Take a tour of the Okavango Delta and more - click to begin
My first video upload - just amazed it has all worked. Technology is wonderful when it works!
The Okavango Delta in Northern Botswana is flooding and the flow rates continue to rise. A strong annual flood is peaking into a very strong flood.
The annual flooding of the Okavango Delta produces one of the world's great inland waterways. The large wetlands on the edges of the Kalahari Desert are a marvel of nature. The floods start in the highlands of Angola and take from three to six months to reach all areas of the Okavango Delta.
Until two weeks ago the high flow rates looked like this years food would be strong. Two weeks age the flood started to peak and flow rates increase by 200 cubes per second. A new flood reading is due out next week.
Because the Okavango Delta is so flat, there is the serious possibility of wide spread flooding. Many of the lodges and their airstrips could go under water. Communities and families may have to be evacuated and water treatment plants protected.
Exotic Safari In Botswana
The Okavango Delta is one of the last, great inland waterways in the world. Plan a safari with Mapula Lodge, in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Combine extreme wilderness with comfort. Travel on safari by open vehicle or do a walking safari. Travel the Okavango River by boat - a trip of a lifetime. Click here to visit Mapula Lodge.
By David Young
Does the wilderness ever call your name? I often hear my name. Today I am answering the call and feeling fortunate to be looking at a packed safari vehicle with open air seats and a canvas roof. By 8:30 am. our group of seven is ready to head from Maun to Moremi Game Reserve for a three day safari. Qani, Shaka, Allan and Shylock are from Botswana, Trevor is from England, Kelly is an Australian and I am from Canada.
The first 25 kilometres are tarred roads. Before leaving the tar we stop to buy firewood. Another 50 kilometres of gravel road brings us to South Gate, one of the Reserves main entrances. While Shylock, our guide, registers the vehicle and occupants we stretch out legs, warm ourselves in the sun and have a cup of hot coffee.
We are heading to Khwai, our campsite for the next two nights. The road becomes more a worn trail and often we are holding on because of the dips and ruts. Heavy seasonal rains have caused considerable damage. The trip is now a game drive. Impala, kudu and giraffe are spotted along the way.
Camp is close to the River Khwai. The tents are erected in a semicircle, facing our vehicle, portable kitchen and chairs. From time to time our attention is drawn to the peaceful grunts of hippos enjoying themselves in the river. After a light lunch and brief rest, we are ready for the afternoon game drive.
Our camp is in a mopane forest. Elephants like to eat mopane trees for food and it is not long before we come upon two elephants feeding themselves as they make their way through the forest. Elephant spore or huge balls of dung are regular occurrences in this kind of habitat.
The river is starting to overflow its banks. We explore some of the plains areas that run off the river. Soon the plains will be closed off to vehicles by the increasing annual flood. The soft late afternoon light gives us a beautiful sighting of a small herd of impala. They are relaxed and graze quite close to the vehicle. Moving further around the edges of the plains we meet 5 or 6 wildebeests – the clown of the plains. They tend to be more animated than other large animals and often entertain with their characteristic canter and toss of their head and horns.
