Okavango Delta Luxury Safaris

The Okavango Delta offers excellent wildlife viewing year round, but the best time to visit is generally from June to October during the dry season. This is when the Delta receives its annual floodwaters, creating ideal conditions for mokoro excursions, boating safaris and superb wildlife concentrations along floodplains and islands.

From November to May, the landscape becomes greener and more dramatic with summer rains, bringing beautiful skies, quieter camps and excellent predator viewing. Birding is also outstanding during this period, making the Delta a rewarding destination in every season.

The Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s most wildlife-rich ecosystems, supporting strong populations of lion, leopard, cheetah and some of Southern Africa’s most reliable wild dog sightings. Elephant herds, hippos, giraffes, buffalo and a wide variety of antelope species are seen throughout the year.

The mix of permanent wetlands, floodplains and wooded islands creates diverse habitats, making the Delta exceptional for both big game and birdlife. Wildlife density is especially high in private concessions where vehicle numbers are strictly limited.

The Okavango Delta offers a unique blend of water and land-based activities. Depending on water levels, guests can explore the Delta by mokoro, motorboat, guided walking safaris, game drives and scenic helicopter flights. Private concessions also allow night drives for nocturnal wildlife viewing and offer some of Botswana’s most exclusive guiding experiences.

This variety makes the Delta one of the most immersive safari destinations in Africa, appealing to photographers, adventure lovers and guests looking for a slower, more intimate connection with the wilderness.

The Okavango Delta and the Linyanti are two of Botswana’s most exceptional safari regions, but they offer distinctly different experiences. The Okavango Delta is a vast inland wetland known for its seasonal floodwaters, peaceful mokoro excursions, boating safaris and a mix of islands, floodplains and channels. Wildlife is abundant throughout the year, with strong populations of lion, leopard, elephant and some of Southern Africa’s most reliable wild dog sightings. The Delta also offers a rare blend of land and water-based activities, creating one of the most immersive safari environments in Africa.

The Linyanti, located to the northwest of the Delta, is a more remote and drier ecosystem known for exceptional predator viewing, huge elephant herds and wild dog packs that thrive along the Linyanti River system. It offers exclusive private concessions with very low vehicle density, making sightings intimate and unhurried. Linyanti landscapes include riverine forests, marshlands and open woodlands, creating superb photographic conditions and excellent dry-season game viewing.

Together, these regions complement each other beautifully, giving travellers a balanced Botswana safari that blends waterways, big predators and pristine wilderness.

Quick Comparison: Okavango Delta vs Linyanti

Okavango Delta

• Seasonal floodplains, channels and waterways
• Mokoro excursions and boat safaris
• Mix of land and water activities
• Excellent lion, leopard and wild dog viewing
• Remote luxury camps on islands and private concessions
• Best June to October for flood-based activities

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve

• Drier, more remote, riverine wilderness
• Exceptional elephant concentrations
• Superb predator viewing, especially wild dogs
• Exclusive private concessions with very few vehicles
• Strong dry-season game viewing from June to October