Which river delta in Botswana is a major habitat for elephants and hippos?

The river delta in Botswana that provides major habitat for elephants and hippos is the Okavango Delta. It is an inland delta formed where the Okavango River spreads into the Kalahari Basin instead of flowing to a sea or ocean. The water is eventually lost mainly through evaporation and plant transpiration.

Seasonal flooding gives the delta a remarkable rhythm. Water from rainfall in the Angolan highlands typically arrives during Botswana’s dry season, creating a mosaic of permanent channels, lagoons, floodplains, grasslands, and wooded islands. This contrast between surrounding desert and abundant water supports large concentrations of wildlife.

African bush elephants use the delta’s channels and floodplains for drinking, feeding, and movement, while hippopotamuses spend much of their time in deeper water and emerge to graze. The area also supports lechwe, crocodiles, lions, leopards, buffalo, wild dogs, and rhinoceroses. A common mistake is to treat the Okavango as a conventional coastal delta: unlike the Mississippi, Nile, or Ganges deltas, it is an endorheic interior system. UNESCO listed the Okavango Delta as a World Heritage Site in 2014.