There is great anticipation in Northern Botswana and in the three camps of Orient-Express Safaris due to the recent dramatic summer rains which have already transformed much of the area into a water wonderland. The good news is that these rains are set to continue for the rest of March, according to satellite imagery of cloud cover over Southern Africa.

Average rainfall for the region is normally about 500 mm per annum, and this year Botswana has already experienced 800 mm in most areas. What this means for visitors to the Delta in the coming months, is that the Okavango will be teaming with wildlife, and where dry pans once existed, there are now lush lagoons fringed by bright green grass. Of course this also means that game viewing is going to be exceptional for the coming months, as wildlife will be restricted to limited dry areas.
 
Logistically for camp management though, this proves to be quite a challenge, as all supplies will have to be flown in or brought in by motorboat. Game drives however are wildly exciting for our guests – as one guest recently commented “not only did we stop for elephants crossing the road, but crocodiles too!”

Some history on the Okavango Delta - The Delta receives two influxes of water each year - the one being localised rain that falls within the Delta itself during the summer months, and the second being the rainfall that falls in the eastern highlands in Angola, and which reaches the Okavango Delta area around May or June.  With this system, the Delta would normally have an opportunity to dry out to a large extent after the summer rains and before the rainfall waters from Angola reach the Delta area. This hasn’t happened this year, with the result that the Okavango has constantly been “topped” up by the local downpours.  The Delta waters are currently at roughly the same level as they were during the peak of the flood in 2005…..and the annual flood waters are still to come.
 
The potential result of all this water could be that in a few months time the area may receive a higher than average flood from the Angolan highlands (as the flood waters when they arrive will not need to fill the numerous floodplains and channels on its meander through the Okavango as these are already full) - the flood waters will simply ride on top of the existing water; increasing the speed at which it travels through the delta as well as the level of the water in the delta itself.
                                                            
The camps, Khwai River Lodge, Eagle Island Camp and Savute Elephant Camp, all situated in northern Botswana yet located in diverse ecosystems, offer outstanding game and bird viewing. Nestled on the edge of a leadwood  and fig tree forest, with unobstructed views of the vast Khwai River floodplains and beyond into the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, sits the luxurious Khwai River Lodge, which offers superb game viewing all year round and is a special location for predator sightings.
 
Hidden from the world, deep within Botswana's Okavango Delta, is the paradise named Eagle Island Camp. Situated on the island of Xaxaba and surrounded by illala palms, the camp overlooks a surrounding lagoon fed by the tranquil waterways of the Delta. The area offers exceptionally high quality game viewing with prolific bird life and mammal sightings.
 
In the heart of the Chobe National Park, sometimes referred to as the elephant capital of the world, is Savute Elephant Camp. Perched on the former river banks of the now dry Savute Channel, the camp offers a spectacular bird's-eye view of elephant in their natural habitat. The endangered wild dog, lion, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, cheetah and hyena are also to be found at Savute.
          
 
For bookings and enquiries call (011) 274 1800, email: reservations@orient-express-safaris.co.za or visit www.orient-express-safaris.com.