FUN FACTS FROM THE DELTA
• There are over 150 000 islands. Some are no bigger than a clump of reeds, others large enough to support forests and permanent wildlife populations.
• Termites helped shape the landscape – many islands began as termite mounds, raised just high enough to escape flooding and allow trees to grow.
• Hippos engineer the waterways and their daily movements help keep channels open, influencing how water flows through the delta.
• The sitatunga or marshbuck is built for swamps. This shy antelope has splayed hooves that act like snowshoes, allowing it to move through deep papyrus and mud.
• More than 400 bird species call the delta home from fish eagles and herons to tiny, jewel-bright kingfishers.
WILDLIFE SNAPSHOTS
Elephants: Often seen wading through channels or swimming between islands, sometimes with only trunks visible. Predators: Lions, leopards, wild dogs and brown hyenas follow the seasonal movement of prey. Aquatic life: Hippos dominate lagoons, while crocodiles patrol the deeper channels. Plant power: Over 1 000 plant species form the backbone of the ecosystem, from papyrus and reeds to fig and sausage trees.
Of interest to note is that there are no fences, meaning wildlife moves freely with the water and seasons.
APRIL 2026 / INBOUND SA 81