Okavango Swamp (Wetland) Yeah! Somewhere warm to thaw out after Antarctica!! I’m in the Okavango Swamp in Botswana – and it’s truly amazing. So beautiful and peaceful. I have been in a helicopter, over only a very small part, for a bird’s eye view and in a small canoe (mokoro) for a close up look at the animal and plant life.
The Okavango consists of lakes, lagoons, islands of various sizes and hundreds of channels headed of in every direction. While flying over, it looked like a patchwork quilt. There were open grasslands and flooded plains. Flat islands, tall trees and palms – it was breathtaking.
It is the largest inland delta in the world. It begins in Angola, flows through Namibia and then enters Botswana. There is no outlet to the sea; instead it empties into the Kalahari Desert. The Okavango can range anywhere from 9000km² to 16000km² after seasonal rains. It is home to over 400 different species of birds and a huge variety of animals. While flying over, I saw herds of elephants playing in the waterholes and hippos swimming.
On the water, I went through small water trails and channels. The water was so clear and surrounded by ‘hippo-grass’ and water lilies. Also saw many birds, giraffe and buffalo. The sun was warm and the sky blue.
The Wetlands provide important resources to the local people. These include fishing, building materials and grazing lands. Tourism brings in much needed money to what are generally poor communities.
The Okavango consists of lakes, lagoons, islands of various sizes and hundreds of channels headed of in every direction. While flying over, it looked like a patchwork quilt. There were open grasslands and flooded plains. Flat islands, tall trees and palms – it was breathtaking.
It is the largest inland delta in the world. It begins in Angola, flows through Namibia and then enters Botswana. There is no outlet to the sea; instead it empties into the Kalahari Desert. The Okavango can range anywhere from 9000km² to 16000km² after seasonal rains. It is home to over 400 different species of birds and a huge variety of animals. While flying over, I saw herds of elephants playing in the waterholes and hippos swimming.
On the water, I went through small water trails and channels. The water was so clear and surrounded by ‘hippo-grass’ and water lilies. Also saw many birds, giraffe and buffalo. The sun was warm and the sky blue.
The Wetlands provide important resources to the local people. These include fishing, building materials and grazing lands. Tourism brings in much needed money to what are generally poor communities.
♥♥♥XJ♥♥♥
Elephants In WaterHole
In the Mokoro
Latitude and Longitude: 22° S and 24° E
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