Wednesday 12 July 2023

Botswana: water situation in the Okavango Delta

Bush greetings to you all,

I hope this post finds you well and excited about peak season. This year has certainly flown, and it is hard to believe we are halfway through the year.

Let's dive into the latest updates on the camps and water situation in the Okavango Delta.

Regarding the flood waters in the Okavango Delta, we are experiencing normal to below-average levels, with timing right on schedule, if not slightly delayed. The eastern side of the delta is once again receiving water earlier, and in larger quantities, similar to last year, while two years ago, more water flowed to the west.

As for our camps, I'm delighted to inform you that Machaba Camps and Gomoti Plains Camp currently have water, and it's steadily rising. Both camps currently offer mokoro excursions, and Gomoti Plains Camp will begin motorboat trips within three to four weeks.

Meanwhile, Kiri Camp is still awaiting the arrival of water. However,  the flood waters have just passed Xaxaba (further North) and it is expected to pass Kiri Camp on the Boro River system within the next two weeks. Mokoro activities should be available by the end of this month. Subsequently, the Kiri channel will fill, and water should be in front of the camp by August.

As in the previous year, we anticipate being able to offer water activities at all camps until the end of October. Gomoti Plains Camp had mokoro trips until December of the previous year, and Machaba Camp offered year-round mokoro experiences with no interruptions.

Moving on to the Chobe floodplains, there is an abundance of water, and the views from Ngoma Safari Lodge are breathtaking. The Chobe River is already attracting a vast array of wildlife.

On another note, the water flow at Victoria Falls reached its peak on May 27, with an average of 2,718 cubic meters per second cascading into the gorge.

In Zimbabwe - Hwange National Park, expect to witness impressive elephant herds again as it is relatively dry, and this season will exert pressure on the waterholes. Furthermore, the resident lion pride at Deteema Springs has welcomed new cubs, and like last year, they are frequently spotted around camp.

At Verney's Camp, the water hole is teeming with wildlife, particularly elephants, creating a captivating spectacle. In the Valley, Mana Pools National Park looks splendid. Mana River Camp and Ingwe Pan Camp resumed operations in May after the rainy season hiatus, offering morning or evening canoe trips on the Zambezi, game drives, and walking safaris.

Overall, it's a prime time to visit Africa.

As we proceed through the year, thank you for your unwavering support. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you require any further information.

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