
- What are the best things to do in Okavango Delta? Balance one or two headline sights with unhurried time in the neighbourhoods highlighted in this guide — that mix is what makes a Okavango Delta trip feel like more than a checklist. Book any high-demand entries in advance, keep evenings loose for a proper dinner, and leave at least one afternoon completely unplanned for the small discoveries Okavango Delta tends to reward.
- How many days do you need in Okavango Delta? Three to four full days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Okavango Delta — enough to cover the main neighbourhoods on foot, sit down for two or three proper meals, and still keep a day for a nearby day-trip or a slow morning. Extend to five or six days if you plan to combine the city with the surrounding region.
- When is the best time to visit Okavango Delta? June to October, the dry season and peak flood period, brings the most reliable wildlife concentrations and clearest waterways for mokoro trips.
- Where should I stay in Okavango Delta for the first time? First-time visitors do best in one of the walkable central neighbourhoods covered in the Where to Stay section of this guide — the ones that put you within a short walk of dinner and public transport. Avoid staying next to the main transit hubs unless convenience trumps atmosphere for your trip.
- How do you get around Okavango Delta? Light aircraft transfer guests from Maun to private airstrips near individual camps; movement within camps is by mokoro, boat, or 4x4 depending on water levels.
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