An unspoiled wilderness, the Okavango Delta is a huge oasis in the Kalahari, in northern Ngamiland, Botswana. “Ngami” originates from the Bayei word, “floating mat of reeds.” Waters from the highlands in Angola feed the Delta, creating a mosaic of channels and lagoons surrounding wooded islands and extensive papyrus beds.
The Delta supports a wealth of wildlife each with its specific function within the ecosystem. Each animal’s appearance and actions are adapted for survival; for instance, the lion has white markings under its eyes. As nocturnal hunters, lions need light to be reflected into their eyes for better vision. Cheetah, on the other hand, have black markings under their eyes, as diurnal hunters, distracting light must be absorbed to provide clear mid-day vision. Warthogs have white tufts of hair on the sides of their faces, which at a distance makes their tusks look more robust, larger and fiercer. And leopards have white at the tips of their tails so the young can follow their mothers through tall grass.
Surprisingly, the little termite and the giant hippo are eco-system partners and perhaps the most important inhabitants of the Delta. This is because the islands in the Delta are so important to the survival of all the other species, and each island starts as a single termite mound. Because of the fungus gardens that termites cultivate (very fertile ground), vegetation forms and expands as termites add more mounds. Over thousands of years, this results in thousands of whole islands.
But an island does not remain an island unless the waters surrounding it can flow. And so the amphibious hippopotamus, wading along at nearly two tons, wallows its way toward keeping the channels clear. This is all part of the interweaving of life in the Okavango Delta.
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