Okavango Delta Flood
 

Updated chart has been posted - check http://the-ngami-times-blog.wikispaces.com/

The peak is still peaking.

Thanks for the post. It appears that the flood historically peaks at Mohembo in May. When does the peak occur further south for example Chiefs Island and how might it impact the camps??

cj

Popular theory is that the Angolan Floods take 6 months to reach Maun - rain in Dec/Jan arrives in June/July. It does not follow the same route or channels every year.

Because the Okavango Delta is so flat and is an area of many minor earthquakes - many subtle changes happen. The hippo is also a major player, either keeping channels open or not.

For example, a lot of the 2004 flood when into Lake Ngami - which had it's biggest floods in decades..

Many Camps/Lodges and their airstrips are following this flood very closely.

I am hearing from a traveller who returned from Botswana in late March that this year that the rainfall during the rainy season was very light and that things are already starting to dry up. Does that mean that the "water lodges" in the Delta will have less than ideal conditions for boating, etc?

No the rainfall in Botswana has little to do with the level of the Okavango.
The rains in Angola was good so the lodges offering water act will be fine.

Sounds to me like a great season coming up. Wish I was going this year. Dry back-country and grasslands in northern Botswana, good flows coming into the Delta, the Kwando/Linyanti Rivers and both ends of the Selinda spillway. What a recipe!

John

Friends just in from Shakawe report water contines to rise approx. 5 cm per day. The flood peak is still peaking.

Half the runway at Nxamasere is under water and will have to be closed.

The April 20th Mohembo Flow Chart has been posted. While the chart is down slightly, water levels in Mohembo continue to rise 5 cm per day.

ttt

any new info?