Okavango, also called Cubango, is a river system in southern Africa. It extends about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from its source in the highlands of central Angola to its lower reaches on the edge of the Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana. The Okavango River is fed from two tributaries—the Cubango and the Cuito—that flow southeastward through woodlands and savanna to form a vast wetland region called the Okavango Swamps. These swamps are a source of papyrus reeds.
The Okavango is affected by extreme seasonal variations, from extensive floods to severe drought. The valley is only sparsely populated and it supports a rich and varied wildlife, including water fowls, lions, wildebeests, and hippopotamuses.
