The Delta is fed by the Okavango River originating over
800 miles (1,280 km) away in the highlands of Angola. The
Angolan highlands have an average rainfall of between 1,200
and 2,000mm per year, compared to around 400-600mm in the
Okavango.
The delta therefore fluctuates in size depending on local
rains and the Angolan floodwaters.
The spill over from the rising river starts pushing gently
into the Okavango in January and reaches a peak at the top
of the Okavango in about May.
By June or July each year (depending where you are within
the Okavango), the water levels are at their maximum. The
lure of the Okavango and its extraordinary range of habitats
provide the perfect environment for African animals to thrive
and people to watch them.
Great herd of antelopes, zebra,
buffalo and elephants
roam the pastures, and lions,
leopards, cheetahs
and all the other carnivores prosper.
As Moremi Game Reserve contains large areas of constant
water, game viewing during the dry season is particularly
good as animals are drawn to the permanent water sources.
There are no fences between Moremi and the private reserves
so the entire Okavango merges into a unified animal kingdom
of grand proportions.
Each area has its own particular habitats, resident herds
and familiar predators, and night drives in the private
reserves, (also soon to be permitted in Moremi), often reveal
secretive animals like porcupine,
pangolin, aardwolf
and genet.