Botswana's Okavango Delta named 1,000th UNESCO World Heritage Site

Emily Deemer Aug 4, 2014

elephants, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Arial — *Arial view of elephants roaming the Okavango Delta. Photo by NHA guide Brad Josephs*

Northern Botswana’s Okavango Delta was recently inscribed as the 1,000th UNESCO World Heritage Site, opens in new tab, among the ranks of 26 other extraordinary places including India’s Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, the Phillipines’ Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, and Denmark’s Stevns Klint geological site.

The Okavango Delta, opens in new tab is the largest inland delta on the planet and is unique in that the annual flooding from the Okavango River happens during the dry season, resulting in native plant and animal species that have synchronized their biological rhythms with the seasonal rains and floods, providing a remarkable example of interaction between climate and biological processes in nature.

lion mother and lion cub, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Green Season — *Baby wildlife abounds during the green season in the Okavango Delta. Photo by NHA guide Brad Josephs*

What’s more, the delta is one of our favorite iconic African safari spots, for its pristine ecosystem is home to a plethora of endangered species such as cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, elephant, lion, African wild dog, and much more. The delta is a green oasis that sprawls among a mosaic of diverse landscapes. The inland water holes attract a profusion of wildlife during the dry season, while the low, sporadic rains of the “green season” mark the influx of migrating animals and an increase in animal births. You’re likely to see quite a few “bush babies” running around during the green season! [Scroll down to see incredible photos of the green season by NHA guide Brad Josephs.]

To celebrate the delta’s recent induction as a World Heritage Site, iSafari.com is offering a Botswana Green Season Special – a $2,000 savings, opens in new tab on a 10-day customized Botswana safari! You’ll get to spend 2 nights at the Okavango Delta’s premier Tubu Tree Camp, opens in new tab, in addition to nights at the famed Kalahari Plains Camp and Linyati Reserve’s distinctive Savuti Camp. Thinking of making it a family affair? We’re also offering 50% off for children ages 6-16 when sharing a family tent with two adults.

We’d love to have you join us in this magnificent wilderness paradise! See for yourself why the Okavango Delta is called the “Jewel of the Kalahari” – click the button below for more details!