The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta, a remarkable natural wonder where the Okavango River-known as the Cubango River in Angola-empties not into the sea, but into the heart of the Kalahari Desert. This unique system irrigates an otherwise arid landscape, transforming it into a lush seasonal oasis.

Each year, between June and August, the delta floods dramatically-paradoxically during Botswana’s dry winter. This happens because the floodwaters originate from Angola’s summer rains, which take nearly five months to reach the delta. When the flood peaks, the Okavango can expand to three times its usual size, drawing vast numbers of wildlife and creating one of Africa’s richest ecosystems.

Many of the delta’s islands-originally formed around termite mounds-can temporarily vanish beneath the water. However, due to intense desert heat, the water is gradually lost through evaporation and plant transpiration.

A traditional way to explore the flooded delta is by mokoro, a dug-out canoe historically carved from ebony or sausage tree trunks. Today, to preserve these now-protected trees, mokoros are made from fibreglass, retaining the traditional style while supporting sustainability.