The Okavango Delta, located in northern Botswana, is one of the world’s largest inland deltas. Unlike most river deltas, it doesn’t flow into the sea—instead, the Okavango River fans out into the Kalahari Desert, creating a lush, seasonally flooded oasis teeming with wildlife.

We arrived in the Okavango Delta just before noon on Sunday—perfect timing for lunch and a serene glide through one of the delta’s narrow fingers in a traditional dugout canoe. The shallow, slow-moving water was alive with color and sound: water lilies carpeted the surface, amphibians darted amongst the reeds, and birds called from the trees.

After our cruise, we headed to camp—Mogotho Safari Lodge—with my new best friend and guide, Dima, leading the way. We scanned the horizon for wildlife as we drove, spotting zebras and giraffes that, by now, felt almost routine. But then came something decidedly not routine: our first ostrich.

Mogotho Safari Lodge was the largest place we’d stayed so far, with a spacious dining hall and an expansive deck with a small pool overlooking a flowing river.

First order of business: the lodge briefing. This one came with a few extra precautions—after dark, we had to be driven to our tents, and the whole place was wrapped in an electric fence that started at 6’. Why 6 feet? That’s the magic number to keep out curious elephants. Anything shorter—lions, hyenas, whatever—apparently gets a free pass.

The drive to our tent turned out to be an adventure in its own right. We had barely made it 50 yards from the main lodge when we encountered two young brothers.

Around 1 a.m., 15 hours before we arrived, the two young males and a pair of females took down a Cape buffalo. Given the buffalo’s size and strength, the struggle was loud, violent, and unfolded entirely within the camp’s boundaries. It was surreal to think how close it all happened—one tent stood just 20 yards from the chaos.

Here’s a one-minute glimpse of the aftermath—the feast in full swing.

The Okavango Delta is absolutely teeming with wildlife. Dogs, cats, zebras, giraffes, elephants—you name it. If it walks, flies, charges, or lounges in the shade, it’s probably here. Honestly, the only thing missing might be Budweiser.

I originally planned to write one blog post per stop, but the Okavango Delta had other ideas. There’s so much happening here, it’s getting at least two more posts. Buckle up—I promise you’ll be entertained, amazed, and maybe even a little jealous.

Hakuna matata.

Just Pete

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