Just north of South Africa lies Botswana, famous for it seemingly endless wilderness areas, two of which are renowned for their uniqueness and exquisite beauty - the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game Reserve. The Delta is something to behold. It is the largest inland wetland in the world, spanning 28 000 square kilometres, with fresh waters flowing from it source in the Angolan highlands, to where its last drop seeps into the arid Kalahari desert, never to reach the sea. The journey is long - 1 300 kilometers - from its narrow corridor in the north, known as the panhandle, to where it spreads into a large flatland with a myriad of channels that slowly meander through walls of papyrus reeds. This network of channels spills into a succession of lagoons, island grasslands and flooded plains. Palms and towering trees abound on these islands.

The luxurious safari camps are largely inaccessible by road, and offer lazy boat trips through the tranquil waterways of the Delta floodplains. The Okavango however, is best traversed by mokoro, a dug-out canoe, expertly "poled" by guides - à la Venice. Walking safaris with expert trackers and game rangers as guides are popular - not to mention the rides on elephant back through the enchanting forests. The Moremi mainland and floodplains, adjacent to the Okavango, teem with wildlife - over 122 species of mammals and 444 species of birds. A trip to Southern Africa would not be the same without spending a few days in this "jewel in the desert".