Okavango Stanleys

wildlife viewing is improving fast in the eastern camps

At around 1305 square kilometres, the Okavango Stanleys Concession is a high quality safari area.

The area is restricted to just 58 guests in four small camps, around 24 square kilometres per person, which is a relatively low guest density by local standards.

It is an absolutely classic Okavango landscape, a very pretty mix of seasonally flooded plains, deep-water channels and lightly forested islands.

The landscapes to the east are dominated by dry mopane and apple-leaf woodlands with less wildlife, but the animals are much more prolific in the areas flanked by the Gomoti River and its floodplains.

The western side is a wetter area of lagoons and floodplains which are beautiful but difficult to access by vehicle.

The area usually experiences a strong and reliable flood during the middle and later parts of the dry season, creating a lovely network of floodplains for water-based safari Jun-Oct.

Generally speaking, wildlife viewing is not as strong as some of the prime Okavango Delta areas, although it is improving fast, particularly in the eastern camps.

When it comes to trip shapes and durations in Botswana, most visitors combine 2, 3 or 4 lodges by light aircraft over 6-12 nights, one or two of which will usually be here in Okavango Delta, combined with the Linyanti Waterfront and/or Makgadikgadi areas.

These trips are often done in combination with further nights at the Victoria Falls and/or down in the Cape.

The usual stay duration here on the Stanleys Concession is 3-4 nights.

Seasonality

The May-Jun flood season is the transition from the hot wet summer to the cool dry winter and is a great time to visit, with lots of baby animals around and the arrival of the floodwaters.

During May-Jun, temperatures can drop towards freezing during the night, but this has little adverse effect on safari, the days are gorgeous and there are virtually no insects around.

The majority of camps are also significantly discounted at this time.

On the Okavango Stanleys Concession the flood in this eastern part of the delta is usually late, unreliable and potentially light, reducing the chances of high quality boating activities at this time, although motorboat safari should remain possible at Qorokwe Camp and Gomoti Plains Camp which have access to the Gomoti River.

The camps are mainly focused on vehicle safari, with sightings improving as the landscapes become increasingly dry.

The Jul-Sep dry season is the classic time to visit the Okavango Delta and is the best time for wildlife viewing, as many animals are drawn to water from the vast dry hinterland.

During Jul-Aug, cooler temperatures can continue, potentially dropping towards freezing during the night, but this has little adverse effect on safari.

This is very much the high season in terms of prices and visitor numbers.

The flood should arrive during the first part of this season, providing great opportunities for high quality motorboat safari and mokoro canoe safari, reducing into September.

Vehicle safari remains strong and sightings should continue to improve as the animals converge on the central delta.

The Oct-Dec hot wet season is the transition period between the peak of the dry season and the start of the rains, with Oct-Nov temperatures becoming uncomfortably high in advance of the rains.

If significant rainfall does arrive, it comes in short showers, having little negative effect on safari conditions, in fact it brings a blessed relief from the high temperatures.

The majority of camps are significantly discounted during this time.

The floods should be heavily receded by this time, much reducing the opportunities for boating activities, although motorboat safari should remain possible at those camps which have access to the Gomoti River.

By contrast, vehicle safari should be at its best, with most areas now being accessible and animals heavily converging on these central delta areas.

The period Jan-Apr is the main green season in the Okavango Delta, when the area experiences the majority of its rainfall and there are lots of babies around.

The Dec-Feb period threatens the greatest chance of rain and temperatures and humidities have dropped a little.

The majority of camps are significantly discounted throughout this season, making it a very smart time to travel, especially in April.

The camps remain primarily focused on land-based safari at thai time, although lower animal densities due to the outward dispersal from the delta can have a slightly negative effect on sightings.

Opportunities for motorboat safari and mokoro canoe safari are usually much reduced, although motorboat safari should again remain possible at those camps which have access to the Gomoti River.

Getting there

All of the camps in the Okavango Stanleys Concession area can only be accessed by light aircraft into the local bush airstrips.

There are daily flight connections between all the camps in Okavango, Linyanti and the hubs of Maun and Kasane.

wet safari is especially strong in Jun-Sep