Okavango Delta Flood Update

Latest update: March 10, 2010

Okavango Flood update - March 10, 2010
The flood for 2010 is showing early signs that it may be a big one.

Water flows in the Okavango at Mohembo at the top of the panhandle are currently down off their peak of 10 February. To date, this represents the ‘first spike’ of the flood. This water has already reached Jacana and the floodplains in the Jao concession around Kwetsani camp. It is likely that the flows will increase again from here (a result of different catchment flows) to build up to a second spike in the coming weeks.

Below the standard flood chart are satellite images of the Caprivi in Namibi and northern Botswana.  The flood water appears as DARK green in these images).

The chart below shows data as of March 10, 2010...

(measured in cubic metres per second at Mohembo, on the Okavango River just as it enters Botswana)

Satellite image on 09 Mar, 2010: The water at Rundu is still rising. There is a large amount of water in the upper Zambezi.

Satellite image on 20 Jan, 2010: The flood water (dark green) is just coming into the panhandle.

Satellite image on 01 Feb, 2010: The flood water (dark green) has reached Seronga.

Graph showing flow levels at Rundu and Mohembo versus 2009 (as of Feb 28, 2010). (Data from 1963 is at Mohembo)

A lovely floodplain over Vumbura	Looking west along the tree line above Zibadianja Lagoon
Beautiful blue water above Kwetsani in the Jao concession
Flood water between Kwetsani and Vumbura	The boat station at Vumbura Paradise near the airstrip

Elephant herd enjoying the water flowing down the Savuti Channel	Looking down the Savuti Channel from above Zib Lagoon
Rain and early flood water in the Savuti Channel
Water pushing up the Selinda from Zibadianja Lagoon	Rain and early flood water around Selinda Camp (camp in tree island at middle-left)
Water in the Selinda Spillway at Motswiri Ketumetse Camp (camp in trees on left bank before the bend)

Zibadianja Lagoon (far left) and water flowing down the Savuti Channel
Zibadianja Lagoon (upper left corner) and water flowing down the Savuti Channel
Water in the Savuti Channel
Zebras and Wildebeests - this is over 4 kilometers down the channel
White-faced Ducks enjoying the water in the Channel
The normally dry channel became a picturesque waterland	Water in the channel just north of the old mopane bridge

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