Okavango Delta Botswana Flood - Apr 01 2004
The flood of 2004, as of 30th March, 2004 is middle stage. The first wave of water, has now entered the system and the flood levels are dropping at Mohembo. Traditionally the Okavango Delta system has two peaks if plotted on a line graph. The reason for this is that the Cubango river has it's input, up to 6 weeks before the Cuito. Thus, the water entering the Okavango panhandle had a peak inflow of 778 cubic meters per second in late February. This has dropped to 555 cusecs as of yesterday. However, this will definitely rise sometime in the next two weeks and probably top out in the region of 800/810 cusecs.
The Okavango Delta is an extremely dynamic system, driven by tectonic, gradient, sediments, vegetation growth, and mammal movement. No less important is the dynamic and hugely varying climate and weather conditions, and the effect of this on the Okavango.
It is well known that the Okavango Delta has an external catchment, in the central highlands of Angola. From these highlands rise the two rivers that feed the Okavango. From a catchment more west in Angola rises the Cubango and further east the Cuito. The average rainfall in the catchment is in the region of 1000 mm per annum, falling during the months of October, November, December, January and February. There have in the past been considerable rains as late as Mrch and April. These are the very same months that rain falls over the Okavango alluvial fan(or delta) itself.
The timing of the rains, both in Angola and over the fan has a huge effect on the total amount of water that enters the Okavango region in any given season.
What I meant earlier about the dynamics of the weather enters this domain. For example, in the last two decades we have had extremely dry rainfall months over the Okavango itself. Combined with evapotranspiration this has meant that the Kgalgadi sands which underpin the Okavango have been extremely dehydrated WHEN THE FLOOD ARRIVES in January at the top of the panhandle. The amount of floodwaters have to, therefor, firstly fill the sand and then spread out over the delta proper.
If there were good rains as in 2000/2001, they arrived out of sinc with what turned out to be a smallish flood. Thus the area that was flooded in the following season, was relatively small.
This season 2003/04 we have has a wonderful set of dynamic timing.
The rains started to fall very early in October in the Cubango section of the catchment. In other words they started to fall in October in the highlands. When these waters started to arrive in the delta they coincided with the arrival of the local rains. These local rains have themselves been better than those of more than 9 years. Of some importance, is the fact that they have been spread out in such a way that, as the flood spread out over the fan, the rains had saturated the ground ahead. This has resulted in the water being able to move relatively quickly and more widely that for more than two decades.
The total input of rain has been estimated to be between 2 and 30% of the total flood that enters the Okavango. Early estimates, based on rainfall figures from Shakawe and Maun, as well as from our camps in the delta, would indicate that this year, the rain will contribute about 14% of the total. This is not measured at any discharge meter, but can be seen on the ground, with gleaming waters spreading throughout the delta.
On the Jao, Xigera, Pom Pom system, there has also been a net gain of water at the expense of the Boro system. The Jao camps, Xigera and Pom Pom are surrounded by good deep water and are a must see for wetland lovers. The Kwedi concession camps of Duba, Vumbura, Little Vumbura and Vundumtiki have returned to the wonderland that that area can be. Boating to and from the camps and to the dryland for game drives. Mombo is in effect and island, with wildlife being extremely concentrated. Fantastic viewing of many, many species in a relatively small area is the order of the day in the delta. I can hardly believe the bird life this year so far.
Anyone, who is awe inspired by natural places, and understands the importance of wetland bio-diversity, absolutely must visit Botswana's Okavango this year.
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