Okavango

River in southwest Africa, rising near the sources of the Cuanza River, east of Benguela, Angola, and forming part of the boundary between Namibia and Angola for nearly 800 km/500 mi; length about 1,100 km/683 mi. The river finally flows into an immense inland swamp, Okavango Delta, which is the major tourist attraction in Botswana.

Excluding the delta region, the catchment area of the river is 200,000 sq km/77,220 sq mi; much of the drainage area lying to the south is completely ineffective, since it contributes no run-off.