Best Time to Visit the Okavango Delta for a Horse Safari

Every season brings something different to the Okavango Delta, so there really isn’t a bad time for a safari. If you’re after the classic Delta experience, July to September is when the floodwaters are at their highest, but don’t rule out the other seasons too quickly. Each offers a very different kind of magic.

One of the most important things to understand is that the Okavango’s flood arrives during Botswana’s dry season. It takes several months for floodwaters to reach Botswana from Angola’s highlands, and the timing can be unpredictable. But the magic is that it’s one of the few areas in the country with water, and it attracts a huge variety of wildlife, earning the nickname Africa’s Eden.

 June to September: High Water & Classic Okavango

This is when the Delta really earns its reputation as a water wilderness, and what you’ll see in most photographs and documentaries. Expect cooler temperatures, incredible wildlife viewing, and the chance to experience mokoro safaris, which are unique to the Delta. This is when splashy canters at Kujwana and Macatoo are at their best! Here you’ll see large herds of lechwe gathering in the wetlands, along with big herds of elephant, buffalo, and plains game. Wild dogs and big cat sightings are common in the long golden grass, and you’ll find hippos and crocodiles in the deeper channels.

September to November: Dry, Hot & Wildlife-Rich

As the flood slowly retreats, the Delta becomes increasingly dry, so wildlife concentrates around the remaining water. This can mean fantastic game viewing, with huge herds of elephants, buffalo, and antelope drawn towards the permanent channels and lagoons. It’s a brilliant time to spot wild dogs and predators as the grass is short and the islands are bigger. As it’s hot, expect to ride in the early mornings and late afternoons, being rewarded with some of the best sunsets.

December to May: Green Season

This is the green season, and it’s a completely different Okavango experience. It’s warmer, wetter and much quieter, with lush green grass, dramatic afternoon storms and brilliant birdlife. Young zebra, wildebeest, impala and other plains game make for some lovely sightings from horseback. The long grass and plentiful water mean wildlife is more spread out, so predator sightings can take a little more patience, but that’s part of the fun. If you like quieter safaris and don’t mind a bit of rain, this season is seriously underrated.

By May, water levels can be rising noticeably, wildlife starts moving towards the waterways, and the cooler, drier weather makes for lovely riding. If experiencing mokoro safaris is important to you, then Cha Cha Metsi is a great option as it is on a permanent lagoon, which makes mokoro trips possible for much more of the year.

When does the Okavango Delta flood?
The floodwaters usually start arriving from around May and can continue through to September or October, although the timing varies from year to year and between different parts of the Delta. July to September is generally the sweet spot for riding through the floodwaters.

 Is the Okavango Delta good to visit outside flood season?
Absolutely. October can offer exceptional game viewing as wildlife concentrates around shrinking water sources, while December to March brings lush scenery, young animals, excellent birding and fewer visitors. April to June is particularly interesting if you want to see the Delta changing as the new floodwaters arrive.

Can I do a mokoro safari at any time of year?
Generally, no. Most camps can only offer mokoro excursions when water levels are high enough, usually from June to early October, although this varies depending on the year’s flood levels and the camp’s location. Camps on permanent waterways are the exception. Cha Cha Metsi sits on permanent water, so it can offer this unique mokoro experience year-round.

What’s the coolest, most comfortable time to ride in the Okavango Delta?
May to early September generally offers the most comfortable riding temperatures, with cooler mornings and dry, sunny weather. July and August are warm and sunny during the day, although nights and early mornings can be very cold.

What’s the single best month for a first Okavango Delta horse safari?
If we had to pick one, August. You have a very good chance of high floodwaters, cooler and dry riding weather, excellent wildlife viewing and the possibility of those iconic splashy canters. Flood levels vary each year, though, so even August isn’t guaranteed, but it does give you the best chance of seeing the Delta in full flood.