Each year in Botswana the annual flood from the Angolan Highlands into the Okavango Delta is eagerly anticipated. Will it be a good flood year or not relies on the rain from the season before, and this year is an exceptional year. Following an amazing amount of rain in Southern Africa, including in Botswana and Angola, the flood one of the most impressive for many years, with some calling it a once-in-a-generation flood.
Some channels which usually rely solely on the flood waters to flow, were flowing and accessible by mokoro by late March due to the sheer amount of rain that had arrived. With the flood coming in the water levels have only increased with these same channels becoming lagoons. Other channels, which have remained dry for several seasons are flourishing and the already stunning landscape is even more picturesque.
We look at why this is the year to travel to this stunning country.
The Okavango Delta in 2026
The majority of those visiting Botswana for a safari see the Okavango Delta as the jewel in a pretty full crown. This unique ecosystem always offers a great wildlife experience with great sightings due to the permanent water and land in the area. Wildlife may have moved to the dry areas, but it is still all there, and for many this is the Botswana they have always imagined from everything they have heard about it.
Water seems endless, with crystal-clear channels and floodplains bursting with life and a mokoro or boat trip through this watery oasis are more rewarding than ever. In many cases these mokoro or boat trips are able to explore areas and channels which have been dry for years, opening up new areas to explore.
What Does This Mean for Wildlife?
We are often asked how a high flood will affect wildlife viewing and will it be harder to view. The simple answer is that Botswana has an envious reputation for world-class wildlife viewing, in part due to the permanent land and water in the country. Wildlife never has to travel huge distances for either. The wildlife is still all there, it just may have moved slightly.
Animals are concentrated on the small islands making for some amazing viewing opportunities and the excellent guides in the country know the land well and where to find it all. In addition, this watery landscape can lead to more varied and unique sightings, such as elephants swimming and the predators are always in vicinity of their prey on the countless islands that pepper the Delta.
Wildlife and bird viewing always tends to be the major draw of a trip to Botswana, but the flood itself becomes part of the spectacle – and I for one am jealous of anyone who gets to experience this incredible event this year.
A Safari Unlike Any Other
Botswana has always been a country which is able to offer a rich array of activities and the opportunity to get out of a vehicle and into a mokoro (dug-out canoe) or boat is a major draw, with walking safaris also offering yet another dimension to a safari.
This high water year, may be more logistically challenging for some camps, it is also allowing many to offer more boating and mokoro experiences than they might usually be able to, adding to the overall safari experience. It is this combination of land and water that makes Botswana unlike anywhere else in Africa.
The benefits of a good flood year
From a visitors perspective the obvious benefits of this high flood are immediate, but beyond these the floodwaters are vital to the health of the Delta and the ecosystem. Key nutrients are carried into the Delta by the flood waters each year and with the extra water even more of these will be brought into the Delta, improving the overall grazing and vegetation. This in turn helps all wildlife from the frogs to the elephants and the benefits of this year will be felt for years to come.
Still Time to Experience It
If you have been thinking about a trip to Botswana now is the time to book a last minute holiday to see the Delta in all of its glory. There is still availability in many of the best camps and this, together with some excellent offers, makes a Botswana safari 2026 an ideal destination to be booking now for imminent travel.
Every safari season brings memorable moments, whilst some offer experiences and moments which are talked about for years afterwards. This is likely to be one of those years.
If you would like to discover more about Botswana, camps and offers please do get in touch with Lucinda who would be delighted to help.
