542
24.4.5 Fish
The Okavango Delta is home to 71 fi sh species
including tigerfi sh, tilapia and catfi sh. They range
from 1.4 m (sharptooth catfi sh) to 3.2 cm (Sicklefi n Barb). The same species are also generally
found in the Zambezi River, indicating a historic
link between the two river systems.
24.4.6 Plants
Papyrus and reed rafts make up a large part of the
Okavango’s vegetation. During the fl ood season,
they fl oat well above the sandy river bed with
roots dangling free in the water. This gap between
bed and roots is utilised as shelter by crocodiles.
The plants of the delta play an important role in
providing cohesion for the sand. The banks or
levees of a river normally have a high mud content, and this combines with the sand in the river’s bed to continuously build up the river banks.
In the delta, because of the clean waters of the
Okavango, there is almost no mud and the river’s
load consists almost entirely of sand. The plants
capture the sand, acting as the glue and making
up for the lack of mud and in the process creating
further islands on which more plants can take
root.
24.4.7 People
The inhabitants of Okavango Delta consist of
fi ve ethnic groups, each with its own ethnic identity and language. They are Hambukushu (also
known as Mbukushu, Bukushu, Bukusu, Mabukuschu, Ghuva, Haghuva), Dceriku (Dxeriku,
Diriku, Gciriku, Gceriku, Giriku, Niriku), Wayeyi
(Bayei, Bayeyi, Yei), Bugakhwe (Kxoe, Khwe,
Kwengo, Barakwena, G/anda) and Anikhwe
(Gxanekwe,/tanekwe, River Bushmen, Swamp
Bushmen, G/ani,/ani, Xanekwe). The Hambukushu, Dceriku, and Wayeyi are all Bantus, who
have traditionally engaged themselves in mixed
economies of millet/sorghum agriculture; fi shing, hunting and collecting wild plant foods; and
pastoralism.
The Bugakhwe and Anikhwe are Bushmen
who have traditionally practiced fi shing, hunting and collecting wild plant foods. The
Bugakhwe utilised both forest and riverine
resources, while the Anikhwe mostly focused
on riverine resources.
The Okavango Delta has been under the political control of the Batawana (a Tswana subtribe)
since the late eighteenth century. Most Batawana,
however, have traditionally lived on the edges of
the delta. Small number of people from other ethnic groups, such as Ovaherero and Ovambanderu,
now live in parts of the Okavango Delta. But
since the majority of the members of those groups
live elsewhere and the habitation is recent, they
are not considered as part of the inhabitants of
Okavango Delta.
24.4.8 Threats
The Namibian government has presented plans to
build a hydropower station in the Caprivi Region,
which would regulate the Okavango’s fl ow to
some extent. While proponents argue that the
effect would be minimal, environmentalists argue
that this project could destroy most of the rich
wildlife and plant life in the delta. Other threats
include, at a local level, human encroachment
and, regionally, the extraction of water in both
Angola and Namibia.
24.5 Wetlands of East Africa
There are signifi cant wetlands in East Africa. An
account is given below.
24.5.1 Lake Naivasha (Kenya)
Lake Naivasha (Plate 24.5 ) lying at 1,884 m
MSL is a FW lake lying NW of Nairobi in Kenya.
The lake is fed by the perennial Malewa and
Gilgil rivers. There is no visible outlet, but it is
assumed to have an underground outfl ow, since
the lake water is relatively fresh. Lake Naivasha
has been further dealt with in Chap. 6 .
24 Wetlands of Africa
24.4.5 Fish
The Okavango Delta is home to 71 fi sh species
including tigerfi sh, tilapia and catfi sh. They range
from 1.4 m (sharptooth catfi sh) to 3.2 cm (Sicklefi n Barb). The same species are also generally
found in the Zambezi River, indicating a historic
link between the two river systems.
24.4.6 Plants
Papyrus and reed rafts make up a large part of the
Okavango’s vegetation. During the fl ood season,
they fl oat well above the sandy river bed with
roots dangling free in the water. This gap between
bed and roots is utilised as shelter by crocodiles.
The plants of the delta play an important role in
providing cohesion for the sand. The banks or
levees of a river normally have a high mud content, and this combines with the sand in the river’s bed to continuously build up the river banks.
In the delta, because of the clean waters of the
Okavango, there is almost no mud and the river’s
load consists almost entirely of sand. The plants
capture the sand, acting as the glue and making
up for the lack of mud and in the process creating
further islands on which more plants can take
root.
24.4.7 People
The inhabitants of Okavango Delta consist of
fi ve ethnic groups, each with its own ethnic identity and language. They are Hambukushu (also
known as Mbukushu, Bukushu, Bukusu, Mabukuschu, Ghuva, Haghuva), Dceriku (Dxeriku,
Diriku, Gciriku, Gceriku, Giriku, Niriku), Wayeyi
(Bayei, Bayeyi, Yei), Bugakhwe (Kxoe, Khwe,
Kwengo, Barakwena, G/anda) and Anikhwe
(Gxanekwe,/tanekwe, River Bushmen, Swamp
Bushmen, G/ani,/ani, Xanekwe). The Hambukushu, Dceriku, and Wayeyi are all Bantus, who
have traditionally engaged themselves in mixed
economies of millet/sorghum agriculture; fi shing, hunting and collecting wild plant foods; and
pastoralism.
The Bugakhwe and Anikhwe are Bushmen
who have traditionally practiced fi shing, hunting and collecting wild plant foods. The
Bugakhwe utilised both forest and riverine
resources, while the Anikhwe mostly focused
on riverine resources.
The Okavango Delta has been under the political control of the Batawana (a Tswana subtribe)
since the late eighteenth century. Most Batawana,
however, have traditionally lived on the edges of
the delta. Small number of people from other ethnic groups, such as Ovaherero and Ovambanderu,
now live in parts of the Okavango Delta. But
since the majority of the members of those groups
live elsewhere and the habitation is recent, they
are not considered as part of the inhabitants of
Okavango Delta.
24.4.8 Threats
The Namibian government has presented plans to
build a hydropower station in the Caprivi Region,
which would regulate the Okavango’s fl ow to
some extent. While proponents argue that the
effect would be minimal, environmentalists argue
that this project could destroy most of the rich
wildlife and plant life in the delta. Other threats
include, at a local level, human encroachment
and, regionally, the extraction of water in both
Angola and Namibia.
24.5 Wetlands of East Africa
There are signifi cant wetlands in East Africa. An
account is given below.
24.5.1 Lake Naivasha (Kenya)
Lake Naivasha (Plate 24.5 ) lying at 1,884 m
MSL is a FW lake lying NW of Nairobi in Kenya.
The lake is fed by the perennial Malewa and
Gilgil rivers. There is no visible outlet, but it is
assumed to have an underground outfl ow, since
the lake water is relatively fresh. Lake Naivasha
has been further dealt with in Chap. 6 .
24 Wetlands of Africa