By hennie | May 6, 2020 | Featured
After some terrific rains in Dec 2019 and January, February, and March 2020, the Okavango River is flooded. Yearly the Okavango River feeds the Kalahari Basin of Botswana. Many local Motswana people will refer to the Okavango as nature's lifeline. The Okavango River is the fourth-longest river in southwest Africa.
The Rivier originates in the Angolan Highlands and has the Portuguese name of Rio Cubango. The length of the Okavango River is approximately 1600km. The river is sometimes the Okovango, and this is from the local cultures of Northern Namibia, the Okavango (Kavango) people. Both Namibia and Botswana are dry countries, and the Okavango River Flood brings relief every year. It is a source of Life.
The map is courtesy of Okacom, the permanent Okavango River basin water commission.
OKACOM
The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas in the world. What is fascinating is that the river does not reach the ocean. There are many theories around this phenomenon. The water of the Okavango evaporates over the Kalahari Basin, and it meets underground water channels beneath the Kalahari Soil. Sure there are many more speculations. However, this river gives Life yearly to Namibia and Botswana. The water brings Life to the wildlife and birdlife of Botswana and Namibia.
The summer rainfall usually is during January. The Okavango Delta Flood takes a month to travel the first 1000km to reach the Okavango Delta. The remainder of the distance when going to the Delta usually takes at least four months to get to the town of Maun. The Delta then swells up to at least three times its size. This water mass forms a swampland and attracts animals from all over Botswana. The Okavango is one of the most beautiful things to experience when visiting Botswana. People refer to the Okavango Delta also as the Okavango Swamps.
So to all the travellers wandering where to be when our global crisis is hopefully ending. I will strongly suggest that you do consider travelling to Botswana. The Moremi Game Reserve is on the edge of the Okavango Delta. This reserve is one of the best wildlife destinations globally, if not the Best in Africa.
Start Planning now, and don't miss the flood in 2021.
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