Okavango Delta
Botswana ·
Description
The Okavango is the Kalahari's blue miracle. The river rises in Angola, crosses Namibia and dies in Botswana's desert, creating the world's largest inland delta. Annual floods transform dry lands into a channel labyrinth where elephants swim, lions hunt on islands and mokoros glide through papyrus at dawn.
Why It's a World Heritage Site
The Okavango is the world's largest inland delta and one of few that doesn't reach the sea. Annual floods create unique ecosystems. It harbors exceptional populations of large African mammals.
UNESCO Criteria
Frequently Asked Questions
For being the world's largest inland delta with unique ecosystems created by annual floods.
It was inscribed in 2014 under criteria (vii), (ix) and (x).
May-October (dry season): more concentrated wildlife; July-September: optimal water level.
Traditional dugout canoe poled through channels; the best way to explore.
Very expensive; Botswana opts for low-volume, high-value tourism.