Okavango Panhandle.

The Okavango Panhandle is the narrow, perennial upper reach of the Okavango River around Shakawe, where the river is still contained within a single well-defined channel before fanning out into the famous Delta downstream. Dense papyrus beds and reed-lined waterways make this one of Southern Africa's premier birding destinations, home to the elusive Pel's fishing owl and African skimmer, while deep, clear channels offer some of the continent's best freshwater fishing for tigerfish and bream. As the gateway to the Delta from the north, the Panhandle rewards visitors with a quieter, less-visited slice of Okavango wilderness.