Okavango Panhandle Flora, Fauna and Birding

© Red-billed ducks in the sunset on Okavango
A safari in the Okavango Panhadle region is more about the tranquility and scenery than a big game viewing safari experience, and more and more people are discovering the charms of this un-spoilt region.

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.

African Skimmers

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.

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.by Simon Bloomhill

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