 Landscape
Sandibe is flanked by channels of the permanent Okavango Delta
that course into the adjacent Moremi Game Reserve, the only declared
conservation area in the Delta. It is strategically situated in
one of the prime viewing destinations of the continent. Coupled
with the diversity of Chobe National Park to the east, the region
offers more than 160 mammal, over 500 bird, 38 amphibian, 157 reptile
and 89 fish species.
Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of the Okavango Delta is the
complete absence of hills and rocks - the landscape is as flat as
a lake (it slopes one metre every four kilometres to the south-east).
This has led to the formation of the Delta, as the water entering
in the north has no clear course to follow.
The Okavango Delta consists of three major components - and one
way of picturing this is to look at your outstretched hand. The
wrist being the so-called "panhandle", your palm would
be the permanent Delta, and the fingers the channels - arteries
which feed the seasonal Delta.
Game
Animals most likely to be seen are kudu, impala, giraffe, prides
of lion and hippo. Characteristic species also include the magnificent
red lechwe antelope, buffalo and leopard. There are also rare species
such as sitatunga antelope and wild dog. Bushbuck are a feature
of the lodge surroundings. Fruit bats visit fig trees after dark.
 Elephant
engage in seasonal movements in this southern part of the Okavango
Delta. Over 1 000 elephant move through the area, with breeding
herds averaging thirty in number. Sandibe is an excellent base for
sightings of small predators, with night drives regularly finding
serval, caracal, honey badger, African wild cat and African civet.
Two prides of lion are resident in the area and the occasional
cheetah may be seen, while shy leopards frequent the thicker bush
areas.
Birds
The Okavango Delta is a bird-watcher's paradise. The Delta is home
to over 500 species of birds. There are few more haunting calls
than that of the African Fish Eagle - a bird more common in the
Okavango than anywhere else on the continent. Birds are abundant
in the riverine forest, with Hartlaub's Babbler, Swamp Boubou, Grey-backed
Bleating Warbler, Heuglin's Robin, Barred Owl, Red-eyed Dove, Red-billed
Woodhoopoe and Red-billed Helmetshrike among the characteristic
species. Look out for both Black-eyed and Red-eyed Bulbuls. The
elusive Pel's Fishing Owl roosts in evergreen trees by day.
A variety of warblers and weavers nest in the papyrus beds, and
Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher and Coppery-tailed Coucal
can be seen among the tall stems.
Woodland birds are plentiful, with hole-nesting species such as
Red-billed Hornbill, Grey Hornbill, Burchell's Starling, Scops Owl,
Pearl-spotted Owl, Crested Barbet, Bearded Woodpecker, Striped Kingfisher
and Meyer's Parrot among the most conspicuous.
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Sandibe
has exclusive access to 270km², comprising six broad ecotypes
with associated plant and animal species. There is a Mopane belt
close to the lodge and vast ancient riverine forests of Ebony, Knob
Thorn and the wondrous Leadwood, which lives for a thousand years
and remains as an upright skeleton for another thousand. Extensive
open grasslands, palm islands and acacia woodlands are found in
the drier areas.
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