Instant Delta

The Okavango Delta is one of the largest deltae in the world, but, uniquely, it does not flow into the sea, the water running off into a variety of rivers and underground reservoirs. As such, it provides one of the richest habitats in the Moremi National Park of all the conservation areas in southern Africa.

To get there, we had to leave at 6am and had a 2 hour drive to get to the park where there were lots of elephants.

The harsh reality is that there are too many and that they not only damage the landscape, but also trample the fields of farmers who are in a subsistence economy.  The landscape of dead trees is caused by the elephants who will strip the bark for food which effectively kills the tree and leaves a landscape like this.

We quickly come across more wild dogs which are sunning themselves in the road.  There are plenty of impala about so they may well have had breakfast already.

There are all sorts of birds; the hornbills are very common and there is a variety of species - some of which seem happier than others.

The Saddle Billed Stork looks impressive:

from both sides.

And there are loads of birds of prey.

Kite

Eagle

Fish Eagle

Vulture

But it’s when you see the hippo, you realise that there is a problem and why there is a scarcity of animals which is not just attributable to the season – the grass is high and, if they are there, they are difficult to see.

These hippo are keeping cool in a pond of weed as the delta is as exceptionally dry.  

This should be a river going past our campsite, but you can see that the boats are high and dry and the cattle are grazing on the riverbed.

This hippo was not happy at the intrusion.

So we made our way back homewords, passing more herds of elephant, some of whom took more interest than others.

and you were left with the feeling that the Okavango needed someone to add a little water so that there are more pools like this.

The following evening, it rained quite hard - with nature's son et lumiere - for about 15 minutes, but it probably needs that for about 15 days.