Okavango Delta Location & How to Get There

A visit to the Okavango Delta is sure to be magical: from the incredibly diverse wildlife to the beauty of Botswana itself, this body of water in the middle of the Kalahari Desert is a must-visit for travellers of all kinds. Once you've decided to make the Okavango Delta your next adventure, you'll need to figure out how to get there! Read on for all you need to know.

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Where is the Okavango Delta?

The Okavango Delta is located in Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Visitors to the Okavango Delta may also visit the Moremi Game Reserve, a national reserve in which the delta is located. The nearest city is Maun, which also houses the main airport travellers tend to fly into when visiting the delta (Maun Airport, or MUB).

Maun to Okavango Delta

From Maun, the Okavango Delta is only about 65 kilometres (40 miles) away. Depending on tour packages and final destinations, travellers have the option to drive or fly into the Okavango Delta region. There are several flights into Maun from neighbouring hubs, such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. Travellers from farther away are adviced to fly into one of these hubs and then transfer to Maun International Airport. If driving, many safari companies will arrange a pick-up and transport travellers to the Okavango Delta from Maun.

Gaborone to Okavango Delta

There is a regional airport in Gaborone (GBE), a city near Botswana's border with South Africa. It is not recommended that visitors travel from Gaborone to the Okavango Delta by road, as the distance is nearly 20 hours of travel. Instead, take a shorter domestic flight from GBE to Maun International Airport, which is much closer to the Okavango Delta.

Johannesburg to Okavango Delta

From the major transportation hub of Johannesburg International Airport, travellers should take a brief, hour and a half-long flight into Maun International Airport, located very nearby the Okavango Delta.

Cape Town to Okavango Delta

From the coastal South African city of Cape Town, it's a two and a half hour flight from Cape Town CPT Airport to Maun, and then either a shorter drive or flight into an airstrip.

Okavango Delta to Victoria Falls

Travellers looking to visit the beautiful Victoria Falls following their adventure in the Okavango Delta have several options, though note that driving through the national parks located around the delta is not always possible. It's a beautiful - but lengthy - drive to Victoria Falls from the Okavango Delta, but a longer flight; there are no flights directly from Maun International Airport to Victoria Falls Airport, and travellers will have to transfer in Cape Town.

Flights to Okavango Delta

For travellers looking to fly into the Okavango Delta from Maun Airport, there are several options available. Popular airstrips within the delta include Camp Okavango Airport, Xaxaba Airfield, Mapula Airstrip, and Seronga Airstrip, but, depending on your final destination and safari itinerary, the chosen airstrip may vary.

Location

Country: Botswana
Coordinates: 19.6510° S, 22.9059° E
Closest international airport: Maun International Airport (MUB)
Closest domestic airport: Maun International Airport (MUB)
Airstrips in Okavango Delta: There are several airstrips located within the delta. Depending on their destination, travellers may fly from MUB.