- Recently scientists claimed a drought across southern Africa has been driven mostly by the El Nino weather pattern, not climate change.
- Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi have declared a national disaster over the severe dry spell that started in January and has devastated the agricultural sector, decimating crops and pastures.
- Okavango Delta located in north-west Botswana is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has faced severe drying this year.
- It is one of the very few major interior delta systems that do not flow into a sea or ocean, with an almost intact wetland system.
- One of the unique characteristics of the site is that the annual flooding from the river Okavango occurs during the dry season, with the result that the native plants and animals have synchronized their biological cycles with these seasonal rains and floods.
- The Okavango Delta is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammals, such as the cheetah, hippopotamus, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion.
Dig Deeper: Learn about East African geography
