Two wattled cranes foraging in Okavango Delta waters. Credit: Shutterstock
A Birdwatcher’s Paradise in Botswana’s Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is truly a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike. An extravagant array of birds paints the skies in a rainbow of sparkling hues making this one of Africa’s most important habitats for both resident and migratory birds.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a living mosaic of waterways lagoons and palm-fringed islands themselves – all of them a haven for extraordinary avian diversity.
🕊️ From Casual Bird Lover to Ornithology Enthusiast
Before visiting Botswana, I had never imagined myself to be an aspiring ornithologist, although I’d been awed by the spectacular birdlife on a safari to the Serengeti. I had been a “fair feather” kind of enthusiast – I could appreciate our alluring feathered friends in flight, but struggled to tell a blackbird from a kingfisher.
My first Okavango safari in June 2023 changed that. The myriad bird species – aquatic, upland and migratory – that thrive here was astonishing. I spotted the African fish eagle, bateleur eagle, southern carmine bee-eater, lilac-breasted roller… But close-up encounters with a breathtaking Pel’s fishing owl and with two endangered wattled cranes, reaching a height of 5.7 feet, foraging in Delta waters, were truly life changing.
I realized how we humans, especially today those of us living in big cities, are totally estranged from the sights and sounds of birds.
🛶 The Mokoro Safari: Silent Birdwatching by Water
One of the most magical experiences was our ride in a mokoro — a traditional dugout canoe. As we drifted silently through the Delta’s channels a panorama of feathered friends unfolded as we were poled silently through the waters. We glided off into the Delta waters, following channels originally carved by hippos and elephants. As we glided forward African fish eagles soared overhead, their iconic call echoing across the delta, a symbol of Africa. One fish eagle swooped low, wings outstretched, to pluck a fish from the water.
African fish eagle catching a fish, Okavango Delta. Credit: Shutterstock
🐥 Feathered Highlights from the Mokoro Ride
Each bend in the channel revealed new avian wonders. Malachite kingfishers perched on reeds above the waters. Pied kingfishers, small black and white acrobats, hovered mid-air before diving to catch a fish. African jacanas, tiptoed across lily pads, their long toes allowing them to “walk on water”.
Photo credits: Jenny Brennan. Jacana walking on lily pads, Alexandra George.
The poler padded quietly through waterlily-covered lagoons, where we spotted a pair of African pygmy geese, the continent’s smallest duck, dazzling in their beauty. Their preferred habitat of shallow waters filled with lilies made this a perfect sighting.
🐘 Wildlife and Birdlife Around Mme Dinare Camp
As we drifted near Mme Dinare, our eco-friendly camp, the bird vistas continued continued to impress. Elephants, always an enchanting sight, waded through nearby floodplains, while an elegant saddle-billed stork foraged in the shallows, its vibrant red-and-black bill flashing in the sun.
One spotted these storks at several spots in the waters catching fish with their enormous, upturned bills. A magnificent African darter, with its elongated neck and gorgeous plumage, sat atop a tree trunk near the Delta waters. Two African openbill storks were foraging in shallow waters. A hamerkop perched atop a hippo’s head immersed in the Delta channel. Lechwes were quietly grazing along the banks.
🌐 The Okavango: Crucial Stopover for Migratory Birds
These magical sightings were a reminder that this UNESCO World Heritage Site serves as a crucial habitat for both resident and migratory birds. Each year, the Okavango Delta welcomes thousands of migratory birds from Europe and Asia. From permanent wetlands to seasonal floodplains and woodlands, its diverse habitats offer food, refuge, and breeding grounds.
The white storks, one of the most celebrated migratory species, often travel in large flocks, sometimes in the thousands, over vast distances to reach their wintering grounds in Africa. An indication that the seasonal floodwaters are just about to arrive is the sudden appearance of many storks, wattled cranes, herons and egrets into the Okavango Delta.
💫 Final Reflections: A Water Wonderland for Bird Lovers
Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or someone newly discovering the joys of the avian world, a mokoro safari in the Okavango Delta is a truly an unforgettable experience filled with flutterings, flappings and soaring wings over this water wonderland.