NG32 is the concession on the other side of the buffalo fence from the relatively populated areas around Maun. It’s at the southern end of the Delta, relying on the Boro and Santantadibe rivers for flooding – and last in line to receive the water. In a dry year, the floods can be very low and patchy here.
This means that there are relatively few short-grass plains which are regularly flooded, but significant patches of floodplains which are only intermittently wet. These provide an idea base for a profusion of the invasive wild sage (Pechuel-loeschea leubnitziae), which covers large open areas with its aromatic grey-green foliage. Where they’ve had slightly longer to become established, you’ll find the distinctive rounded outlines of candle pod acacias bushes (Acacia hebeclada) starting to appear in these areas – as one of the first shrubs to move in it usually indicates that an area has been dry for many years. In some of these open areas where the recent floods haven’t reached you’ll find a profusion of termite mounds.
Aside from this, driving around NG32 near Stanley’s the vegetation seems to occur in strips, including linear expanses of riverine forrest where the major tree species are leadwoods (Combretum imberbe), jackalberries (Diospyros mespiliformis), marula (Sclerocarya birrea) and sausage trees (Kigelia africana). There are relatively few areas of deep, deep sand here and not that many acacia glades, but there are some quite dense – and very attractive – concentrations of real fan palms (Hyphaene petersiana).
When visiting with a mokoro poler, you’ll see a very different side to the area. Unless the flood has been very high, you’ll probably be poling within the vicinity of the Boro or the Santantadibe. This is at the very shallowest end of the Delta, so expect large areas of miscanthus grass (Miscantusus junceus) and common reeds (Phragmites australis), plus the occasional floodplains of hippo grass (Vossia cuspidata).
If you do actually pole up the Boro, then you’ll find the environment generally gets more interesting as you continue. After a few days, you’ll leave behind some of the more boring stretches of reeds, and start finding wider floodplains around you, and more lagoons. Wherever you pole, the islands on which you stop will often be classic little palm islands fringed with palms and the riverine forest.