The annual flooding of the Okavango Delta in Botswana is this year predicted to reach the highest levels since 1984. The recent heavy summer rains have already raised water levels in the delta dramatically and in tune with the elements, Orient-Express Safaris has introduced an African Storm massage treatment.

"The flood waters normally reach Xaxaba Island near the end of May, however all indications drawn from water measurements recorded by Power Serve are that the floods could arrive as early as the end of March," said Orient-Express Safaris' Environmentalist Ian Johnson. "While there is no danger of the camps flooding, wildlife will be restricted to limited dry areas and game-viewing is expected to be excellent."

Located in and around the mighty Okavango Delta, Orient-Express Safaris offers three of the most romantic safari camps in the world: Savute Elephant Camp, Khwai River Lodge and Eagle Island Camp.

All three camps have recently introduced romantic touches and optional adventures reserved exclusively for two, aptly named Naturally Wild Exclusive Experiences. Guests can now indulge in calming yet invigorating massage therapies on their own private deck. Treatments are carried out using a special blend of oils sourced only from natural African plants such as macadamia, marula, geranium and black pepper.

The 'African Storm Treatment', which includes a full-body exfoliation with Namibian sea salt, a mineral mud-wrap and African Hot Stone Therapy, uses the energy and passion of Africa to enhance the holistic indulgent experience. Cost of the 90-minute treatment is US$90. Guests can also dine privately on the deck on their tent or charter a private plane or helicopter for a game drive.

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To order a brochure or for information on safari offerings and programs, please contact the World of Distinction office at Orient-Express, 10 Weybosset Street, Suite 500, Providence, RI 02903; tel: 800-524-2420 or oereservations.providence@orient-express.com. Additional details are available at www.orient-express.com. Downloadable high resolution photography of Orient-Express Safaris is also available at www.orient-express.com in the 'image library' which appears under 'media information'.

NOTES TO EDITORS: What these record breaking floods promise for the visitor to Botswana is the opportunity to view an environment transformed into a hive of activity when the flood arrives - more flowers, abundant fruit on the trees, longer nesting times for birds and plentiful food for the fish.

As the waters dry up again, the huge herds of game will be on the move. It is nature's way of sustaining the animal population when times are good and depleting the numbers in the Delta when water is scarce.

To appreciate the benefits of the flood, also known as the 'annual inundation' or 'pulse', it is necessary to understand the regional setting of this world heritage site. According to Map St Ives, a guide in Botswana for many years and a passionate environmentalist, "The Okavango is an 18,000 square kilometre alluvial fan situated in a collapsed depression of the earth's surface between two fault lines - an extension of the East African Rift System. The entire surrounding area, comprising most of Botswana, eastern Namibia, north-western South Africa, Southern Angola and parts of western Zambia and Zimbabwe, is covered by an extensive 'blanket' of wind deposited sand - in some places, the sand is 300 metres thick! These loosely packed sands allow for rapid absorption of rainwater, which has important consequences for the seasonal movement and distribution of game and bird species, amongst others."

Where does the water come from? "Actually, there are two sources of water," explains Map St Ives. The first source, as with most of Southern Africa, is when the Okavango receives its annual summer rainfall, approximately 500 mm per year, from November to April.

These rains regenerate the grasslands and plants during the warm summer rains, however, because of the relatively cloudless skies for the rest of the year, the loss of ground moisture is very high. Map says that due to evaporation, rainfall can be exceeded by a factor of five.

"The second water gain in the Delta comes from its source in the central highlands of Angola. Rising in the plateau are two rivers, the Quito and the Cubango, which flow south-east towards Botswana eventually joining to form the Okavango river, a short distance before flowing into Botswana. As Map points out, "The same summer rain is also falling from November to April on the plateau. The water from these rivers starts to arrive at the top of the Okavango panhandle during January or February and peak towards the last week of April. The second arrival of water is fondly referred to as the 'flood' .

This water adds to the existing water from the local rainfall and continues to spread over the fan itself well after the annual rains have ceased. The beginning of September sees the water from Angola reducing and evaporation rising together with the daytime temperatures - the waters are at their lowest during the months November to April. Map explains "the fan is at its fullest when there has been no rainfall for about four or five months."

So how does this movement of water affect the game and subsequently the quality of game viewing? Animals move away from the Delta to the surrounding areas which contain standing water and green grass from the rains during the December to April period. Although some resident species do not move, most do - elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest all move with the seasonal change as do their predators.

As the standing water dries up with the ceasing of the rains, so the miracle of timing comes to the fore. Just as the animals require additional sources of water, the Okavango starts to flood.

Nick Seewer, Managing Director, of the African Collection of Orient-Express Hotels, is amazed at the transformation these miracle floods have on the environment, "Our Khwai River Lodge on the border of the Moremi Nature Reserve is surrounded by large numbers of elephant and vast numbers of other animals during these months, while our Eagle Island Lodge in the Delta experiences similar dramatic environmental changes. A multitude of habitats are created overnight with the swelling of the groundwater."

Nick adds, "The floodplains at Xaxaba (Eagle Island) have been covered in grass growth during the recent rains and offer excellent breeding grounds for many different breeds of fish, frogs, birds and numerous others in the food chain."

The endangered Wattled Crane, Peel's Owl, Hamerkop Storks, Egrets and numerous fruit and insect eating birds (over 150) are found at the Eagle Island Camp during this period, ensuring superb bird watching for amateur and enthusiast alike.

"The elegant Wattled Crane is an extremely shy breeder and has a very narrow choice of nesting site", explains Nick, "The bird uses a disused termite mound, covered with tall grass in the middle of the floodplain, as a nest. The water protects it from land-based predators, mainly small cats - any disturbance will cause the Wattled Crane to abandon its eggs. The increase in breeding of this rare bird will be one of the benefits of this year's flood"

"There is no other habitat like this on earth," adds Map, "Without the 9,000,000,000 cubic metres that the Okavango gains per annum, 80% of the animals would not exist in the Delta. It is this water that is the secret behind the mysteries that remain hidden in this pristine wetland."

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Patricia Harper tel: 212-302-5055 fax: 212-302-5203 patricia.harper@orient-express.com