Experience an African Dream

Sometimes known as the continent’s ‘Last Eden’, the breath-taking Okavango Delta is a sparkling jewel in the middle of the parched Kalahari Desert. Maun, Botswana, is your gateway to the Delta and the perfect launch-pad for travellers who want to explore this idyllic oasis.

As close to the African Dream as you get, the Okavango Delta’s maze of lagoons meander around lush grasslands, groves and mopane forests. It can be explored by mokoro (a type of canoe popular in the Delta), on foot, or in game viewing vehicles. This natural phenomenon is home to thriving populations of some of the continent’s most beautiful wildlife, and the Delta is said to support 164 mammal species, 157 reptile species, and 540 bird species, promising visitors a rich safari experience that they will battle to find anywhere else in the world.

In a perfect balance of nature, the Okavango Delta flooding season coincides with Southern Africa’s dry season, making it a haven for the more than 200,000 animals that migrate to the Delta between July and September each year to seek sanctuary from the harsh dry weather. If you visit the Okavango Delta during the flood season, which is at its peak from June to August, you’ll be treated to something spectacular: the Delta is home to almost half of Africa’s elephant population at this time. It’s not only the mighty elephant that roams the banks of the Okavango Delta. Teeming with life, the Delta attracts the other members of the Big 5 as well: lions, leopards, rhino and buffalo.

At the heart of Botswana’s tourism industry, the Okavango Delta boasts world-class accommodation. Water-based camps are ideal for tourists wishing to discover the unique secrets of the waterways and see its birds, while land-based camps are perfect for visitors who are more interested in general game viewing. Should you wish to combine the best of both worlds, mixed-use camps cater for all travellers.

Fly Airlink direct to Maun from Cape Town or Johannesburg and embark on an once-in-a-lifetime safari holiday that promises to be filled with unforgettable moments.

You can also fly direct from Johannesburg to Kasane, for an African River Safari in the North-Eastern corner of Botswana. Kasane is a town better known as the gateway to the Chobe National Park. The magic of Chobe is that it lies near the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe; it is also known to be home to large herds of elephant and Cape Buffalo.

Here, nature will treat you to spectacular sightings of graceful antelopes, migrating zebras, numerous bird species, and the mighty hippos that inhabit the woods and lagoons of the Linyanti Marsh. The Chobe experience is rich with Safari tours, by boat and on land. Along the banks of the Chobe River you’ll find an array of guest houses, hotels, and camp sites that accommodate visitors to the National Park.

Looking to add a beach or Vic Falls experience to your safari adventure? Connect onwards on Airlink’s direct flights from Livingstone, Zambia, to Nelspruit KMIA and experience the Kruger Park or fly from Nelspruit to Vilanculos, Mozambique, gateway to the Bazaruto and Benguerra islands.