by Andrew Porter

Created on: October 21, 2009

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is the world's largest inland delta and has no outlet to the sea, so there is seasonal flooding of the Kalahari Desert, forming shallow lakes and islands that change constantly. It is a magical place to stay and watch wildlife. The Chobe National Park, also in Botswana provides a more classic safari experience, but can easily be combined with a trip to the Okavango Delta.

I went on a camping trip to Botswana, on an organized tour feeling that it was safer to have everything coordinated and someone at least knowing whom to contact if I were eaten by a hippopotamus or honey badger. It turned out to be a wise precaution (no I didn't get eaten by a honey badger)

We flew from London to Windhoek in Namibia via Frankfurt. Our baggage flew to Frankfurt, where it decided to stay. We stayed the night in Windhoek after quite a hurried shopping trip to Woolworths, which is an African shop selling clothes and everything else, with the 50 each, that our travel agent representative had managed to get for us from the airline. This turned out to be plenty of money and were able to kit ourselves out with enough clothes for at least a week, and the local representative provided sleeping bags etc.

The following morning we flew to Maun (rhymes with "town" as our guidebook informed us, or Mou-ooon, rhymes with tow-ooon as our local rep. jokingly informed us) in Botswana. Our baggage had now reached Windhoek. We then met up with an English honeymooning couple who were apparently with our group and the four of us, and two pilots flew in a Cessna low over the beautiful scenery and startled animals towards the Okavango Delta. This really is a wonderful way to see the plains of Africa and the amazing spectacle of the Delta itself. We landed at a tiny, dusty landing strip near where we were going to be camping and were picked up by the main guide, who took us by Land Rover, then boat to the island we would be camping on, stopping off a couple of times for a spot of game viewing on the way. Our baggage was now in Maun.

The rest of the group, six Australians, were already there, the campsite erected and the campfire burning with our "chef" already hard at work preparing dinner. An absolutely fabulous setting surrounded by water and animals, including hippos and crocodiles. The two-man tents were basic, but lion-proof (well that's what the guides said anyway) There were showers and toilet tents already in place as well. Everything needed to be temporary,

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