The Boteti River

Travelling from Letlhakane in the direction of Maun one travels through miles and miles of arid land that one feels can barely support any animals, then without warning you get the stunning Boteti River.

We have visited this river on many an occasion, sometimes just as day trips, we have just gone off the road and found a spot and camped there and we have also often been to Khumaga, which is on the river.

The River

It is in the Angolan highlands were the story of this river begins. Rain in the area collects and flows in a south easterly direction and enters Botswana as the Okavango River, which flows into the famous Okavango Delta, 3 months after falling.

The delta fills after roughly 6 months after the rainy season and overflows into the Thamalakane River which flows through Maun, before it splits. The one flows into Lake Ngami and the other is the Boteti River.

From the split the river heads east and through the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, then South to the village of Rakops. It then weaves its way to Lake Xai. Which when/if full overflows into the lake at Mopipi and spills into the Makgadikgadi  Salt Pans, not far from Orapa.

The River Dries

For 24 years, owing to climatic conditions the river did not flow and it was only 4 years ago that it has been flowing again. But has yet to reach Mopipi and the Pans.

 Pictures

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Posts I have written on the Boteti River

In Search of a Flowing River.

Camping on the banks of the Boteti

So where does the Boteti River go

Khumaga: What a place

Khumaga Revisited

Most amazing wildlife sighting at Khumaga

The many faces of Khumaga