The Okavango Delta
It is no surprise that the recently inscribed thousandth UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta, has made it onto the 2014 Sustainable Destination Global Top 100 list. The Okavango Delta is one of the most sought after wilderness destinations in the world, thanks to its heart-stopping game viewing excitement, its supreme tranquillity, the serenity of the untouched delta, and its evocative scenes of extraordinary natural beauty.
Commonly referred to as the “Jewel of the Kalahari”, it is situated in the deep Kalahari basin, and a journey into this untouched interior is like no other. Moving from wetland to dry land – traversing the meandering palm and papyrus fringed waterways, passing islands and thick woodland, resplendent with lush vegetation rich in wildlife – reveals the many facets of this unique ecosystem, the largest intact inland delta in the world.
The Okavango River travels from the Angolan Highlands, crosses into Botswana at Mohembo in the Caprivi, and then later spills over the vast, fan-shaped delta. There are three main geographical areas in this region: the Panhandle, the Delta, and dryland.
The Panhandle begins at the Okavango’s northernmost reaches, at Mohembo, and extends for approximately 80 km. Its corridor-like shape is contained within two parallel faults in the Earth’s crust. Here, the river runs deep and wide, and the swamps contain vast papyrus beds and large stands of Phoenix palms. The main tourist attractions of the Panhandle are fishing, birding and visiting the colourful villages that line its western fringes.
The timing of the floods is mysterious. Just as the waters from Botswana’s summer rains disappear (in April and May), so the floodwaters begin their journey, 1,300 km of which is through the Kalahari, thus revitalising a vast and remarkably diverse ecosystem of plant and animal life.
The Delta region of the Okavango can vary in size from 15,000 km² during drier periods to a staggering 22,000 km² during wetter periods. Its dominant plant species are reeds, **mokolwane**, sausage trees, rain trees and African mangosteen.
Major tourist attractions in the Delta and the dryland areas are game viewing and birding, as well as boating, often in a traditional **mokoro**. The diversity and sheer number of different animals and birds can be staggering. A recent overview of the Okavango recorded 122 species of birds and 64 species of reptiles. A number of successful rhino reintroduction programmes in the Okavango Delta have now also increased the populations of white and black rhino in Botswana.
Other major species to be seen include: elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile, rhino, red lechwe, waterbuck, reedbuck, duiker, impala, kudu, steenbok, wildebeest, hartebeest, sable, roan, tsessebe, lion, leopard, cheetah, genet, serval, and caracal, along with an immense variety of birds both aquatic and land based which are resident and migratory, and some of which are rare and endangered.
The Okavango Delta is now officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which adds another layer of protection to this unique wetland. Its long-term conservation is ensured through the following:
- · Government policy and regulations (though only Moremi Game Reserve has the official protected status)
- · The efforts and initiatives of camps and lodges in its concessions
- · The Okavango Development Management Plan (ODMP)
- · Its status as a Ramsar Site, under IUCN, an agreement that limits its utilisation and development
The Sustainable Destinations Global Top 100 was created to celebrate the management efforts of the world’s most sustainable tourist destinations. The list is the result of open calls on social media, followed by a selection process involving 30 international experts. The Okavango Delta has won many accolades thanks to the policies put in place by the government of Botswana to ensure that the tourism sector protects the environment and benefits local people. With such qualities, an environmentally responsible and luxurious Botswana is indeed a tourism destination of choice.
For more information visit www.botswanatourism.co.bw.
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