The Okavango Delta is the primary reason most people come to Maun, and it more than delivers on expectations. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the world's great wildlife destinations: elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, hippo, crocodile, and over 400 species of birds make their home here in the shifting labyrinth of waterways and papyrus marshes.
The classic way to explore is by mokoro — a traditional dugout canoe poled through shallow channels by a local guide. You drift silently through papyrus and water lilies, close enough to hippos and elephants to feel their presence without disturbing them. Most camps and lodges offer mokoro excursions; overnight trips deep into the delta are worth the extra cost if you have the time. Bush walks with armed guides cover the islands, where the vegetation changes completely and game viewing is done on foot.
Access is by light aircraft from Maun Airport to a bush airstrip, or by 4WD along rough tracks to the delta's edge during the dry season. Most visitors fly in and out of a single camp; more adventurous travellers piece together a circuit combining Moremi, the private concessions, and Chief's Island.