The Okavango Delta is one of the world's premier wilderness destinations, a vast inland fan where the Okavango River spills into the Kalahari sands, creating a lush labyrinth of lagoons, channels, and islands. For families, this is the ultimate 'Lion King' landscape. The Delta is divided into the Moremi Game Reserve (public, accessible by 4x4) and private concessions (fly-in only). Private concessions are often better for families as they allow for off-road driving, night drives, and more flexible schedules tailored to children's moods.
The signature activity here is the mokoro excursion. A poler propels a fiberglass dugout canoe through the shallow waters, allowing passengers to sit low and observe nature quietly. It’s a peaceful, slow-paced activity perfect for spotting malachite kingfishers, jacanas, and the painted reed frog. Note that some lodges have age restrictions for mokoro trips (often 12+), but many family-specialist camps offer short, safe 'poling lessons' for younger kids in shallow water. On dry land, game drives on Chief's Island or in the Moremi tongue offer spectacular viewing of lions, leopards, leopards, elephants, and African wild dogs.
Accommodation varies from mobile tented camps (adventurous and closer to nature) to luxury lodges with family suites and pools. Many top-tier lodges now run Junior Ranger programs, where kids receive workbooks and learn to identify tracks, poos, and bird calls, keeping them entertained and educated between drives. Fishing for tigerfish or bream is another popular activity in the Panhandle area that kids often enjoy.
Planning Your Trip:
Access is primarily via Maun, the tourism capital. From there, you will likely take a light aircraft flight to your lodge—an adventure in itself that gives a bird's-eye view of elephant herds below. This is a high-malaria risk zone, so consult a travel doctor. The water levels are highest during the dry winter months (June-August) because the floodwaters take months to travel down from Angola. This ironically makes the dry winter the best time for water activities. Because the Delta is unfenced and wild, strict safety rules apply; children must never wander unaccompanied at camp.
Click a region to explore
Activities & Best Times
Hiking, wildlife, outdoor exploration, ecotourism
A unique UNESCO-listed inland delta offering world-class wildlife viewing via traditional mokoro and exclusive land-based safaris in a pristine wilderness. Peak months align with the annual flood arrival and dry weather, providing optimal animal concentrations; shoulder months offer high heat but exceptional predator-prey sightings.
Learning experiences, scientific sites, historical education
Offers sophisticated families deep insights into complex wetland hydrology, conservation science, and indigenous tracking traditions. Peak season provides the best visibility of the delta's flood cycle, while the rainy season brings dense vegetation and higher humidity that can obscure ecological processes.
Spa retreats, wellness centers, peaceful getaways
Ultra-exclusive camps provide world-class spa treatments and 'bush zen' in total seclusion from the modern world. The low-humidity winter months (May-Aug) are ideal for open-air relaxation, whereas the extreme heat and humidity of the wet season (reaching 34°C) are less conducive to outdoor wellness.
Sport tourism, fitness activities, active recreation
Features unique active recreation such as guided walking safaris and manual mokoro poling through crystal-clear channels. Peak conditions offer cool, dry mornings essential for physical exertion, while the late dry season heat and summer deluges make these active pursuits strenuous and uncomfortable.
