Okavango Delta, Botswana – The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa, bordering South Africa to the south, Zimbabwe to the northeast, and Namibia to the west. Botswana has a population of just over 2 million people. The main economic activities are mining, tourism and livestock farming. It is a member of the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community. On September 30, 1966, Botswana gained independence from British rule.
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is a tourist destination and the Okavango Delta is one of the most visited regions. The delta formed where the Okavango River flows into a structural depression in the central Kalahari. Approximately 6.8 cubic miles of water are spread over 3,700-9,320 square miles of land each year. The Okavango Delta has been named one of the Seven Wonders of Africa. Much of the water flowing into the delta is lost through transpiration and evaporation. Only 2% of the water flows from the delta into Lake Ngami, and mineral deposits continue to accumulate, resulting in high salinity.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta has greatly impacted the ecosystem. Animal and plant life are directly dependent on the delta and its water. The delta is also home to crocodiles, fish, birds and amphibians. Since the Kalahari Desert covers most of Botswana, the delta serves as an oases and barrier to the spread of the desert. Five peoples, including the famous Bushmen, are directly dependent on the delta. Various ethnic groups consider the Delta region their ancestral homeland. The Batawana are one of the ethnic groups who live off livestock in the delta and have been living in the swamps since the 19th century.
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The Okavango Desert is one of the wonders of Africa. It was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2014. It is the third largest inland delta in Africa, after the Sade Delta and the Niger Inland Delta. Due to its diverse ecosystem, dozens of documentaries about documentaries have been produced. The delta’s wildlife draws thousands of tourists to the area. The delta is home to more than 400 species of birds and is a top destination for birdwatchers. Thousands of elephants and buffaloes are sent to the delta every year.
The Okavango Delta has green vegetation and an annual rainfall of 450 mm. It is home to wildlife that depends on the delta’s water and vegetation for survival. African elephants migrate from Gumare Park to the delta in search of greener pastures. More than 71 species of birds live here, including various species of catfish. Antelopes are the largest mammal population in the Delta. There are about 60,000 antelopes, which feed on aquatic plants. Papyrus rafts and reeds cover large areas. Since the bottom of the delta is sandy, two species of vegetation float on the water, providing habitat for hundreds of crocodiles.
The delta’s Okavango Swamp is home to thousands of species of animals, insects and plants that depend on the water and climate surrounding the delta for survival. These species are under threat due to government plans to build a hydroelectric power plant on the Okavango River. The construction of hydroelectric power plants will regulate the flow of water into the delta. The delta is also threatened by human encroachment and plans by Angola and Namibia to use water from tributaries of the Okavango River for irrigation. Botswana (or Okavango Grassland; formerly spelled “Okovango” or “Okovanggo”) is a vast inland delta in Botswana, formed where the Okavango River reaches an altitude of 930-1,000 meters in a tectonic bend.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the few inland delta systems that does not flow into the sea or ocean, and its wetland system is largely preserved.
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All water that reaches the delta eventually evaporates and evaporates. Each year, approximately 11 cubic kilometers (2.6 cubic miles) of water is distributed over a range of 6,000–15,000 km
The area was once part of Lake Makgadikgadi, an ancient lake that mostly dried up during the early days of the Galati River.
Maremi Reserve is located on the east coast of the delta. The delta was named one of Africa’s natural wonders, officially declared on February 11, 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania.
On June 22, 2014, the Okavango Delta became the 1,000th site officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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The Okavango River is formed by seasonal flooding. The Okavango River drains summer (January to February) rainfall in the Angolan highlands and flows up to 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) in about a month. Over the next four months (March to June), the waters spread over an area of 250 x 150 km (155 x 93 mi) of the delta.
The high temperatures in the delta cause rapid transpiration and evaporation, resulting in three cycles of rising and falling water levels
It was not fully understood until the early 20th century. Flooding peaks during Botswana’s dry winter in June and August, when the delta expands to three times its permanent size, attracting animals for miles around and creating one of the largest wildlife colonies in Africa.
As water levels gradually recede, water remains in major canals and riverbeds, reservoirs and a series of large lagoons that attract more and more animals. Photography safari camps and lodges are located near some of these lagoons. Larger lagoons include:
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The buildup of salt around plant roots results in Baal white spots appearing in the centers of thousands of islands that are too salty to support plant growth except for the odd salt-tolerant palm. Trees and grass that have not yet turned salty grow on the edge of the island.
About 70% of the islands began as termite mounds (usually Macrotermes) with trees taking root in the mounds.
Chiefs Island (19°12′S 22°48′E / 19.200°S 22.800°E / -19.200; 22.800 ) is the largest island in the delta, formed by a fault line that increased the area by more than 70 km. (43 mi) long and 15 km (9.3 mi) wide. Historically, this was the exclusive hunting area of the chiefs, but now it is a wildlife reserve. It is now a prime habitat for many emerging aquatic wildlife.
The delta’s abundant greenery isn’t the result of a humid climate; Rather, it is an oasis in an arid land. Average annual rainfall is 450 mm (18 inches) (approximately one-third of the Angolan watershed area), with most rainfall occurring in the form of afternoon thunderstorms between December and March.
The Okavango Delta Of Botswana
December to February are hot and humid months, with daytime temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F), warm nights and humidity ranging from 50% to 80%. Temperatures drop between March and May, with daytime highs of 30 °C (86 °F) and nights being mild to cool. The rain dries up quickly, resulting in a dry, cool winter from June to August. Daytime temperatures this time of year are mild to warm, but temperatures drop significantly after sunset. Nights in the Delta can be cold, with temperatures just above freezing.
Between September and November, as the dry season turns to the rainy season, temperatures and pressure rise again. October is the most challenging month for visitors, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 40 °C (104 °F) and dry weather occasionally broken by sudden heavy rainstorms.
The Okavango Delta is a permanent and seasonal habitat for a variety of wildlife and is now a popular tourist attraction.
All five game species – lion, leopard, buffalo, African elephant and rhinoceros (black and white) – are preserved.
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African wild dog, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, caracal, serval, muskrat, long-eared wolf, long-eared fox, African savanna hare, honey bear, crested porcupine, warthog, chacma baboon, vervet monkey and Nile crocodiles.
The delta is also home to more than 400 species of birds, including the helmeted kingfisher, African fishing eagle, Pella fishing owl, Egyptian goose, South African shepherd dog, African water pheasant, African skimmer stork, marabou stork, crested crane, and African spoonbill , African snake bass, southern ground hornbill, whooping crane,
The best birding areas are areas with mixed habitats such as heather, seasonal deltas and parts of the Moremi Reserve near water.
In 1992, the black rhinos in the Okavango Delta were considered extinct, while only 19 white rhinos remained.
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By 2019, Botswana’s rhino population had declined to about 400 individuals, with the largest population (about 150) living in the northern Okavango Delta.
From 2020 to 2021, 92 rhinos were killed by poachers in the delta, leaving only 40, forcing the government to remove these rhinos from the Okavango Delta.
Slightly larger than an impala, the antelope has slender hooves and waterproof legs that allow it to move quickly through knee-deep water. Lehves feed on aquatic plants and, like kingfishers, dive into the water when threatened by predators. Only males have horns.
The Okavango Delta is home to 71 species of fish, including tiger fish, tilapia and a variety of fish species.
