Okavango Delta

On the same day as the drive through Chobe, we were on a boat for a few hours cruising the Delta which was unusually high that year. We saw several huge hippos, some crocodiles and some impressively large birds including a fish eagle and shiny black waterfowl drying his wings.

Overall, the Okavango Delta blew us away. I think it was the area our guide knew best and he literally knew which termite mounds and trees to stop at for spotting the tiny and feathered wildlife that could so easily be missed on a commercial safari. This was the magical almost mystical part of the safari. We also had very close encounters with some animals here, which was scary but made the whole thing feel very real.

Wild beauty of nature.

Both Game and Birds were in full bloom during our visit

There is nowhere in the world like the Okavango Delta.

Great sightings - Many photographic opportunities.

Anyone at all interested in the natural world should visit the Okavango at least once. It is a unique habitat with some unique animals and great bird life.

I was seized by the reality of the Okavango Delta upon seeing a leopard in a tree with its kill.

We booked our southern Africa tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), because we had an exceptional experience with them in Egypt and Jordan in the prior year. The African tour also proved to be as seamless, from one connection to the next. July proved to be the best month for the tour: clear skies; no mosquitoes; and temperate weather, albeit cool mornings.

Upon landing on the Okavango Delta dirt strip, on July 14, we were met by our guides and driven in open "jeeps" towards Dumelang Wilderness Tented Camp. En route, we saw red lechwe and white beaked vultures. Then, our driver, a keen tracker, drove up to a tree. Perched high in the yoke was a leopard calmly eating the remains of a fresh impala. I had to remind myself that I was face-to-face with a big untamed, wild cat. In real time. We sat there for several minutes taking spectacular pictures. Then the leopard slowly let herself down to the ground. To our delight, our guide/driver paralleled the leopard as she loped through the savannah, paying no attention to us. She then stopped and sat down. Next to her was a female cub, about two months old, according to the guide. We stopped, approximately 40 yards from the cats. Then, the cub got up and walked towards us - the cub was curious! Mama leopard stayed where she was, but stood, hyper vigilant, tail pointing to the sky. The cub walked up to our jeep, looked around, then went back to her mother. All this occurred before reaching our lodge.

The amenities of the tented cabin were splendid. Big, comfortable king-size bed protected by mosquito netting, ceiling fan, 12 volt electrical system for lighting, hot and cold running water, shower, sink and flush toilet, plus adequate storage for our gear. A hot water bottle was provided for warmth to ease the cool nighttime temperatures in bed (low tech, but worked well - and its refillable, if needed).

Breakfasts were warm and hearty. Lunch was provided on the afternoon game drives in the savannah, with plenty of snacking opportunities. The evening dinners were a feast, often at the gourmet level. The constant supply of goodies reminds one of a cruise ship.

Elephant, cape buffalo, impalas, lions, hippos, crocodiles and several bird species war in abundant supply. Every game drive revealed a changing array of animals.

This is a unique water world that cannot be experienced anywhere else. Visitors going to Okavango should not primarily want to see many animals. The secret of Okavango is its water, the hidden channels, the islands, the remoteness. And you must experience this from a makoro, not from a motor boat.

Absolutely fantastic! Slightly qualified on the wildlife and birds - what we saw was excellent, and so much more gripping in a way because you're on foot. But they are slightly more wary of people on foot than in a vehicle (slightly counter-intuitive!) so we didn't get as close, and we didn't see any big predators (which is a very good thing!!!).