Botswana – The Okavango
The world’s largest inland delta, described by many as “one of the last best places on earth”, the area is a rich expanse of wildlife paradise. Rising in the Angolan Highlands, various tributaries feed their waters into the Okavango River which then flows into a vast complex of channels, lagoons and floodplains. The delta is driest during the summer months of November through January and it is during these months that the rains are falling in the north of Angola where it takes until March or April before the inflow causes a rise in the delta water levels. The flood waters reach a peak in late June through until early August.
The best time for a safari in the delta is between May and November, and for specialised birding from November until March. I would also recommend visiting the dryer, northern reaches of the delta and in particular, the Chobe National Park, Linyanti, Selinda and Kwando areas. The contrast of biomes makes for wonderful game viewing with large herds of big game converging onto lands of sweet grasses and sparse water distribution.