Okavango

The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world, its waters caught up in a 13 000 square kilometre maze of waterways, lagoons and papyrus-lined islands. This wilderness is inhabited by local villagers living on the bigger islands. Their canoes, called mokoros, are hand-hewn from logs. Each summer, floods pour down from the highlands of Angola into the Okavango River - known as the 'river that never finds the sea' as the water evaporates or dissipates into the Kalahari sand.The slow yearly flood, carrying rich sediment, often doubles the floodplain from 6,000sq.km to as much as 13,000sq.km. The river divides into several main channels that work their way across the sands, interrupted by islands varying from tiny to large - Chief's Island is about 40km long and 50km wide. The heart of the Okavango is the Moremi Game Reserve. The floods reach their peak in May, covering vast grass flats and making thousands of islands out of tree-covered ridges of land. Thick papyrus grows everywhere, and in the northern parts of the delta, chokes the waterways so that they are impenetrable except by canoe.

Seasons: The best time to visit the Delta is between Apr-Nov, as large herds of animals migrate to the waterways. Dec-Jan are the calving months, while the rainy season (Jan-Mar) for birding.

Wildlife: 450 bird species, 164 mammal species, 157 species of reptile, 80 fish species and 5000 species of insect have been recorded. You should see: elephant, hippo, crocodile, buffalo, impala, zebra, waterbuck, lion, hyaena, giraffe, jackal, porcupine, warthog, hyraxes, baboon, vervet monkeys, genets, herons, egrets, fish eagles, You may see: cheetah, wild dog, leopard, lechwe, sitatunga, pangolin, bat-eared fox, bush- and reed buck

Precautions: Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart.