Okavango Panhandle Flora, Fauna and Birding

Flora

Although the Okavango Delta Panhandle is not a renowned game viewing destination, you may encounter smaller herds of Lechwe which are more suited for this terrain. Hippo and Crocodile sightings are very common. The Okavango Panhandle has become famous amongst birders and over 350 species have been recorded within the deep-water channels and lagoons.

Due to the fact that the Panhandle area is characterized by such deep water channels, the most common form of plant life that exists in the area is papyrus. There are exceptions with this environment but mainly the vegetation here is huge expanses of floating papyrus.

Okavango Panhandle Birdlife

The birdlife here is varied and some of the more sought-after sightings such as the Rufous-bellied herons, Lesser jacanas, Brown-throated weavers and Painted Snipes, can be found in and amongst the vast masses of papyrus. The Panhandle area is a particularly good for sightings of the the White-backed night heron as well as the African Skimmer which is one of the main attractions.

The Panhandle is a particularly good area for the White-backed night heron, whilst perching on the sandbanks look out for White-backed ducks (sometimes in large numbers), Long-toed plovers, Red-winged pratincoles and, of course, the Panhandle's most acrobatic birding attractions: African skimmers.

African Skimmers

These distinctive, black-and-white birds fly south to the Delta between about September and December. They mainly come to breed on the sandbanks of the Panhandle which are then exposed while the water is low. Here they'll gather in small flocks, each pair excavating a shallow depression in the sand where they'll lay their eggs and raise their young.

One of the most marvelous sights of the Panhandle Region is to watch these birds feed. Skimmers have an elongated lower mandible and as they swoop gracefully over the water, they drop the angular and sharp lower part of their beaks into water. As soon as they are able to get hold of any type of food they then swoop back upward, trapping their prey.

Bee-eaters

Another wonderfully colourful attraction which is better represented in the Panhandle than anywhere else in the Delta, is the Carmine bee-eater. These migrate to southern Africa to breed from about October to March. Bee Eaters tend to nest in large colonies, building their nests underground by digging into the side of sandy riverbanks. The sight of flocks of these brightly coloured pink birds swarming around their riverbank nests, is quite a sight to behold.

Bee-eaters

Another spectacular migrant, better seen in the Panhandle than anywhere else in the Delta, is the Carmine bee-eater. These come to southern Africa to breed, and stay from about October to March. They nest in large colonies, building their nests underground at the end of tunnels which they excavate into the side of sandy riverbanks. You won't forget the sight of hundreds of these bright carmine-pink birds twittering around a river bank that's holed with nests like a piece of Swiss cheese.

Other notable birds

Birds of prey are also a great feature of this region. Fish Eagles, Marsh Harriers and Osprey are often seen swooping for prey. An the area of dense forest, before the banks of the Panhandle becomes the landscape of the Kalahari, is also home to a range of interesting birds. These include Western banded snake eagles, Bradfield's hornbills, and the rare Pel's fishing owl.