Wow! Botswana blew me away. I recently camped in the Okavango Delta for ten days with Early Kingfisher Safaris, founded by a local guide, Sam Mopalo, who has worked as a Botswana guide since 1999. My 10-day trip to the Okavango Delta started in Chobe National Park and took me through Savuti to the Moremi Game Reserve; two destinations that are world-renowned for their wildlife diversity.
My favorite moments? Spotting eight lion cubs, a momma cheetah and five babies, a leopard named “Big Boy,” 100+ elephants at a watering hole, and the lilac-breasted roller! Shoutout to my mom, Dr. Deb Robertson, for capturing their beautiful photographs in this blog post. Keep reading for a breakdown of my 10-day trip to the Okavango Delta.
What to Know Before You Visit the Okavango Delta
What is the best month to go to the Okavango Delta?
The Okavango Delta floods annually during the dry season––typically starting around May or June and receding by around September. The peak tourist season is during the dry winter months, from May to August when wildlife congregates around water sources.
How many days do you need in the Okavango Delta?
I recommend visiting for longer than a week, ideally closer to two or three weeks. This allows you to explore multiple national parks, go on more game drives, and take a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) trip.
What shots do I need for the Okavango Delta?
The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Botswana: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
Why is the Okavango Delta so special?
Unique Ecosystem: It’s the world’s largest inland delta and one of the few that doesn’t flow into a sea or ocean. The flooding is caused by rains in the highlands of Angola, which flow down the Okavango River.
Diverse Wildlife: The delta supports a remarkable amount of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and various antelope species. The delta is also a haven for birdwatchers, with over 400 species of birds.
Great People: The local communities add so much to your experience! I loved the relationships I formed while I was traveling through Botswana.
My Experience Camping in the Okavango Delta
Early Kingfisher Safaris set up some fantastic tent accommodations in the Okavango Delta for our group of nine women. I hesitate to say we “camped” because it was more like glamping. The staff was incredible.
The Campground
Sam’s Cafe
Sam set up a snack area during game viewings, where we had tea, coffee, chips, nuts, and cookies between game viewings. After leaving camp around 6:15 am, we could expect a pick-up meal around 11 a.m.
The Dining Room
Chef PK went all out to ensure we loved every single meal! She catered to all food restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free. The food was incredible.
My 10-Day Trip Itinerary for Okavango Delta
Ready for the fun part? The Okavango Delta in Botswana is a world heritage site! It offers the best wildlife viewing, especially in and around Chobe National Park. Without further ado, here’s a day-by-day breakdown of my 10-day trip to the Okavango Delta.
Day 1 & 2: Chobe National Park
On August 10th, 2023, we flew into Kasane and arrived at our camp at Chobe National Park. Chobe National Park is Botswana’s first national park located in the country’s northern area. It’s also the most biologically diverse, meaning it has the most game in Africa! The motto of Early Kingfisher Safari is “The early bird catches the fattest worm,” so we started most of our game drives before sunrise. That’s when the wildlife is out and about! We spent two days in Chobe National Park, enjoying large amounts of elephants, zebra, giraffes, water buffalo, and lions crossing the Chobe River from Botswana to Namibia.
Favorite Moments
- Spotted a rare brown hyena
- Saw a variety of storks: maribu, white, and black
- Watched three lionesses stalk a herd of water buffalo
Day 3–5: Savuti
On August 12th, 2023, we relocated to Savuti for three nights. The Savuti area borders the Delta to the west and Chobe National Park to the east. It’s one of Africa’s best-known game areas, known for its fascinating water channel, which runs 100 kilometers from the Chobe River. This channel has been dry for 18 years but will occasionally reflood.
Favorite Moments
- Watched two male lions (2 1/2 years old) wander in between their elephant carcass and grassy plains
- Saw a family of lions and lionesses with eight cubs
- Our tour guide, Sam, shared his passion for Savtui. He knows every inch of the land and it brings him joy when the delta is filled. When it fills, even flamingos and aquatic life return.
- Our tour guide, Ossie, told us about his life growing up in the Bangwato Tribe. As young men (ages 7+), they had to wake up at 5 a.m. and walk to a pole to pee to learn the importance of waking up early.
- Learned the Junxoansi Tribe’s tradition is to run after (and catch) stenbock to present to women for marriage.
- Practiced “Areye Bomma,” which means “Let’s go ladies!”
- Visited the Baobab Tree!
Day 6–7: Moremi North
On August 15th, 2023, we relocated to Moremi North for two nights for more wildlife sightings. The Moremi Game Reserve is home to over 400 species of birds, including the African Fish Eagle and the Sacred Ibis. We couldn’t do the Mokoro dugout canoe since the water levels were low, but I highly recommend doing that activity if you’re here! I’ll try to come back when the water levels rise!
Favorite Moments
- We found “Big Boy” the Leopard. He’s handsome. Need I say more?
- We crossed a rickety bridge in the town of Khwai
- Witnessed a male lion kill a honey badger (a true Nat Geo moment)
Day 8–10: Moremi South
On August 17th, 2023, we ventured into Moremi South, which had extraordinary wildlife: impala, tsessebe, buffalo, wildebeest, elephants, cheetahs, ostriches, and zebra.
Favorite Moments
- Momma cheetah and her five babies
- Two female ostriches out on a walk
- Zebras in perfect synchrony at the river
Start Planning Your Safari
All in all, I had an incredible trip to the Okavango Delta. I loved seeing the wildlife, eating homemade food, and meeting the locals. If you want to travel to the Okavango Delta, contact Early Kingfisher Safaris! They offer a range of safari types, experiences, and wilderness areas. Plus, you’ll get 1:1 access to Sam, who told the BEST stories before the campfire and made me feel incredibly safe, even when lions roared outside my tent at night! (Unforgettable!)
Website: earlykingfisher.com | Email: info@earlykingfisher.com
Whatsapp: +267 71 806 794
After our last day, we said goodbye and drove to Maun airport. It was such a bittersweet ending to our fantastic trip to the Okavango Delta! But we know it’s not goodbye. We’ll be back again…
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